On August 20, 1985, the first Welcome Back Festival kicked off an annual celebration of students’ return to Tigertown by blocking off downtown and filling the streets with Clemson spirit. The Alumni Association, Student Alumni Council and the city of Clemson collaborated to propose and plan the event, as shown in these archival documents. At the festival, attendees could purchase 25-cent tickets for a “Taste of Clemson,” which included food and merchandise from downtown restaurants and merchants. The Welcome Back Festival continues today as part of the many fun and engaging student activities that the University schedules before classes begin.
