GREENSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina A&T's 98th Homecoming is bringing in both the people and the big bucks.
All over Greensboro, there was something for everyone including parades and football.
WFMY News 2's Joseph Leonard got to check out the festivities. He spoke to several businesses who said the Greatest Homecoming on Earth certainly lived up to its name.
Aggie pride runs deep. More than 65,000 people were expected to go to this year's Aggie Fan Fest. It's a tradition that many alumni and fans look forward to all year, and it's also a huge boost for businesses.
"The income is major because we're all the way from Maryland. We're from Baltimore, Maryland where we have eight locations but we travel all over we go to Hampton, and we also go to the one in Florida, Fam-U. This is the biggest and I would say probably the most exciting,” Donovan Murphy, who owns Island Quizine, said.
For Murphy, becoming a vendor at Aggie Fan Fest was eight years in the making, but the payoff was worth it. He said the Greensboro community is craving more Jamaican and Caribbean food, so much so that he's seen larger crowds at his spot since attending GHOE.
Another business owner said the excitement for Aggie Fan Fest is higher now than ever before.
"I did the initial one but I didn't even make back my vendor fee,” Lynda Kite, who co-owns Fruit Tickler, said. "At that time, it was $75 to now…so I just love it. I love the atmosphere, I love the energy. It's like a great big old family reunion.”
That family reunion feel and tight-knit community is what brings people back. Several said the rich history at North Carolina A&T State University is like no other. For many, Aggie Fan Fest has become a major event on their calendars.
Alumni and students have been celebrating GHOE all week long, but it'll soon be coming to an end. Some said they're already planning for next year's homecoming celebrations.
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