Skip to navigation
Skip to content

Photo Essay | Sunday, October 28, 2012

Homecoming 2012: Bonfire

1 of 45

A cheer rises from the Green as the flames rise and the 16s begin running.

Oct 29 | 5:00 am

Order this photo | Photo: Maggie Rowland / The Dartmouth Senior Staff

A cheer rises from the Green as the flames rise and the 16s begin running.

Every year, the bonfire is paneled in student decorated plywood before it is lit.

The classic sound of the homecoming bagpiper announces the coming of a parade of cheering freshmen from the River Cluster, where the freshman sweep begins each year.

Freshmen wait outside the Fahey-McLane cluster in anticipation of joining the homecoming parade.

Excitement for the coming parade leads to antics as the freshmen wait to join the sweep.

Face paint, green beads, and 16s shirts adorn these freshmen, who smile for the camera before the bonfire begins.

Having “swept up” freshmen from the River Cluster, Fahey-McLane, Russell-Sage, and Butterfield, the sweep turns left from Tuck Drive and cheers for the joining of the Choates cluster.

The Class of 2016 chants “16s, 16s” in unison as they celebrate homecoming during the freshman sweep.

This 16 shows his class pride before the bonfire.

16s dressed in flair outside of the McLaughlin cluster take photos and wait for the sweep to pass by.

16s turn past Steele Hall to walk toward the East Wheelock cluster.

The Dartmouth Class of 1969 represents in the homecoming parade through town.

The classes of the 70s parade through town. Dartmouth celebrated the 40th anniversary of the education of women at Dartmouth this year.

The Class of 2016 walks up South Main St towards the soon-to-be-lit bonfire.

16s show their Dartmouth pride during the freshman sweep before the bonfire.

These 16s are all smiles as they walk arm in arm towards one of Dartmouth’s most widely acclaimed traditions: the homecoming bonfire.

Beaming 16s finish up their freshman sweep by walking up South Main Street towards the Green.

16s round the Green in the final stretch of the freshman sweep before bonfire.

A group of 16s poses for a picture that will commemorate their unforgettable experience on bonfire night.

The Dartmouth Band plays next to Dartmouth Hall before the bonfire is lit.

Interim College President Carol Folt, surrounded by the team captains of various Dartmouth Sports, speaks to a crowd of alumni, students and townspeople.

The bonfire before lighting on the Friday night of homecoming, flanked by the glow of Baker Tower’s green light.

Students take preemptive laps around the bonfire to warm up.

Interim College President Carol Folt addresses the crowd before the bonfire is lit.

Spectators watch as torches are carried to light the bonfire.

16s take pictures as torches are put to the bonfire structure.

The first flame rises from the bonfire to a roar of cheering students and alumni alike.

The crowd glows red in the light of the bonfire.

Students run around the glowing bonfire for as many laps as they would like; this year, some even ran the full 116.

The 16 atop the bonfire is engulfed in flames just minutes after the bonfire is lit.

Three friends run their 16 laps around the bonfire together.

Hanover Police ensure that no 16s try to fulfill the age-old chant of “touch the fire!”

Two members of the Dartmouth Sailing Team run around the bonfire together.

Students hold their friends’ hands so as not to lose them as they run through the crowds of people around the bonfire.

A Tuck student runs laps around the bonfire and waves to the crowd.

Students choose to run around the bonfire in every variety of costumes, flair and Dartmouth gear.

Two friends run together in the red glow of the bonfire, sporting glow-in-the-dark necklaces, face paint and 16 jerseys.

Students old and new run in the red glow of the bonfire on Friday night.

A student waves a “Best Class Ever” sign during bonfire.

The class of 2016 runs around the bonfire, for 16, 32 or even 116 laps.

Students watch the bonfire turn to a structure of glowing embers before its collapse.

Students partake in cider and donuts in Collis Commonground during and after the bonfire.

Students socialize together in Collis Commonground after running around the bonfire.

Alumni also participated in the cider and donuts even sponsored by Collis after the bonfire.

The bonfire is engulfed in flames during Dartmouth’s iconic homecoming celebration.