Southern Utah University’s 14th annual Forever Red filled the upper quad with students and community members alike, various food vendors and live music in celebration of homecoming week on Friday, Oct. 11.
This year, the cover band ABBA Mania took the stage, along with openers Rhinestone Rodeo. They performed familiar songs such as “Mamma Mia,” “Money, Money, Money,” and “Dancing Queen.”
All week long, the university had been dropping ABBA-themed easter eggs on social media, which made students especially excited to hear the songs live.
“They sang really well,” said sophomore Kara Smith, who attended Forever Red for the first time this year. “Almost as good as the real deal ABBA. I had so much fun.”
In the past, the night has been concluded with a firework show. However, this year the explosives were traded out for a drone show. The drones lit up the sky in various shapes, even spelling out “SUU.”
Jeremy Walker, president of the Student Alumni Association, which runs the school’s Tradition Keeper initiative, was especially thrilled about this year’s Forever Red.
“Forever Red this year was an experience unlike any other; from a dazzling drone show to a ‘Dancing Queen’ encore,” he said. “This will always be my favorite SUU tradition, as it offers an amazing experience for students, alumni and community to come together and embrace their T-Bird spirit!”
Established in 2011 to bring all of T-Bird Nation together during homecoming week, Forever Red has cemented itself as one of SUU’s 50 official traditions. Forever Red is just one of many traditions that occur during homecoming week. In fact, once Abba Mania closed their set, students walked across campus to the Old Sorrell statue to become a “True T-Bird.”
More information on homecoming and traditions that can be completed throughout the remainder of the semester can be found on the university’s website.
Author: Heather Turner
Copy Editor: Kayd Johanson
Photos by Tallon Taylor
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