For the more than 200 EMU students participating in the university’s fourth annual Royals Go Downtown presented by Everence on Thursday, the foods available to try ranged from sweet sips (mango lassi from Taj of India), savory snacks (dumplings from Mashita), and the wacky and wonderful (pickles on a stick from Sage Bird Ciderworks).

That’s not to mention the dozen other mouthwatering dishes students could sample from downtown Harrisonburg restaurants, businesses, and organizations including Magpie Diner, Aristocat Cafe + Tea House, Court Square Theater (serving their own popcorn), Broad Porch Coffee Co., Rockingham County Circuit Court and Clerk’s office (handing out gavel-shaped pencils), Billy Jack’s Wing & Draft Shack, Texas Inn, Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn, OASIS Fine Art & Craft (giving away lollipops), Klines Dairy Bar, and Benny Sorrentino’s.

Royals Go Downtown introduces EMU students to the restaurants and other businesses that make the Friendly City so special. Students gathered, by the busload, at alumna-owned Magpie Diner to begin their cross-town culinary crawl, where they were greeted by Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus. “This is a time where we get to be community together,” Dycus told students. “We are in downtown Harrisonburg because this is home for us.”

Groups of students strolled through the heart of Harrisonburg along a guided walking route, led by faculty, staff, and student volunteers. They stopped at partner locations before coming together at Turner Pavilion for a dance party, hosted by DJ Adam Wirdzek (also known as EBRO), web content and strategy manager for EMU marketing and communications, and Mayor Deanna Reed, director of alumni engagement and community connections at EMU, who offered students a warm welcome to Harrisonburg.

“It’s like my favorite event of the year,” EMU senior Lauren Kauffman, of Goshen, Indiana, told the Daily News-Record () about Royals Go Downtown. “There’s all kinds of good food. Good food, fun, and friends.”

Another student, first-year Eli Monroe of Poquoson, Virginia, told the paper, “It was absolutely phenomenal. I got some free things, I got a nice water bottle out of it, and I got to hang out with my best buds.”

Joni Wiederman, a first-year nursing major from Spotsylvania County, Virginia, attended the food tour with her field hockey teammates and said it was her first time experiencing downtown Harrisonburg. “I like how friendly everyone was,” she said. “It was pretty welcoming.”

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the event a resounding success, including the planning committee (Amy Springer Hartsell, Atma Khalsa, Deanna Reed and Sara Wittig), 15 participating downtown businesses, Mayor Reed, 23 faculty and staff volunteers, seven student volunteers, our mascot Herm, various EMU offices and departments (Athletics, Student Life, Facilities Management, Pioneer College Caterers) and our businesses who sponsored this event.

These business partners include:

• Presenting Sponsor: Everence
• Court Square Champ Sponsors: CT Assist, LD&B Insurance Services, Matchbox Realty, Rockingham County Circuit Court and Clerk’s Office, The Mark-It, Friendly City Food Co-op, and Kline’s Ice Cream.

We will soon begin planning for next year’s Royals Go Downtown event. Please let us know if you have any feedback from this year or suggestions for next! 

Check out our top 10 social media posts and shares of 2014!

1. Ice Bucket Challenge

EMU President Loren Swartzendruber participated in the #IceBucketChallenge. The challenge, which went viral around mid-year, involves dumping a bucket of ice water on someone’s head to promote awareness of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease. Since July 29, 2014 the has received more than $115 million in donations.

2. Erik Kratz in World Series

Erik Kratz, a 2002 alumnus and former Valley League player, becomes the first EMU graduate and only the second former Old Dominion Athletic Conference baseball player to reach the World Series. He is a back-up catcher for the Kansas City Royals.

3. David Falk’s Dunk Makes ESPN Sportscenter’s Top-10

David Falk makes after a monstrous dunk during the 2013-14 season! This video was submitted to ESPN by EMU’s James De Boer, sports information director.

4. EMU Musical!

Emily Shenk leads fellow students in a High School Musical tribute video prior to Homecoming and Family Weekend 2014.

5. Most. Diverse. Class. Ever!

EMU welcomed its most diverse class in the fall of 2014 and became one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in Virginia. At the same time EMU launched three new graduate programs and continued to expand online offerings.

6. Oscars Selfie

EMU faculty and staff produced their own selfie in recognition of the 2014 selfie made famous at the Oscars.

7. The EMU “emu” Returns from Cross-Cultural Travels Around the World

The EMU “emu” returned to campus during Homecoming and Family Weekend after an extended absence during which he traveled around with several cross-cultural groups.

8. EMU Black Student Union Members Organize a #DontShoot Photo

EMU Black Student Union members organize a #DontShoot photo in a show of support in the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. President Swartzendruber and other administrators opened the academic year with an invitation to support and engage each other, citing the record diversity of the incoming class as a unique “enrichment of our shared life as a community of learning.”

9. Finals Week Calls For a Cup of Coffee

It was finals week during the fall semester and the staff at the student-run Common Grounds Coffeehouse did their best to motivate fellow students.

10. Students Kick Off New Year with Lawn Party

The student-led campus activities council hosted a lawn party to kick off the 2014-15 academic year. Lots of dancing, lots of fun!

Follow

Freelance Whales – Friday, Feb. 7,  9 p.m. – $5 students; $15/$20 non-students advance/door.

“Their sound is awesome,” says Emma King, a junior who’s been a fan for several years and saw the band perform last fall in Washington, D.C. “They’ve got a great stage presence and they’re just a really great band.”

Freelance Whales makes extensive use of unusual instruments like the harmonium and glockenspiel to create a sound that has drawn comparisons to huge acts like Arcade Fire and Sufjan Stevens. named the group to its list of “50 Must-Hear Bands” before the 2010 SXSW festival, while in a review of the band’s 2012 album Diluvia, the called Freelance Whales “one of indie rock’s most intriguing new acts.”

The and worked together to bring the band to EMU, in response to student surveys that have constantly reflected a desire for larger acts to perform on campus. The two groups have decided to pool resources every three years to attract a big-name musician or band.

“It’s really special to have a major artist come to EMU,” says , the assistant director of student programs who arranged the show. “Come to hear great music and come for a more exciting experience in a more intimate setting than you’ll usually get.”

The band will perform in Lehman Auditorium.

SGA co-president Christine Baer became a fan of the band as she and the rest of SGA listened to Freelance Whales as they were discussing which group to bring to EMU. She adds that the band has a group of avid followers on campus as well as a growing number of people who have begun to listen to them more recently.

“We’d love to get a good student turnout,” says Baer, who hopes to recapture the excitement that was present on campus when Joshua Radin performed.

Tickets for EMU and JMU students are available for $5; non-student tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Advance purchase from the is recommended.