The Homecoming Party on the Square was a big hit Friday night, as people of all ages came out to enjoy The Park Band.

“I couldn’t be any more pleased about the crowd out here,” said Leigh Anne Windham with the City of Troy. “There are small children dancing out here, the crowd is just as diverse as it gets and everyone seems to be having a great time.”

Janet Wills, a Troy University alumna from Orlando, came to town for Troy’s homecoming and said she was excited to be able to experience the Homecoming Party on The Square, saying it brought back memories of her college years.

“We had concerts once a quarter when we were in school,” Wills said. “I think it’s nice to bring in a band because you can start a new tradition with the new students.”

Wills said the party presented an opportunity to meet with other alumni and also brought locals together, making for a well-rounded event.

“This is exactly what we wanted,” Windham said. “Seeing how successful the event was and the good time that everyone is having, this is definitely a thing we want to do on a regular basis.”

College students took advantage of the event, flocking to The Square Friday night. Shelby Miller, a junior at Troy University, said she hopes for more events like this in the future.

“It makes me really excited when the students and the community can intermingle,” Miller said. “It makes Troy a more college-friendly town. My friends that go to bigger universities appreciate that about their town, and I’m happy to see Troy moving in that direction.”

While Miller said she goes to Downtown Troy often to shop and enjoy the local restaurants, she said that more students would be drawn to the area if events like the Homecoming Party occurred throughout the year.

“I think having these things throughout the year would be a good thing,” Miller said. “The more we do it, the more students will come and interact.”

The next event in the Fall Parties on The Square series will be Pumpkins Around The Square from 3 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 31.

“Just seeing all the different people enjoying these types of events shows us that this is something that the community looks forward to,” Windham said.