While some Virginia football team supporters were stocking their coolers or looking for their pearls Friday night, others were gathered at the Downtown Mall for Paint the Town Orange,? an event that gave Virginia football fans a chance to celebrate the kickoff of the home football season.
Paint the Town Orange offered something for every Cavaliers fan. Free blue cotton candy and orange and blue snow-cones allowed fans not satisfied with simply bleeding blue and orange to eat their favorite colors as well. Some shops on the Downtown Mall showed their support for the Cavaliers by decorating their windows. One store went all out, bedecked in stickers, pompoms, streamers and a "Go, Hoos, Go!" sign.
Student groups also attended the festivities. The Virginia Dance Team and Virginia cheerleaders handed out football schedules and other free items.
"It's exciting seeing all the community out here," said first-year College student Kimberly Resua, a member of the Virginia Dance Team.
Her teammate, second-year College student Katie Castillo, explained the dance team was trying to get the community excited for the game.
"Some people are just not into the spirit of Paint the Town Orange, while others are," said third-year Nursing student Laura Spurlock, a cheerleader. "[However,] the kids love it."
"We like it when people get excited," she added.
The cheerleaders and Virginia Dance Team were not the only representatives of the University revving up the crowd at Paint the Town Orange. CavMan also made an appearance, walking around and shaking hands.
The event also involved representatives from the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office.
Sgt. Bobby Shiflett, a representative of the group, explained that he and others were present to raise money by selling University apparel to benefit Project Lifesaver. This program provides sufferers of Alzheimer's, autism, Down syndrome and other conditions with bracelets containing radio transmitters that help authorities locate those who may wander away from their care providers.
Paint the Town Orange culminated with the Cavalier Marching Band parading down the Downtown Mall and into the Charlottesville Pavilion, playing music and leading cheers, before coach Al Groh and co-captains Tom Santi, Chris Long and Branden Albert spoke on stage.
"I'm just excited to see everybody out here," Santi said.
To conclude the event, University students and local residents joined the Cavalier Marching Band in "Good Ol' Song."
"The band was pretty good, especially the tubas," said Ian Prum, a student at a Jack Jouett Middle School in Albemarle County, adding that he plans to return next year.
Paint the Town Orange was for the young and old alike. Charlottesville resident Barbara Keller said she has been a season ticket holder for 33 years and comes to Paint the Town Orange to show her love for the University. She noted, however, that she found Paint the Town Orange more subdued this year than in the past.
Charlottesville resident Karyen Rader said Paint the Town Orange is a family affair for her and her sons. With a little help from his mother, Rader's son Simon said his favorite player is Santi.
While Simon might have been excited to see his favorite football player that night, another Paint the Town Orange patron, Eric Holsinger, said his daughters were interested in seeing other members of the University community.
"They love seeing the cheerleaders," he said.
Although Holsinger does not live in the Charlottesville area, he said he has come to Paint the Town Orange many times.
"It's a good family event," he said. "We make a weekend of it."
William Brown, a 2007 College graduate, said he returned for this year's Paint the Town Orange to build community spirit.
"I think it's a good way for the students and community members to get together before the first [home] game," he said.
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