Mid August brings summer to a screeching halt when move-in weekend takes place on the East Carolina University campus. That particular weekend marks the beginning of events, concerts, football and festivals and there will be more than enough to fill your spare time. See the calendar on pages 16-17 to find out what's going on this month.

Every year ECU holds Pirate Palooza at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The event includes games and food as a way of welcoming new (and old) students to the school. mixer's Will Preslar was there and took photos of the event. See page 12.

With classes a couple of weeks under way, September brings the promise of a new East Carolina University football season with home games at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Read about this year's upcoming season and the team on page 6.

Football season brings Freeboot Fridays, a pregame party held the day before. Held at Five Points Plaza in downtown Greenville, the event offers live music, vendors, restaurant samples and children's activities. Read more about Freeboot and the musicians who are going to preform on page 7.

The 36th annual Ayden Collard Festival will be held in the town's center Sept. 8-11. The event will include live music by Spare Change on Sept. 7, the Craig Woolard Band Sept. 8 and the Martin McDaniel Band Sept. 9. See the full festival schedule on page 8.

We also have a “mixer was there” from Kenny Chesney's concert in Raleigh as reported by Lynsey Horn and an interview with Tim Reynolds who peformed with Dave Matthews in August in Charlottesville, Va., written by contributer Kelly Warren. See those stories on pages 9-10.

Welcome back students! Hope you have a great year.