In the late 1960s, UNCG launched an autumn campus celebration called Falderal (sometimes referred to as the Fall Charlies). Falderal featured concerts, speakers, sports, and lots of free food.

The first (and seemingly the only) Falderal mention in the Pine Needles yearbooks is in the 1979 volume – the same year that Chancellor William Ferguson resigned. During that year, the Student Government raised money so that students could have beer to drink at Falderal. The legal drinking age at the time was 18 years old. The 1979 Falderal celebrations also featured performance by popular musicians like Tom Chapin, the Bee Gees, the Fat Jack Band, and the Doobie Brothers. Several movies were also shown. Also, the students who were part of the special events committee baked a 500-pound cake to share with everyone on campus.

In the early 1980s, Falderal transitioned into what we now know as Homecoming.

Supplemental Materials

Pine needles yearbook Falderal section

The Carolinian article about Falderal

Spartan Story about Falderal