In a triumph over soggy weather, more than 1,000 Owls converged on Temple's Philadelphia campuses last weekend (April 15-17) to make Alumni Weekend 2011 a historic success.

Over a three-day period, alumni returned for tours, lectures, exhibitions, plays, concerts and parties, making the event the largest on-campus gathering of the Temple community for a non-athletic event in the university’s history.

Guided tours allowed alumni to see how the university has changed since their time here, and an international street fair highlighted the diversity and richness of Temple’s culture. Student performers from the theater, music and dance departments dazzled with several plays and performances throughout the weekend.

Owls also fanned out across the city, for a young alumni party in Northern Liberties and Owls-only access to Philly landmarks like the National Museum of American Jewish History and the Eastern State Penitentiary. Members of the classes of 1961 and 1986, who returned for their 50 and 25 year reunions, were treated to cocktail receptions, comedic reflections on their college years and video reflections of their Temple memories.

The anchoring event came Saturday Night with a live performance from Daryl Hall and Fitz and the Tantrums at the Liacouras Center. Hall, a former Temple student, shared stories of his time here, including how he met band-mate and Temple alumnus John Oates on the steps of Mitten Hall.

— Elizabeth DiPardo