The stark white tarps laid throughout Jubilee Court transformed to purple in a flash Friday, as Brock University’s Homecoming Grape Stomp got underway.

Called one of the best university traditions in Canada by University Affairs magazine, the annual event saw more than 350 students stomp, toss and squish a sea of Concord grapes to celebrate a successful start to the new school year.

While focused in part on fun, the free event was also an opportunity to contribute to the local community, with participants encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations for Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold.

Paired with the two metric tonnes of grapes was live music by Avenue Inn and a free barbecue sponsored by Aramark for the Brock community.

Grape Stomp is part of a packed lineup for Brock’s Homecoming celebration, which continues this weekend with Friday’s Steel Blade Classic hockey game, Saturday’s Brock Night at the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival and Sunday’s Badger Bazaar at St. Catharines Market Square.

For a full list of Homecoming events, visit brocku.ca/homecoming