FAIRFAX CITY, VA — George Mason University is partnering with the City of Fairfax on special events and shopping discounts over the next two weeks as part of the university’s 2020 homecoming celebration. Students and alumni will get to enjoy discounts at local businesses through Feb. 22.

The Patriot Activities Council, Mason Athletics, Student Involvement, and the Alumni Association, together with the City of Fairfax, are sponsoring the GMU homecoming festivities.

Among the celebrations is the Paint the City Green event where Fairfax City businesses are partnering with GMU student organizations, clubs, fraternities and sororities, and athletic groups in a homecoming-window decorating competition to spread Mason spirit. Windows are painted in Mason’s green and gold.

Fairfax City’s mayor and Council members will judge the window displays. The best window display winner will be announced at the GMU’s Feb. 22 homecoming basketball game at EagleBank Arena.

The participating businesses will have their window decorations on display through Thursday, Feb. 20. The businesses include:

Subscribe

Another part of the partnership between GMU and the city is a program called Patriots in the City where GMU students and alumni get to enjoy discounts up to 20 percent at Fairfax City businesses through Feb. 22. Students will need to show their Mason ID and alumni can get a pass from the university to receive the discounts at the participating businesses.

Businesses participating in the Patriots in the City discount program include:

A tip-off party with live music, free food and special guests kicked off the homecoming celebration Tuesday night, which is followed by a day of service on Wednesday where students can donate blood or give items that will be distributed to people in need in the Fairfax area.

The Patriots’ men’s basketball team plays George Washington University Saturday afternoon at EagleBank Arena followed by a lip sync battle in the evening at Dewberry Hall. The homecoming celebrations will continue into next week when George Mason’s women’s basketball team plays the University of Richmond on Feb. 19 at EagleBank Arena. The official homecoming game will take place Feb. 22 when the men’s basketball team takes on St. Joseph’s University at EagleBank Arena.

GMU’s 2020 homecoming headliner is comedian Colin Jost of Saturday Night Live who will be performing Feb. 20 at the George Mason University for the Arts.