{"id":59807,"date":"2025-09-30T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=59807"},"modified":"2025-09-30T08:59:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T12:59:27","slug":"photos-from-2025-royals-go-downtown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2025\/photos-from-2025-royals-go-downtown\/","title":{"rendered":"Photos from 2025 Royals Go Downtown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s not your average college town cuisine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the more than 200 EMU students participating in the university\u2019s fourth annual Royals Go Downtown presented by Everence on Thursday, the foods available to try ranged from sweet sips (mango lassi from Taj of India), savory snacks (dumplings from Mashita), and the wacky and wonderful (pickles on a stick from Sage Bird Ciderworks).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s not to mention the dozen other mouthwatering dishes students could sample from downtown Harrisonburg restaurants, businesses, and organizations including Magpie Diner, Aristocat Cafe + Tea House, Court Square Theater (serving their own popcorn), Broad Porch Coffee Co., Rockingham County Circuit Court and Clerk’s office (handing out gavel-shaped pencils), Billy Jack’s Wing & Draft Shack, Texas Inn, Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn, OASIS Fine Art & Craft (giving away lollipops), Klines Dairy Bar, and Benny Sorrentino\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Royals Go Downtown introduces EMU students to the restaurants and other businesses that make the Friendly City so special. Students gathered, by the busload, at alumna-owned Magpie Diner to begin their cross-town culinary crawl, where they were greeted by Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus<\/strong>. \u201cThis is a time where we get to be community together,\u201d Dycus told students. \u201cWe are in downtown Harrisonburg because this is home for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n