The Morris Brown campus was full of enthusiasm Saturday as thousands from around the country celebrated the 2008 Atlanta Greek Picnic, the focal event as part of Atlanta's Greek Weekend.

The event brought in 10,000 members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the organization that houses the African-American sororities and fraternities known as the Divine Nine, said Tiwa Works, the event's president and marketing director.

Elissa Eubanks/AJC (ENLARGE)

Shani Robinson, 24, representing Alpha Kappa Alpha from Tennessee State reacts to girls dancing for their sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho , at The Annual National Pan-Hellenic Council of Greater Georgia 2008 Family Greek Weekend at Morris Brown College.

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Works said the event has grown steadily over the past four years.

Monica Arrington, a senior at Florida Memorial University and member of the Delta Eta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, flew from Washington for the festivities.

"I am excited. This is my first annual Greek picnic," said Arrington, who is a recent initiate – a neophyte in the Greek fraternal community. "The social events have enhanced my experience as a member of the organization. I am happy to see all Greeks come together and have a really good time"

Tolu Lanrewaju, a senior at Princeton University and a Delta Sigma Theta sorority member, said, "I had to come to this. It is the perfect demonstration of various Greek organizations coming together and networking with each other."

Others expressed similar sentiments.

"Black fraternities are necessary to uplift mankind from the black perspective. By us unifying, we are creating a more harmonious situation for black people," said Jeremy Knox, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha at North Carolina A&T University.

At the picnic, vendors sold goods ranging from hats and shirts to paintings depicting participating sororities and fraternities. Members of the organizations participated in chants and strolls, most dressed in Greek paraphernalia or in their organizations' colors: Deltas in red, AKAs in pink and green; Alphas in black and gold, and so on.

Other Greek Weekend events included bowling at the 300 Atlanta on Thursday night, and a social at Atlantic Station's Dolce restaurant and lounge on Friday evening. Official parties took place at the Velvet Room nightclub, with a finale bash Saturday night at the Georgia Freight Depot.