The large freshman class has forced Welcome Week organizers to move the annual talent show to the Abilene Civic Center at 1100 North 6th St.

For the past two years, the Welcome Week talent show has taken place at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Abilene and was located in Cullen Auditorium for years before that. But with more than 960 incoming freshmen, organizers decided to move to the new location. The show will run from 7-8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Welcome Week leader T’Neise Ragland, senior education major from Sachse, said the change also allows freshmen the opportunity to get to know Abilene better.

“It’s the beginning of a new tradition and allows students to explore new places in Abilene,” Ragland said. She said the move will encourage new students to enjoy the culture that Abilene has to offer. The Civic Center hosts art shows, music and book festivals and theatre performances that students can attend throughout the year.

Moving the location of the talent show will allow more people to participate in this Welcome Week tradition, she said. The Civic Center holds more seats than both Cullen Auditorium and the Paramount. This leaves plenty of room not only for freshman participating in Welcome Week, but also for parents, alumni and upperclassmen to attend the show.

Paramount Theatre officials said college students still will have opportunities to attend film festivals, movies and other events at the venue during their time in Abilene.

“We still host the Welcome Week movie night, FilmFest in April and have plenty of ACU students involved in musicals over the summer,” said Taylor Compton, technical director at the Paramount.