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This year homecoming festivities will be a little bit different. For students, homecoming is the one week a year where all classes come together in school spirit. They all compete for points throughout the week and on Friday, class color day they all celebrate their class and graduation year.
Typically, homecoming is inside the gym but this year it’ll be held outdoors in the newly renovated 900 courtyard. To take advantage of the outdoor space, leadership will host a fall festival, which will include food, drinks, games, music, and activities.
“I heard there is going to be a fun outdoor festive thing, but then also heard it's going to be more chill, which is not as exciting, but I’m still going because it's my senior year,” senior Charlotte Morgan said.
The festival will be held on October 23, 2021 from 5-8 pm in the quad by the 900 building. Homecoming tickets are $10 in advance $15 at the door. Homecoming week will remain the same, but the assembly on Friday October 22 will be held outside on the field. Students should wear semi-formal clothing or a Halloween costume.
Homecoming will be held outside to maximize space and airflow. HOCO dress days are: Mathletes vs Athletes Monday, Tropical Tuesday, College Day Wednesday, Throwback Thursday, and Class Color Friday. Seniors are blue, Juniors are green, Sophomores are yellow, and Freshmen are orange.
“It's going to be super cold outside, especially if people are going to be wearing dresses. It's still going to be fun though,” said sophomore Jasmine Ferrer.
Many students are used to the raucous vibe of a crowded gym. But some welcome the change.
“Better than being in that stinky gym, because freshman year people kept jumping on me,” said junior Marques Singleton.
However, with rain forecasted for Friday and Saturday, outdoor events may not be feasible. Leadership is in the process of considering alternatives.
"It's been pretty stressful for all the committees," said senior class secretary Milanka Ngo. "Everyone has to figure out timing. Since it might rain, it makes it more stressful."
Leadership conducted a poll on October 19 asking the student body which alternatives they would prefer if it were to rain on Friday and Saturday.
"One of the options is we will have homecoming [festivities] no matter what, whether rain or shine [on October 23rd]," said junior class secretary Kelly Quach. "Or we could reschedule it for next week, which is Halloween. [However] that will be quite difficult because not a lot of people will want to come and there is no home football game."
However, the Homecoming Festival might not be the only thing the rain will spoil. It may also affect the homecoming assembly which is scheduled for Friday outside on the bleachers.
"For the assembly it will be a bit harder. We want to do it outside on the bleachers with every class but it might be raining. The weather report says it will stop raining from 2-4pm and start raining at 5pm again, so that would be a good time but the bleachers might still be wet so we're still trying to find an alternative way," said Quach.
Even with the threat of rain on the horizon, students are still hopeful to attend this year's Homecoming Festival. Leadership poll results confirmed that the school will go through with the original plan of having the assembly on Friday October 22 and homecoming on Saturday October 23, rain or shine.
“I'm hoping outdoor homecoming will still provide a good homecoming experience,” sophomore Shakale Carson said.
Kristine Bakhad contributed to this story.
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