This story originally appeared in the August 2024 edition of Town&Gown magazine.
As the weather turns cooler and the leaves on the trees start to transform from green into orange, red and gold, local schools start gearing up for their homecoming celebrations.
That wholesome fall ritual is as embroiled in Americana as—with apologies to Chevrolet—baseball, hot dogs and apple pie.
While homecoming festivities at Penn State and local high schools share many commonalities—parades, pep rallies, homecoming courts, a dance and a football game—each school has traditions that make the celebration uniquely its own. Some of those local celebrations are described below, in chronological order.
Penn State
Sept. 22-28
Theme: “In Every Roar, Tradition Soars”
Penn State’s homecoming has a rich history, beginning with the first official homecoming football game held in 1920 (Penn State beat Dartmouth, 17-7), and the first official homecoming parade in 1922. Today, Penn State Homecoming entails a full week of a wide variety of festivities designed to bring alumni, students and the community together.
Run by a committee of about 200 students, this year’s homecoming will take place the week of Sept. 22-28. It will begin with a nine-hole golf tournament at the Penn State White Course on Sunday, culminating in the Penn State versus Illinois football game on Saturday, with a lot of other activities in between.
In addition to the golf tournament, Sunday included the Rally and Roar event sponsored by the Student Programming Association in conjunction with Penn State Homecoming and the State College Spikes. Held at Medlar Field, the kickoff event included live music, food vendors, fireworks, free ice cream for students and a students-versus-faculty softball game.
Monday, Sept. 23, will feature a block party on South Allen Street from 3 to 7 p.m. This community-wide event features food stands, live music and a dance competition among Penn State dance groups.
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, students are invited to stop by Heritage Hall on the first floor of the HUB-Robeson Center to see a display of historic photos and memorabilia, participate in interactive games and enjoy popcorn, cotton candy and other treats.
Wednesday, Sept. 25, is the Best of Penn State (BOPS) Carnival, held on the HUB lawn and featuring booths hosted by student organizations, carnival games, inflatables and edible goodies.
“That one’s really cool because you don’t realize how many student organizations Penn State has until you get them all together on HUB lawn,” says junior Cady Barcak, public relations director for Penn State Homecoming 2024. “That’s probably our most popular event. It’s wide open to the public, and everyone just kind of walks upon it. It’s really nice to see.”
An Opulence Homecoming Drag Show will be held following the carnival in HUB Alumni Hall.
Thursday, Sept. 26, is the Pride in our Community Pep Rally, hosted by the Paul Robeson Cultural Center.
On Friday, Sept. 27, the main event is the Penn State Homecoming Parade, which runs from the Intramural Building, along Bigler and Pollock Road, to Shortlidge Road and College Avenue. The parade will feature floats made by student organizations, who have spent much of the week “pomping”—rolling and gluing colorful tissue paper to chicken-wire frames—to create the floats, which should adhere to this year’s theme: “In Every Roar, Tradition Soars.”
Community organizations, youth twirlers and sports teams, high school bands, politicians in convertibles, fire trucks and more will also be part of the procession, which wraps up with the Nittany Lion mascot and a performance by the Penn State Blue Band. The parade also highlights a grand marshal—“someone who has gone above and beyond at and for Penn State, post-graduation,” says Barcak—and the three homecoming courts, which include separate student, graduate and alumni courts.
Following the parade, Lion Ambassadors and Penn State’s ROTC members lead the Guarding of the Lion Shrine overnight.
Legend has it that this beloved tradition traces its roots to Coach Joe Paterno’s first year at Penn State, when his wife, Sue Paterno, along with other coaches’ wives, doused the Nittany Lion Shrine in orange latex paint in an effort to get the students and the team riled up before the homecoming game against Syracuse.
The paint was easily removed, but the following year, Syracuse students used oil-based paint to deface the shrine, which was much harder to get off.
Ever since then, the Guarding of the Lion Shrine has become an integral part of Penn State Homecoming Week.
Finally, on Saturday, Sept. 28, Penn State will take on the Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois at 7:30 p.m. in Beaver Stadium for the homecoming game. The S-block in the student section will stand out in pink and black, the original Penn State colors; the Alumni Blue Band will perform on the field; and the homecoming court will take the field at halftime with the announcement of two “Guide State Forward” award winners, chosen by the student body based on core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence and community.
Bald Eagle Area High School
Sept. 23-28
Theme: Music
Diane Lucas, social studies teacher and student government advisor, leads Bald Eagle Area High School students in planning the district’s homecoming effort, which includes choosing a theme and planning spirit days.
This year’s theme revolves around music, so parade entries could reflect a musical genre, a song, a band or singer, or anything else related to music. The parade takes place on Sept. 25 in Milesburg. The parade is a relatively new tradition for BEA, having started just in 2018, and it has been very well-received.
“A lot of alumni come back, and a lot of alumni drive the floats,” Lucas says. “We get a great turnout, and people love it.”
The grand marshal is chosen by Lucas and Principal John Tobias, and is usually either an alumni or employee of the district.
Grades K-12 are invited to take part in both the parade and the spirit days leading up to it. This year’s spirit days will reflect the music theme: think “Disco Day” or “Rock and Roll Day.” Friday is always “Blue and Gold Day.”
Students in grades 10-12 nominate young women for homecoming queen. The top 10 vote-getters are on the court, and the winner will be crowned before the Friday night football game on Sept. 27. The homecoming dance takes place on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Penns Valley Area High School
Sept. 23-28
Theme: ’70s Disco Party
Like most other high schools, Penns Valley holds spirit days during the week of homecoming. The difference is, homecoming court nominees are judged by their creativity in dressing for the different theme days as a part of their bid to become homecoming king or queen.
The court members also join the whole school in a door decorating competition relative to the year’s theme. This year, that theme is ’70s Disco Party.
According to Athletic Director Nate Althouse, “They get tremendously inventive.”
On Thursday, Sept. 26, the parade will take place at what Althouse says is “the best parade location ever”—Grange Park.
“It means so much to our community; it’s just a wonderful place to have this parade,” he says. “It’s really the highlight of homecoming.”
The Student Council selects both the theme and the grand marshal, which Althouse says is always a Penns Valley alum.
“It’s nice when we’re able to recognize these people who have had an impact on our community, and give them their day in the back of a pick-up truck,” he says.
On Friday, Sept. 27, the school holds a pep rally in the school gymnasium, which includes a “Mystery Ram”—usually a faculty or staff member wearing the mascot uniform and making students guess his or her identity. Again, the rally involves an element of competition for members of the homecoming court, including games of skill and creativity.
Court members who earn the most points from the week win the title of homecoming king and queen, and are crowned at the end of the football game later that evening. The homecoming dance takes place the following day, Saturday, Sept. 28.
Bellefonte Area High School
Sept. 30-Oct. 5
Theme: Musical Genres
Bellefonte Area High School kicks off its homecoming week with spirit days in the school. Last year, themes included “Barbie vs. Ken,” “Western Wednesday,” and
“Pajama Day.” According to Student Council Advisor Christine Morris, Friday is always “Red and White Day.”
“The students [in Student Council] decide,” Morris says. “I want to empower them to make some important changes, because it’s their experience that is important.”
On Thursday, Oct. 3, the festivities spread into the community as the homecoming parade takes place, running from Bellefonte Elementary School to the high school. Each class designs its own float. Floats this year will reflect different music genres.
A trolley carrying older alumni was a new addition to the parade last year, and Morris anticipates that new tradition continuing. The homecoming court, which includes one nominated couple in grades nine through 11 as well as five nominated senior couples, also rides in the parade and throws candy.
A grand marshal leads the parade and is then recognized before the Friday night football game on Oct. 4.
“Our grand marshal is typically someone in the community who has given back to the students, which is important,” Morris says.
At halftime, the court members are recognized on the field, when the first runners-up and the homecoming king and queen are announced.
Saturday, Oct. 5, is the homecoming dance, when, Morris says, “We celebrate with all of our students at the high school. It’s a couple hours just to show up in their finery and have that moment that is iconic to high school.”
State College Area High School
Oct. 14-19
Theme: “Let Your Dreams Come Alive in ’25”
“Our cheerleaders and our student senate have a big part in organizing homecoming and what that looks like. It’s very student centered,” says State College Area High School Assistant Principal Laura Tobias.
This year, students have chosen the theme “Let Your Dreams Come Alive in ’25,” which Tobias says “really sets the tone for homecoming.”
During the week of homecoming, the cheerleading team sets themes for each day, and the students dress accordingly. Themes could include things like Adam Sandler Day, Floral Day and, always, Maroon and Gray Day.
Thursday, Oct. 17, is the parade, which involves participants from throughout the district and the community.
Tobias says, “The parade is one of the biggest community events that we have here; our community really comes out and supports it.”
Last year, the parade route was changed to reflect safety concerns caused by crossing Atherton Street. The parade now starts at the high school and proceeds through the Holmes-Foster neighborhood before ending at the school’s South Track for a pep rally.
At the Friday night football game on Oct. 18, the homecoming court will be introduced and the king and queen—seniors who are voted on by the student body—will be announced.
The Saturday night homecoming dance on Oct. 19 is the school’s largest dance of the year, including students from grades nine through 12. T&G
Karen Walker is a freelance writer in State College.
