Every year it seems like homecomings for colleges and universities creeps up on us. At the beginning of the year , you’re trying to get all your ducks in a row, get organized and figure out your class and work schedule and on top of that, try to maintain a semi social life (some of us, more than others). For the most part, this is the biggest event of the semester so you start planning quickly. Homecoming falls usually between fall and thanksgiving break, sometimes before fall break in late September, early October. You have alumni, students, football, kings, queens, food, booze, and of course, the week is loaded down with all kinds of events. But what events have been the most successful? Which ones flop? Which ones have the best outcomes trough popularity and involvement? What are some great ways to publicize? Let’s talk:

SUCCESS! YAY:   

Themed Weeks: With dress up days and all, this is a way to make this particular week completely different than the others. Every student will know that this week, something fun is going on! Check out this Blog: http://thesabloggers.org/2008/01/try-the-novelty-of-themed-weeks/

-Carnivals: So everyone likes one aspect of carnivals. Whether it is the food, the rides or the clowns, there is always something super fun about them for all ages. WARNING: TIME DEMANDING PLANNING. However, it is totally worth it. This is a great way to unite alumni and their families to the students. Millersvile University does this. They call it the Fall Fling and it has proved successful! LINK: http://www.millersville.edu/news/articles/2009/09/homecoming-2009.php

-Step Shows: At the University of South Carolina, they have a step show that brings the crowds by the hundreds. Students pay $5 and get in the rhythm watching the step performances. Very popular! http://www.sc.edu/homecoming.com

-Dance Competitions: Student organizations audition for a spot in a dance competition. Usually needs to incorporate the theme of homecoming and what the organization does for the university. Students get really involved with this one!

-Painting Sidewalks: Everyone pays a buck to paint a square on a main street or sidewalk on campus! Or make it free to get more students involved! Gets people pumped and the campus colorful! Great for people that are more of artists than dancers or athletes! Look it up at: http://media.www.thegrandviews.com/media/storage/paper1329/news/2008/10/03/News/Sidewalk.Painting.Kicks.Off.Homecoming.Week-3467395.shtml

NADA! NAY:

-Parades: Let’s be honest: Homecoming is BIG week. People are having fun but you are stressed. Parades are way too much effort for one week, especially when you have ten thousand more things going on. This takes careful and time demanding planning. If you have time, this could be an option. However you also have to get people involved, which would mean they have to want to build a legit float and be in the parade. I have found that students really are not interested in going to see the parades. Floats are neat but if it ain’t Macy’s, people just are not that engaged. Alternative BIG and time demanding planning event:  The Carnival (See above).

The key to any successful Event is PUBLICITY, PUBLICITY, PUBLICITY! This means any form of output you can do, go for it. Keep it cheap but take time with it.

- Banners: Get people pumped! In high school, every year we had a spirit week against another school to raise money for a philanthropy in the area. We went to a convention for student government and we were so excited every day simply because they had so many banners hanging. We emulated that during spirit week and surpassed our goal of $120,000.00 by $17,000. We believe a lot of it had to do with putting banners up early to get students pumped and ready to donate!

- Neon Sunglasses: They should say “School Name Homecoming 2010”- they are pretty cheap and college kids dig ‘em! They are free, cute and gender neutral.

-Stall walls: Oh yes! Wouldn’t you like to be entertained while you’re taken care of business? WE thought so. This way people are not just passing them, they are kind of forced to read it!

-Newsletters to alum: Let them know about everything! Let them feel like a student again! Obviously some events are more student-oriented but let them know so they feel a part of the school again.

So what does everyone else do? Tell me the tricks of the trade! What has been the most successful thing your school has done for homecoming and why was it so great? What were the steps used in the process? What was possibly the event that did not do so well and why do you think that was the case? Whatever the homecoming event, we encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas here!