Colleges across the US have fun customs for all sorts of occasions and events throughout the year, but for those that celebrate college homecoming, it often comes with years of history and traditions behind it.
You may be wondering, what is homecoming in college?
Homecoming is a time when college campuses come alive with school spirit. It’s often a celebration of alumni, current students, and the community coming together to support their college. Most frequently, homecoming takes place in the fall during the weekend of a home football game. However, not all colleges with homecoming traditions even have football teams. In that case, they will schedule their homecoming weekends around a different event.
Different colleges have different traditions, and some have pretty awesome events to celebrate. Here are five colleges with awesome homecoming traditions:
1. Texas State University | Soap Box Derby
Texas State University holds a week of celebrations and events across the campus, bringing together students, faculty, and alumni. They have a campus-wide office decorating contest where all faculty and staff are encouraged to deck out their offices in Texas State University pride or any way they see fit to celebrate the homecoming weekend. There’s a TXST’s Got Talent Show, a spirit parade, a pep rally, and more, all leading up to the weekend’s football game.
But their most notable tradition is the Soap Box Derby. It has been happening every year since 1967 and is loved by all Texas State University fans and supporters. Students can build their own cars and enter the race that begins at the top of a hill and is launched from a large ramp. Soapbox cars are inspected before the race by officials and are required to go through test drives to make sure the student-built cars are safe to race. Students from all around the campus, faculty, alumni, and the community come to watch this annual tradition.
2. University of Miami | Boat Burning Ceremony
The University of Miami’s longest-standing homecoming tradition is the Boat Burning Ceremony. It’s an elaborate event entailing a fireworks show synced to music over Lake Osceola at the center of this tropical campus. But beyond the music and fireworks, the Boat Burning Ceremony holds a deeper meaning and has a superstitious legend attached to it.
According to the University of Miami, “Legend has it that if the mast of the boat falls before the boat sinks, the Miami Hurricanes will win the Homecoming football game the following day.” They also hold special alumni events and have a ‘Canes lounge where alumni can go, meet other alumni, eat and drink, and have a front-row view of the fireworks and boat burning. The whole campus comes alive with celebrations, music, lights, and fireworks.
3. University of California, Riverside | Bonfire
The University of California, Riverside, has a giant, student-held bonfire before the game the next day. It’s a celebration of their team and normally includes the burning of the opposing team’s mascot to get school spirit up and to get the students excited to root for their school.
On top of a huge bonfire, they also have fun celebrations the whole week and have held carnival-style events with live music and special guests.
4. Virginia Tech | Game Ball Run
Virginia Tech’s homecoming celebration is filled with parades, spirit rallies, and fireworks. However, one of their most awesome homecoming traditions is the Game Ball Run. This tradition started in the 1970s and is essentially what it sounds like. The football game ball is run around campus by Ranger Cadets for a total of 100 miles. It ends with the ball being run into the stadium for the start of the homecoming game. The whole crowd patiently awaits its arrival and cheers when it enters the stadium.
Not only does this tradition result in the community and student body filled with school spirit. But the night before there is a parade that starts at Lane Stadium and walks through town with floats, the marching band, and other organizations and ends with a spirit rally and fireworks. Anyone can inquire about having a parade float, so it’s a great way for student organizations to get involved too.
5. University of Florida
Another Florida school with a crazy awesome homecoming tradition is the University of Florida and its Gator Growl. It’s one of the largest student-run pep rallies and has required over 500 volunteers in the past to run and put on. It even requires reserving your spot with a ticket because of how many people (tens of thousands) want to go to this extravaganza. There are celebrity concerts, school spirit chants, fireworks, and more.
Some of the other fun events that they have for homecoming include a fun run, the Gator Gallop, and a festival with free goodies, activities, and vendors. They also hold a Homecoming Leadership Pageant to recognize student leaders who will then become the University of Florida’s homecoming court.
These awesome traditions are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to college homecoming traditions. We hope that helps to answer the question: what is college homecoming and gives you insight into what homecoming can look like at different colleges.
Are fun homecoming traditions important to you for your college experience? Keep that in mind while you search for colleges best matched to you. Don’t know where to start? Check out College Raptor’s College Match tool to help in your search for a college best matched to you.
