Homecoming brings exciting events to students

Ezita Rodriguez/Staff Writer
ezita.rodriguez@fiusm.com

Alfred Vizcarra said attending FIU Homecoming is in his senior year bucket list—he doesn’t want to graduate without knowing what it’s like.

“This is my last semester at FIU and I want to go—this is my last chance,” said Vizcarra, a senior broadcast media major.

The University Homecoming Day is Saturday, Oct. 18, with the annual parade and tailgate before the Panthers take on the Marshall Thundering Herd at 7:30 p.m. in the Alonso Field at FIU Stadium.

Events leading up to the big day include a talent show, a comedy show, a lounge event, a beauty pageant and the Panthermonium concert.

Vizcarra is planning on attending the  homecoming events with friends or classmates, and looks forward to the this year’s concert performance by  Tiësto on Sunday, Oct. 12.

“I’ve seen him before at the Ultra Music Festival, I’m looking forward to the concert,” he said.

Two new events this year are Midday Madness and Panther Reggae Fest.

Midday Madness is a spirit day to gear up for the upcoming week of Homecoming events, said Taylor Hall, assistant director of communication for the Homecoming Council.  The event will include free food, games and giveaways.

“It’s a day to unleash the spirit of FIU,” she said.

The event begins at noon on Friday, Oct. 10 in the Betty Chapman Plaza at Modesto A. Maidique Campus.

Panther Reggae Fest, on Tuesday Oct. 14, will be a performance on the lawn by the bay at the Biscayne Bay Campus. Kes the Band will be performing from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Students at BBC will have their own spirit day to gear up for Homecoming on Monday, Oct. 13 with the Kickoff By the Bay event from noon to 4 p.m. in the BBC lawns. The event will include food, music and kayaking.

Some homecoming staples students look forward to every year are the comedy show and talent show.

This year artist DL Hughley and Eddie Griffin will headline the Panther Prowl comedy show. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at the FIU Arena. Panthers Got Talent begins at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday Oct. 16.

Lauren Gottlieb, a senior journalism major and part of Alpha Omicron Pi, said she looks forward to the Saturday Oct. 11 “Unleash the Crown” beauty pageant.

The Homecoming Duke and Duchess will be announced at the pageant, after the contestants showcase a talent, answer University trivia and present themselves in formal attire, among other things.

“I’m definitely going to attend and support my sorority sisters as well as the rest of the Greek community,” said Gottlieb.

The Prince and Princess will be announced at the LXV Lounge Homecoming Dance event on Friday, Oct. 17 at the BBC Ballrooms. The event begins at 7 p.m.

The Homecoming King and Queen will be announced at the Homecoming football game on Oct. 18.

Gottlieb said the tradition of Homecoming is important to FIU. Since the University is typically a commuter school, she believes events like Homecoming create a peak in school spirit.

“I think all of FIU appreciates and enjoys it. I think FIU is probably the only school I know that invites such well-known artists to their concerts,” Gottlieb said.

Previous performers include Lifehouse, Lupe Fiasco, B.O.B, J.Cole, Zedd and Kaskade.

The Homecoming Day Parade, which features different student organizations, floats, performers, dancers and the marching band, begins at the parking lot behind the College of Law and will stretch past Parkview and into Tamiami Park, where students can begin to tailgate.

The parade will begin about three hours before the 7:30 p.m. football game. At half-time, the Homecoming king and queen will be announced.

Voting for Homecoming Court begins on Oct. 8 and 9 at the computer labs in the Graham Center, at the BBC Academic Center One Atrium or accessed remotely through the MYFIU website.