There are fun events every day of Homecoming week this year for NIU students to get involved with and attend!

The Homecoming Kick Off Rally is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. today in the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commons. This is one way to show off your Huskie Pride, meet the Huskie royalty and receive additional information about Homecoming Week.

The Recycled Boat Race takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, in the East Lagoon. Teams will compete in the boat race using people-powered crafts that have been designed by the organization and using at least 70 percent trash or recyclable materials. The teams are competing for first, second and third place medals.

Homecoming Court elections are held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10.

It is a NIU tradition to have five king and five queen candidates chosen by interviews. Do not forget to go out and support your favorite candidate!

Yell Like Hell take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Convocation Center. This spirit competition is another fun NIU tradition where students compete in groups, preparing a dance or cheerleading routine with music of their choice. Visit YouTube for a preview of what this competition is like.

Friday, Oct 12, brings another long-standing Huskie Homecoming tradition.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., student organizations, Greek organizations, residence halls,, community members, NIU departments and NIU offices will participate in the 2012 Homecoming parade. They will decorate floats and cars or walk in the parade with their group.

The parade has changed routes this year to be more campus-friendly. It will start at the Huskie Stadium, head north on Annie Glidden Road, pass the Greek Houses on Greenbrier Road, south on Russell Road and end with a bonfire at the Engineering Building parking lot. Everyone is invited to attend the bonfire, which will start around 7 p.m.

Floats in each category – student organization, Greek organization, residence hall, community member, NIU department and NIU offices, in addition to Viewer’s Choice – will compete for first, second or third place based on creativity, incorporation of the Homecoming theme and overall effect.

Later on Friday, the National Pan-Hellenic Council will host a dance party from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m. at the Campus Recreation Center.

Saturday, Oct. 13, dawns at 7:45 a.m. with a Homecoming 5K organized on by Campus Recreation, located at the Student Recreation Center.

Alumni Village, adjacent to the Barsema Alumni Visitors Center, will open at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Huskie sports scheduled that afternoon include men’s soccer (noon at the Soccer and Track & Field Complex), football (2:30 p.m. in Huskie Stadium) and volleyball (7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center).

The annual Rep Yo Step Show, hosted by the National Pan-Hellenic Council, begins at 7 p.m. in  the Duke Ellington Ballroom followed by an after-party! Tickets are available online.

For more information on Homecoming, call (815) 753-1421 or email [email protected].