Homecoming is a classic high school tradition that is a time to celebrate and build school spirit, hyping everyone up for the homecoming football game and ending with a celebratory dance. Depending on the school, it often includes a parade, pep rally, and spirit week leading up to the bigger events.
Homecoming gives alumni an opportunity to return and celebrate their school’s glory and for the community to engage. The event happens every year, but if you aren’t familiar with the concept, you may not know all that homecoming involves.
The History of Homecoming
From parades to pep rallies to crowning a “king” and “queen,” this autumn celebration originated at colleges in the early 1900s. Homecoming was a night to welcome alumni back to campus to celebrate and support a football rivalry. During the 1940s and 1950s, after WWII, high schools began adopting the homecoming tradition and following it all up with a celebratory dance.
Many colleges still celebrate homecoming, and they have many of the same aspects of a high school celebration, plus events, reunions, festivals, and tailgating. They don’t typically crown a King and Queen, making that a unique high school adaptation to the tradition.
What is the Homecoming Dance?
The homecoming dance follows up all the other celebrations, including the football game. It’s an ending to an exciting week, and students dress up to dance the night away with their classmates.
Those who have dates may have had homecoming proposals, where they ask their date (or get asked) to go with them in an over-the-top way. Others choose to go with friends, getting ready and celebrating together throughout the entire experience.
On the night of the dance, many students get their nails and hair done, spend hours on makeup, and coordinate their homecoming outfits with their friends and dates. They get together for photos, some go to dinner, and then they spend the night at their school’s dance venue, which is often the decorated gymnasium.
Homecoming Courts & Crowning
Homecoming courts mark an iconic part of the homecoming celebration. They typically include a king and a queen, but some schools include a prince and princess, or a court for each grade (freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior). If a school only elects one queen and king, they are usually popular upperclassmen (juniors and seniors) who are heavily involved in school activities.
Students typically nominate their classmates for the homecoming court, and then the entire school body participates in final voting. Faculty or students often announce the King and Queen during the pep rally, football game, or at the dance.
Homecoming Football Games
Usually, the homecoming game is a regular-season football game against a team the school expects to beat (increasing school spirit and excitement at the dance) or a rivalry. School rivalries are especially common for areas that don’t have many high schools.
Schools call the game “homecoming” because it’s held at the school’s stadium, and alumni are encouraged to return to increase school spirit and community.
Spirit Week
By the mid-1900s, homecoming became a week-long event, called “spirit week”, where students dress up in daily themes before the homecoming football game and dance.
Spirit week usually involves scheduled dress-up days in the week leading up to the Friday night football game. Some popular examples include Pajama Day, Twin Day (where you match outfits with a friend), or School Colors Day. Certain clubs or classes (like student council) may decorate the hallways or build floats if there’s a parade.
Students love spirit week because they can express humor and personality while connecting with their classmates and the community. It helps strengthen bonds early in the school year, creating memories that’ll keep students engaged.
Homecoming Parade
A homecoming parade comes directly before the game, usually ending at the field. School and community groups join the parade, building floats, making signs, and marching to encourage school spirit. Community members and other students sit on the sides of the road, collecting candy and cheering.
The parade often features the high school marching band, sports teams, clubs and organizations, the homecoming court, alumni groups, and local businesses and community groups.
Homecoming Pep Rallies
During a pep rally, students gather in the school’s gymnasium while sports teams and cheerleaders perform or introduce themselves. The other students sit in the bleachers, cheering and hyping up the athletes for the upcoming game.
Sometimes, pep rallies feature a friendly “teacher vs. student” competition. This event encourages school spirit and gets students excited to support the team and celebrate at the dance.
How Long Does HoCo Usually Last
The entire homecoming event often lasts a whole week. Spirit week spans the week, with a new dress-up theme daily. Then, there’s a rally and parade on Friday, before the football game. After the game, everyone heads to the dance to finally relax and celebrate together for three or four hours.
Homecoming vs. Prom
Prom and homecoming are often grouped into the same category, although they have many differences. Prom is a more elaborate dance that takes place in April. It is an event only open to upperclassmen, or juniors and seniors. Homecoming, the fall event, is open to all four grade levels.
Another difference is that prom isn’t tied to a football game and doesn’t involve spirit week, a parade, or a pep rally, so students focus entirely on the dance. Since only juniors and seniors attend, it’s their chance to celebrate nearing the end of this life chapter.
Before prom, students often spend months (or years!) picking their perfect dress or tux. Prom attire is typically more formal than for homecoming, and colors reflect spring instead of fall. During prom, boys traditionally wear tuxedos that match their date’s dress or, if they’re going alone or with friends, have a formal and stylish look.
Prom usually comes with more family celebration as opposed to school spirit. It often involves fancy dinners, photoshoots, and spending exorbitant amounts on styling.
Conclusion
Homecoming is far more than a dance or football game. It’s a long-held tradition that showcases school spirit, community involvement, and a commitment to celebrate shared memories.
Whether you’re cheering in the stands or getting crowned at the dance, homecoming brings students together and helps them feel part of something bigger.