With the return of Dixie State University students this fall, campus is coming alive once again in preparation for Homecoming Week 2016 with a new theme of Red, Wild and Free.
“We wanted something that encapsulated the feeling when students come back to Dixie,” explained DSU Student Body President Sarah Ramaker. “It’s hard to mistake the Dixie Spirit and feeling of fun and freedom that our school affords its students.”
Homecoming is a chance for alumni and community members alike to come to the DSU campus to show support and appreciation for their local university and take part in the rich traditions of Dixie. Students, faculty, community and alumni will come together October 17 through 22 to celebrate their dear Dixie school.
The night before it all begins, the D on the hill will light up red, signifying the beginning of the 2016 Homecoming Week. The D turning red is a special occurrence, only appearing twice a year for Homecoming and D-Week.
Monday night, at 6, DSU’s Southern Utah Alumni Chapter will host a Classic Car show at the Stephen & Marcia Wade Alumni House where a free all-American dinner will be provided by the DSU Alumni Association.
A fan favorite, the Miss Dixie State University Pageant will take place at 7:30 on Tuesday night in the Cox Performing Arts Center. All former Homecoming Queens are invited back to participate in the show. Tickets for the pageant are $10 for general admission and $5 with a student ID.
On Wednesday night, bring the whole family to the free Drive-In Movie showing of Disney’s “Zootopia” at the Ridge Top Complex (620 S. Airport Road).
“The Drive-In Movie is a newer tradition, but it has quickly become a family-favorite for the community,” said DSU Director of Student Involvement and Leadership Luke Kerouac. “We had more than 1,000 cars show up for last year’s movie.”
“Zootopia” will play, at 8 p.m., on three giant screens and dinner will be available at several food trucks. The gates will open at 7 p.m. and spaces are expected to fill up quickly at this event.
On Thursday, at 8 p.m., in Legend Solar Stadium, the freshman and sophomore class members will go head-to-head with the juniors and seniors in the Powder-puff football game, a long-standing tradition.
The Alumni Assembly will be free to the public and held in the Eccles Fine Arts Concert Hall at 10 a.m. on Friday, as the class of 1966 will be honored in celebration of 50 years.
DSU Alumni Marketing & PR Coordinator Chet Norman said, “The assembly is a talent show that’s high-energy and always an entertaining get-together.”
After the morning’s fun, the Alumni Banquet, at 6 p.m., will combine with the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in the Gardner Center Ballroom where Dixie alumnus Dennis Holland will be speaking.
“The banquet is a special opportunity for us to honor those who have made a lasting impact on DSU and the community,” Norman said. “It’s nice to have a moment during Homecoming Week to spotlight them and their service to Dixie.”
Tickets for the Alumni Banquet are $15 per person and can be purchased at the Alumni Office or ordered at 435-652-7535.
Later Friday night, show your school spirit by joining President Richard “Biff” Williams for the Midnight 5K, held at Legend Solar Stadium.
“It’s always a blast to run side-by-side with students, alumni and DSU supporters,” Williams said. “It’s a fun crowd and there’s nothing quite like running a 5K race in the middle of the night with a bunch of people who are just as crazy as you are.”
To register for the race, visit Dixie.edu/midnight5k. Entrance to the race for students and alumni is $15 and community members can participate for $20.
Homecoming Week will culminate with Saturday’s events, starting with the annual Homecoming Parade at 10 a.m. on Tabernacle Street, from 900 East to Main Street. The parade is one of the most well attended community events of the year, with around 100 parade entrants and approximately 3,000 spectators.
After the parade, grab lunch at the Alumni House between 11 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Free hamburgers, hot dogs, cookies, snow cones and ice cream will be served at the Homecoming Tailgate Party.
The Homecoming football game against Colorado School of Mines kicks off at 1 p.m., so wear red and support the first game of the Trailblazers football team in Legend Solar Stadium. Tickets for the game are $7 for general seating and $10 for reserved seating with free admission for children 12 and under.
Dixie State University welcomes one and all to come back to campus and take part in the traditions of Homecoming this October.
For a complete schedule of all Homecoming Week activities and events, please visit utahtech.edu/homecoming.