Homecoming festivities extended by late game

Organizers are confident this year’s Badger Homecoming celebration is going to be bigger and better than ever, largely because the Homecoming game between Wisconsin and the Purdue Boilermakers Oct. 10 will be played under the lights at Camp Randall starting at 7:30 p.m. It will be the first nighttime homecoming contest held there. The Homecoming Committee is taking advantage of this unusual opportunity to maximize game-day festivities and give more alumni and friends of the university a chance to be a part of the celebration.

Cheerleaders enter Camp Randall aboard the Bucky Wagon as part of recent pregame festivities. The ol’ Badger spirit will be roused at this year’s Homecoming by many other activities inside and outside the stadium. This year’s theme is “Generation Red,” a variation on the “Generation X” tag.

Detailed Homecoming schedule and apparel ordering form

Game day will begin with the First Annual Homecoming Golf Outing, an 18-hole shotgun at University Ridge that is limited to 24 foursomes. Tee times start at 8:30 a.m.

The Homecoming Parade, which has been held Fridays on the west end of campus, moves back to downtown Madison and State Street. It begins at 11:30 a.m. at Langdon Street and Wisconsin Avenue, travels down Wisconsin to Gilman Street, Gilman to State, and State to Library Mall, where there will be a pep rally immediately following (at approximately 1 p.m.).

This year’s theme, chosen by the Homecoming Committee, is “Generation Red.”

“It unites all Badger fans past, present and future,” says committee co-chair Danny Nicholas. “We wanted a short theme that incorporated that famous Badger spirit and summed up the traditional celebration we call Homecoming. It relates to our generation because we’ve been tagged ‘Generation X.’ ”

Some of the other Homecoming activities include:

A Charity 5K Run/3K Walk Oct. 4 at noon across from the Memorial Union. Fee: $12 until Sept. 28, $15 on race day. Race day registration is from 10-11:30 a.m. T-shirts will be given to all pre-registrants (not guaranteed the day of the race). Individual awards are given to the top three male and female finishers and for best participation from residence halls, student organizations and Greek houses.

Also Oct. 4, join in “A Celebration of Cultures” from 4-7 p.m. at Memorial Union. This event features ethnic food and music presented by student organizations, and is a great opportunity to learn more about the various cultures that help make UW–Madison such a diverse community.

All proceeds from Homecoming events and apparel sales go to the Dean of Students Crisis Fund. Last year, $10,000 was raised.

Faculty and staff are also encouraged to participate in the Homecoming Blood Drive Oct. 8-9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Youngblood, 319 Union South.

Also, the Kohl Center will hold an open house Oct. 10, 1-4 p.m. Free guided will be offered every half-hour. Only the first-floor Kohl Concourse will be open. Visitors should enter the building at Gates A or B. Free parking will be available in Lot 91 on Frances Street in spaces marked with yellow stripes.

For information, call the Homecoming office, 265-2731, or visit the Alumni Center on North Lake Street.