This year, Vandegrift’s Homecoming will start the week of Oct. 18. This year’s dance theme is “Vintage Hollywood” while the HOCO  week features a neon day, dress like your celebrity crush day, boa day and finally Viper spirit for the Homecoming game that Friday. 

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, the Parade & Pep Rally will take place. The parade begins at 6 p.m. and ends at Monroe Stadium, where the pep rally will be held.  At the end of the pep rally, there will be a big fireworks display. 

“I’m personally excited about getting the traditions of homecoming reestablished in our school; we didn’t get to do it last year,” dance director and performing arts department chair Holly Lyons said.  “A lot of the students here aren’t aware of what those traditions are.”

Homecoming Court Elections open Wednesday, Oct.13 at 8 a.m. and close on that Friday. Then that morning, the nominated HOCO court will be contacted.

“We’re super excited to make all the photo-ops and just push it out to people,” junior Nora.  “The student body so far has loved it, so we’re really excited.”

Friday’s theme is “Viper Spirit,” and everyone is encouraged to wear their mums to school, the game and the dance. The game is Friday night at 7 p.m. and the dance takes place on Saturday, from  7:30-11 p.m. 

“We’re trying to incorporate a bunch of cool photos,” junior Scout Carpenter said. “There’s definitely going to be some [photo opps] that are black and white. We are going along with that vintage Hollywood theme, and there’s going to be so many opportunities to take some really cute photos.”

The dance is going to be semi-formal, and students are encouraged to dress their best. The Homecoming Court and King and Queen presentations will be at 8:30 p.m. on the dance floor. The dance will be held in the Vandegrift courtyard. The tickets for the dance will be available to buy in advance online or at the door for $15 or $20. There will be a DJ, dance floor, photo booth areas and concessions for purchase.

“I’m excited about our plans, and I think the courtyard is going to be a really great location,” Lyons said. “ I’m excited about the DJ that we’ve hired and all the plans that we have. We’re bringing in a little bit of extra lighting here and there, so it should be lots of fun and really festive. 

This is the second Homecoming dance that Vandegrift will be holding. Staff and students are looking forward to attending. 

“I feel like we need something like this, especially after COVID,” junior Anwita Gudapuri said. “To come together after a long time, I mean, that’s something I’m most excited for.”