LU Homecoming Week begins today

Although the focus is on the end of the week, Lincoln University's 2014 homecoming events in Jefferson City begin today with a Gospel music show from 5-7 p.m. in the Mitchell Auditorium.

The weeklong theme this year is "The bLUe Spirit."

Saturday's football game features LU's Blue Tigers against Texas College with kickoff at 2 p.m. in Dwight Reed Stadium. Tickets are $15.

The game follows the annual homecoming parade, featuring 48 entries so far, including six bands and 24 decorated vehicles.

The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. This year it follows a new route that begins at the corner of High and Broadway streets, between the Truman State Office Building and St. Peter Church. The parade will travel east on High Street to Lafayette Street, then south on Lafayette past the Dunklin Street intersection to Roland Street.

A Battle of the Bands and Drill Team competition, featuring groups in the parade, will follow the parade on the ROTC practice field. The top two bands from that competition will be admitted to the homecoming game with their instruments.

As always, homecomings provide a mix of entertainment and learning events.

Starting today, a "big blue truck," provided by Joe Machens Ford-Lincoln, will parked on the Quad to receive donations of canned and non-perishable goods to benefit local food banks. Organizers hope to need more than one truck, they said at a meeting last week.

A student symposium will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 11 a.m.-noon, in the Scruggs University Center (SUC) Ballroom. Planned topics include professionalism, getting to know your campus and the significance of historically black colleges and universities like Lincoln.

Thursday morning, from 11 a.m.-noon, an dialog between alumni and the Student Government Association will be held in the Page Library meeting room 100.

Entertainment events include:

Monday

1-3 p.m., SUC Basement: Blue Tiger Madness, making signs, T-shirts and buttons.

7-11 p.m., Mitchell Auditorium in the Richardson Fine Arts Center: Talent Show.

Tuesday

1-4 p.m., SUC Back Patio: H-Day Party.

6:30-8 p.m., Mitchell Auditorium: Hypnotist performance.

Wednesday

1-3 p.m., SUC Student Lounge: "Red Light" photo booth.

7 p.m., SUC Ballroom: "Wild and Out."

Thursday

10 a.m.-4 p.m., location to be announced: Laser Tag.

6 p.m. (also Friday, 11 p.m. and Saturday, 9 p.m.), Memorial Hall: JC Alumni Chapter's Alumni Hospitality Suite. $40 for 3 nights, $30 for 2 nights, $20 for one night, with $5 off for LUAA members. Not for students.

8-10 p.m., Mitchell Auditorium: Coronation of Miss and Mr. LU.

10 p.m.-1 a.m., SUC Ballroom: Coronation Ball.

Friday

8:30 a.m., Soldiers Memorial in the Quadrangle: Wreath-laying by LU ROTC Honor and Color guards.

10 a.m., Soldiers Hall: ROTC Hall of Fame Induction ceremony for five alumni.

10:30 a.m., corner of Atchison and Locust streets: Ground-breaking and ribbon-cutting ceremony for new Student Recreation Center.

11 a.m.-1 p.m., SUC Ballroom: Alumni Reunion Classes Luncheon, open to all alumni. $25.

11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Quadrangle (at the Big Tent): "A Taste of Homecoming Festival 2014." Chump Change band. DJ Curt. Pie-eating contest.

4:30-6:15 p.m., SUC Cafe: Soul Food Dinner. $10.

5:30-8 p.m., SUC Ballroom: Athletic Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. $30.

7 p.m., President's Residence, 601 Jackson St.: Alpha Phi Alpha (Beta Zeta Lamda Chapter) Wine and Cheese fund-raiser for President's Residence and LU Scholarships. $20. Must be at least 21.

8 p.m., Reed Stadium: Pep Rally and Fireworks. (Lafayette Street closed during fireworks). (Fireworks may interrupt Helias-Sullivan football game at Adkins Stadium).

8 p.m. (Doors open at 7), Jason Gymnasium: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Cage Fights. $45 ringside. $20 bleachers and outer floor areas. LUAA members get $5 off.

9 p.m., Truman Hotel: 60s Dance. $20.

9:30 p.m. (Doors open at 9), Mitchell Auditorium: Greek Step Show, featuring "LU's own" Joe Torry. $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

11 p.m.-3 a.m., SUC Cafe: MMA Bash and Midnight Breakfast. $25, $20 with MMA ticket stub. LUAA members get $5 off. Guest appearance by Joe Torry.

11 p.m.-3 a.m., SUC Ballroom: Panhellenic Council Homecoming Party.

Saturday

7 a.m., Lafayette Street closed from Dunklin to Union, all day.

8 a.m., at the "Foot" (Lafayette and Dunklin streets): Homecoming 2014 "VendorPalooza."

9 a.m., LU Softball Field: Official Alumni Tailgate Party. $7, $5 in advance and for LUAA members.

Tailgating on the hill, $15 wristband.

11 a.m.-2 p.m., SUC Ballroom: Post-parade brunch. $25. LUAA members get $5 off.

2 p.m., Reed Stadium: Homecoming football game. $15.

5 p.m., Page Library Amphitheater (Jason Gym if raining): Greek Serenade.

6:30 p.m., SUC Ballroom: Class of 1964 50th anniversary reunion banquet. $45.

8 p.m., Truman Hotel: Alumni homecoming party. $45. LUAA Members, $5 off.

8 p.m. Mitchell Auditorium: SGA/CAB homecoming concert. $15 in advance/$20 at the door.

10 p.m., SUC Ballroom: "Young Alumni" (ages 23-35) Soiree. $15 in advance. $20/door. LUAA members, $5 off.

11 p.m.-3 a.m., Jason Gymnasium: "The Blue Room," official homecoming after party. $3 with blue-and-white attire/$5 without.

Sunday

11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., SUC Cafe: All-alumni farewell brunch. $25. LUAA members, $5 off.

3 p.m., Mitchell Auditorium: Farewell Gospel Concert, featuring Vanessa Bell Armstrong and other artists.

A complete list of the week's events is available on Lincoln's website, www.lincolnu.edu.