Homecoming. One word that means different things to a wide variety of people. The word Homecoming means something very special to any Mizzou student or alumnus/alumna considering it is one of our most cherished traditions. The tradition of Homecoming started in 1911 and has grown every year since! There are many events that lead up to the actual Homecoming weekend including the blood drive, day of service, and canned food drive, but some of the largest and most popular events and activities take place over Homecoming weekend. Below is a list of the five events everyone should attend during Homecoming weekend.

1. House Decks: Who doesn’t love creative scenery paired with an adorable skit? This sums up house decks! Around Greek Town, each sorority and fraternity pairing work hard to prepare amazing house deck scenery that is put up on scaffolding around Greek Town. There is always a short skit paired with each house deck, which is geared towards kids and is performed the night before the Homecoming game. It is definitely worth seeing all the hard work put into each chapter's theme!

2. Parade: Each morning of the homecoming game, there is a parade that routes through Downtown Columbia and around campus. Each Greek pairing along with many campus organizations and local Columbia businesses walk in the parade, showcasing their float and decorations. This is always a fun opportunity to see the spirit of Homecoming through the diverse floats and organizations.

3. Fling: This event usually takes place on a weekday leading up to Homecoming, so it is not always possible for everyone to attend. But if given the opportunity to attend a Mizzou Homecoming Fling I would not pass it up! This is one of my favorite parts of Homecoming because each Greek pairing gets to showcase their personalities through their skit and dance. Fling is always a night pumped full of energy and spirit for Mizzou!

4. Tailgating: This is a no-brainer for any game day, but especially Homecoming game day! There is honestly nothing better than hanging with your best friends while enjoying some game day food and drinks. The colors of black and gold are never ending and the spirit is something that can't be put into words.

5. Homecoming game…of course: Not only is it the Homecoming football game, but there are many alumni that get to participate in the pre-game show. Also, the Homecoming Court, as well as queen and king, are announced during the game, and all Mizzou students cheer on their participating peers during the announcements.

Whether it is your first homecoming, fifth homecoming or even 20th homecoming, Mizzou does it the best. We are also the originators of this tradition which makes it even better. There is always something new to experience, but these five events are the best way to experience Mizzou's Homecoming weekend.