Courtesy of Howard University
With less than 100 days until Homecoming, Howard University is preparing to celebrate it’s 100th Homecoming under this year’s theme, “100th Homecoming: Howard University Yard of Fame.”
Howard Homecoming Week kicks off on Sunday, October 13 with a special Call to Chapel and the 2024 Royal Court Coronation. Additional events throughout the week include the Lavender Reception, Student Fashion Show, Greek Step Show, Yardfest, Homecoming Parade, Young Alumni Day Party Brunch and Alumni Jazz Brunch. In addition to the parade and game, the University is planning special activities to commemorate the centennial celebration and will not have the Tailgate Party that has been held at the Howard Center parking lot to create a more unique and family-friendly experience on Saturday.
“Each year, Howard Homecoming appeals to students, alumni and members of the local community and, this year, we are confident that an even greater level of enthusiasm will be had by people as we celebrate 100 years of Homecoming,” said David Bennett, senior vice president of Development and Alumni Relations. “It’s our intention to create a week of events that appeal to everyone – past, current and even future Bison – and truly convey just what makes our Homecoming the special celebration that so many have come to love.”
Howard University’s first homecoming was simply a football game against Lincoln University of Pennsylvania on November 27, 1924. Over the years, additional events were added, making Howard Homecoming a widely popular series of activities that attract people from around the globe with events held on The Yard featuring the likes of the late Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Drake, Common and Lil Uzi Vert.
Yardfest, as well as the parade and football game, are major attractions with reports sharing an upwards of 100,000 attendees throughout Homecoming Week. In fact, in a 2020 Black History Month advertisement for Google’s “The Most Searched” campaign, data over a 15-year period showed Howard University’s Homecoming as the site’s “Most Searched Homecoming.”
“Howard University Homecoming is always an event that so many people look forward to and this year, there’s even more attention as we celebrate 100 years of welcoming back alumni and having great events for them as well as students, their families, and friends of the University,” said Cynthia Evers, Ed.D., senior vice president of Student Affairs. “This year’s theme was selected by a committee of students and staff who were intentional about placing a focus on our legacy and celebrating the wonderful achievements and contributions of alumni while elevating current successes of our innovative and accomplished students.”
Jay Jones, 64th president of the Howard University Student Association, and a member of the committee that selected this year’s theme, echoed Evers’ sentiments.
“Homecoming is such a special time for students, and my administration is thrilled to be able to help plan and execute events for this milestone,” said Jones, a political science major from Fort Worth, Texas. “We are eager to get to work to ensure that each part of this year’s Homecoming will be exactly what those who love Howard University want and deserve.”
A current event calendar is now available on the 2024 Howard Homecoming website with updates expected over the next few weeks.
Football fans are looking forward to the highlight of the week, the football game between the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Champion Bison and the Tennessee State University Tigers on Saturday, October 19. The game marks the second time that the teams will face each other. In 2001, the previous matchup ending with a 45-0 win for Tennessee State. This year’s game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. at Greene Stadium and air live on ESPN.