Homecoming weekend is the perfect time for young and old to celebrate! For high schoolers, it’s all about fun spirit days and lively pep rallies leading up to the big football game and dance. In college, students may have a jam-packed weekend of events from bonfires to concerts. And let’s not forget about the alumni! This weekend is also a chance for many to return to their old stomping grounds and reminisce about their high school or college days– not to mention tailgate.
But to make this magical weekend a reality, a lot of work needs to go into planning it. It doesn’t happen overnight! Check out these 11 steps that student councils, parent-teacher associations, school administrators, and other homecoming organizers can follow to prepare for the perfect weekend.
Pulling off a showstopping homecoming takes a village! Early planning is your secret weapon to a flawless weekend. By the time students are returning back to school you should already have a plan in place. Start planning at least 6 months if not a whole year in advance.
Homecoming is all about teamwork. With so much going into one weekend, you’ll need an all-star committee to bring it all together. For your homecoming committee consider recruiting:
Now that your dream team is assembled, it's time to get down to business! First up: choosing the perfect date for your big event. If your high school or college has a football team, work closely with athletics and school administrators to choose a major football rivalry. If you don’t have a football team, focus on a different sport like basketball. This will add extra excitement to the festivities and make your homecoming even more memorable!
Homecoming needs a theme to make it unforgettable! Gather your committee and brainstorm ideas that will get everyone buzzing with excitement. You could go out of this world and do a space theme, give people a taste of the gold rush with a Wild West theme, or bring the Jungle Book to life with a rainforest theme. Get inspired, your options are endless!
Once you’ve nailed down your theme, it’s time to go all-out with your homecoming planning. Beyond your star-studded events like your football game or homecoming dance, what other fun events will fill up the weekend? For a high school homecoming, consider a town parade to drum up support before the game. Organize lawn games for students to play like bocce ball, mini golf, or bags. Collaborate with former class presidents to organize a school tour and meal for alumni celebrating big anniversaries.
For a college homecoming, why not turn the weekend into a parent’s weekend too? Invite families to join their college students for a weekend packed with fun—from cornhole tournaments and concerts to tailgating before the main sporting event. Let your imagination run wild with events that match your theme. If you’re going for a carnival theme, set up a fair with food trucks and carnival games. For prizes, you can give winners customized magnets or stickers with the school logo and theme. If you’re doing a beach theme, how about some beach volleyball and a smoothie stand? You have the power to transform your school grounds!
Once you’ve decided on the extra events, create subcommittees to tackle each one. Sharing the responsibility will make the planning process smoother and give everyone a chance to dive into the excitement.
Don’t let costs sneak up on you while planning your epic homecoming. First things first: figure out your budget and see what you need to fundraise to make your dream homecoming a reality. Set a budget that works for you and your committee, and stick to it like glue. Check in regularly to make sure everyone’s staying on track.
Will you charge for some events to help cover costs? Decide which events will be ticketed and how folks can snag their tickets. If you’re handing out physical tickets and giving out wristbands, don’t forget to print or order them well in advance. For printing needs, consider teaming up with a company like Mission Print that can help you get what you need without breaking the bank.
Ready to boost your homecoming budget? Dive into fundraising with enthusiasm! There are tons of fun, easy ways to raise money. How about a car wash right in the school parking lot? Rally your students to shine those cars. Or, think about hosting a bake sale, a fun run, or selling cool school swag like t-shirts, bookmarks, and magnets. Set a fundraising goal and get everyone pumped by showing off a progress chart that tracks how close you are to reaching it. Before your fundraisers kick off, spread the word online and around town with eye-catching yard signs, posters, and flyers. If people don’t know about it, they can’t help!
Time to get down to the nitty-gritty! First up, if you’re doing any events off-campus, it’s time to pick and book your venue. Venue bookings can fill up fast, so this should be top of your to-do list. If you’re hosting all your homecoming fun on campus, make sure every spot is reserved and mapped out. For instance, if you’re using the gym parking lot for a food truck festival, get the thumbs-up from school administrators to ensure everything runs smoothly.
With the big pieces of your homecoming puzzle in place, it’s time to zoom in on the details! Now’s the perfect time to iron out every little question before the big weekend. Some questions to ask yourself:
Decorations can take your homecoming celebrations to the next level! Think of them as the icing on the cake—essential for transforming your space into something truly special. Even simple decorations can turn a regular classroom or gym into a whole new world. While it might be tempting to push decorations to the bottom of your to-do list, be sure to order them with plenty of lead time, especially if you’re going for customized pieces.
Think beyond the basics like streamers, posters, and balloons. Don’t forget about practical touches too! Consider adding a banner at the football stadium entrance, a-frame signs to guide guests to different events around campus, and yard signs to direct parking. It’s all about making your homecoming unforgettable from start to finish!
Homecoming is all about school spirit and what better way to do that than with some fantastic swag! Print out some signs for students to wave during the football game or create custom stickers with your school mascot or homecoming theme. If you have a homecoming court, you can design custom buttons they can wear leading up to the announcement of king and queen. It’s a fun way to get everyone excited and help students decide who to vote for. The possibilities are endless when it comes to celebrating your school in style.
A key part of homecoming is community, and if people don’t know about it, they can’t join in the fun! While there is a built-in crowd of high school and college students who attend homecoming, don’t forget to spread the word far and wide. Get those flyers and posters up in local businesses, and if your school is near a busy road, hang a big, eye-catching banner for everyone to see as they drive by. Send out cards to current students, alumni, and school supporters, and don’t forget to hit ‘send’ on those emails too! Getting the word out through mail and digital channels will make sure everyone’s in the loop and ready to celebrate.
Get everyone involved in the buzz. Hand out yard signs to the football team, athletic clubs, and any student groups participating in homecoming. These signs are a fantastic way to let folks driving by know about the exciting events happening right in their own backyard!
While there’s a lot to tackle in the weeks, days, and hours leading up to homecoming, following these 11 simple steps will have you ready to celebrate like never before. Remember, this is a team effort! Lean on your committee to help navigate any bumps along the way—you’re not in this alone.
When it comes to decorations, printed materials, and everything else you need for the big weekend, we’re here to be your go-to. Sign up with us to access customized solutions designed to make your life easier, so you can focus on what really matters: bringing people together and celebrating community!
All of these events and experiences are tied together with one thing in common: printing! These tables are often decked out with a bright tablecloth or banner or have a handful of flyers or brochures for you to take and read. These small details make a big difference. If you’re looking to run one of your own events or tables don’t worry, you can do this creatively without it being expensive. There are affordable templates and designs you can use no matter what you’re doing.