Photos show how colleges and universities across the US celebrate homecoming

• Homecoming season sees thousands of graduates returning to their alma maters for celebrations.
• US colleges host events like parades and concerts, drawing large crowds to campuses.
• Some schools have curious traditions, like Hobo Day at South Dakota State University.

It's officially fall, and for thousands of graduates, that means making a trip to their alma mater to celebrate homecoming.

From alums bursting with school spirit to current students looking for an excuse to party, homecoming season is full of celebrations across US colleges and universities.

Some schools use the time to participate in decades-old traditions, like Hobo Day at South Dakota State University or the Spirit Splash at the University of Central Florida. Others throw more traditional celebrations, such as holding a big parade or concert.

As such, homecoming season can mean an influx of thousands of alums and family members, often leading to booked-up hotels and crowded town streets.

From concerts with pop-star headliners to curious traditions, see how 13 colleges and universities across the US commemorate their football teams — and alums — coming home.

Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma

Oklahoma State University has a rich history of school traditions, including its homecoming celebrations, which the school's website describes as "America's Greatest Homecoming."

Since 1999, students have begun dyeing the Edmon Low Library fountain orange to commemorate the start of Homecoming Week.

Throughout the week, students and alums celebrate homecoming with traditions like the Sea of Orange Parade — which hosts up to 80,000 alums, per the student-run O'Colly newspaper — the Harvest Festival, a chili cook-off, and a walk around Greek life houses to see decorations leading up to the homecoming football game.

This year, the celebrations are themed "From: Stillwater, To: The World" and begin on October 12.

Howard University in Washington, DC

One of the most iconic homecoming celebrations in the US takes place at Howard University in Washington, DC, which students and alums have nicknamed "the Mecca."

The HBCU commemorates homecoming week with a packed schedule of alum events, bar crawls, block parties, performances, guest lectures, and the YardFest event where students and alums gather on the school's yard to enjoy a concert.

YardFest has previously been headlined by artists like Jay-Z and Drake.

This year, homecoming celebrations, with the theme "One of One," will begin on October 24, culminating in the homecoming game the following day, per the school's website.

Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah

Along with a homecoming opening ceremony, a 5K race, a series of alums lectures, and a formal homecoming dance leading up to the homecoming football game, Brigham Young University students celebrate homecoming by hiking up the Y Mountain near campus and using flashlights to light up the school's logo.

This year, the school's homecoming celebrations will begin on October 14 and feature the theme "Light the Way Forward," per the school's website.

South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota

The Hobo Day parade, which has been a school tradition since 1912, marks the end of Homecoming Week at South Dakota State University as students dress up and march down the streets on the day of the Homecoming, per the school's website.

Notably, the "Bummobile" — a preserved Model T Ford car from 1912 — makes an appearance during the parade.

The tradition has also inspired the characters of Weary Wil and Dirty Lil, who have bronze statues on campus. During Homecoming Week, alums will dress up as characters and appear during Homecoming celebrations, with their identities hidden until halftime of the Homecoming game.

Hobo Day (or Homecoming) celebrations will begin on October 6 and include events such as a food truck rally, a talent show, and a "BumFire" and stew.

Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida

Florida A&M University students and alums celebrate Homecoming by bringing together the HBCU "FAMU-ly" with a range of events, from a parade to concerts and step shows, as per the school's Homecoming website.

This year, the homecoming celebrations are themed "Eternal World Tour." Each homecoming event aims to transport students and alums to a different location, such as the fashion show taking them to Paris and the coronation of the homecoming king and queen transporting them to Dubai.

Events also include a pep rally, a market, a food truck rally, alum receptions and luncheons, a DJ "aux cord battle," a Battle of the Bands featuring local high schools, a 5K race, a homecoming parade, and a concert headlined by Latto.

Celebrations will begin on October 12.

University of Louisiana Lafayette in Lafayette, Louisiana

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette spends the week leading up to its homecoming "painting the town red," both literally and figuratively, per the school's website.

Throughout the week, businesses and student organizations decorate their windows with the school colors throughout the city to showcase school spirit. This year, celebrations include a career fair, a food truck festival, a car show, tennis and golf tournaments, a pep rally, homecoming reunion banquets, and a homecoming parade.

Celebrations kick off on October 12 with the theme "All Together Now: A Cajun Country Homecoming."

University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida

The University of Florida celebrates homecoming with 11 days of celebrations, which kick off with a 5K run and conclude with the Gator Growl concert the night before the homecoming football game.

Homecoming celebrations also include a pageant, a multicultural talent show, a festival with local vendors, and a parade through Gainesville.

This year, the Gator Growl concert will be headlined by Steve Aoki, and homecoming celebrations began on September 26, per the school's website.

University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland

Each year, University of Maryland students and alums celebrate homecoming with Terp Carnival, a grand event featuring live music and fireworks.

This year, celebrations also include a comedy show by Saturday Night Live's Marcello Hernandez, a cornhole tournament, a food truck festival, and an alum tailgate leading up to the homecoming football game, per the school's website.

Celebrations will begin on October 26.

University of Southern California in Los Angeles

During homecoming week, the Trojan Knights — or school hosts — at USC take shifts guarding the statue of Tommy Trojan, the school's mascot, from rival schools' pranks. During the week, the school community pays visits to the guarding crew with marching bands, football coaches and players, students, and alums coming out to support the Knights, per the group's website.

This year, celebrations will kick off on November 13, culminating in the November 15 game against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.

Events include alum tailgates, class reunions, a comedy show, and faculty panels.

University of Miami in Miami

For University of Miami students, homecoming is one big party.

During the week, students also decorate the Spirit Tree, an orange fruit tree located on the school's campus. The most notable tradition at the school is the annual boat-burning ceremony on Lake Osceola, where it is said that if the mast of the boat falls before the boat sinks, the school will win the homecoming game, per The Miami Hurricane student newspaper's website.

Students also enjoy the Hurricane Howl block party and a homecoming concert produced by the student organization Hurricane Productions, which has previously been headlined by artists such as Marshmello and 21 Savage.

This year, celebrations will begin on November 3, culminating in the homecoming football game against Syracuse University on November 8.

University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma

Homecoming is a significant time for students at the University of Oklahoma.

During Homecoming Week, students participate in the ring ceremony, where those who have purchased a school ring are greeted by the school president and honored.

Another way the school commemorates Homecoming Week is by displaying a chrysanthemum garden decorated with the school colors each fall, as per the school's website, right in time to welcome returning alums.

Homecoming celebrations also include a free show, which this year is headlined by Dan + Shay, a rally, and a parade leading up to the homecoming football game against the University of Mississippi.

This year's celebrations will begin on October 20.

University of Wisconsin—Madison in Madison, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin—Madison students and alums celebrate homecoming with one big "student prank," as the school's alumni website calls it. During the "Fill the Hill" fundraiser, students place pink lawn flamingos on the campus' Bascom Hill. With each donation, a flamingo lands.

The homecoming week, which this year will begin on October 5, also features events such as a parade, a block party, an alum meet-up, and a multicultural yard show, all leading up to the homecoming football game.

University of Central Florida in Orlando

University of Central Florida students celebrate homecoming with their "Spirit Splash" tradition, an energetic pep rally where students jump into the Reflecting Pond to collect rubber ducks, per the school's website.

The school's mascot, Knightro, also makes appearances during homecoming week.

Homecoming events leading up to the football game against West Virginia University this year also include a fireworks show, alum tailgates, Greek life trick-or-treating, a talent show, a comedy show, and a concert headlined by FLO.

Celebrations will begin on October 12.

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