Calling all students to don crazy outfits, play nontraditional sports, and dance the night away; this year’s Homecoming week spanning Oct. 20-25 will bring a revival of old traditions in place of others.

While recent years Friday’s assembly at the Apple Bowl saw a swarm of students and faculty cross Miller Street, this year will feature an organized parade.

“Walking over usually always was chaos, so we wanted something more fun and organized,” senior Assistant Activities Coordinator Devyn Blakney said. “Wenatchee High School had actually done it for a long time, so we thought it would be cool to bring it back.”

School clubs, sports, and grade levels will ride floats to the Apple Bowl, and those not participating can watch, including Pioneer Middle School students. The Wenatchee Police Department will help block the route, Assembly Coordinator Bryce Newberry said.

That same day, Oct. 24, ASB invites all students to attend a tailgate event before the kickoff between the Panthers and Moses Lake Chiefs at home. The tailgate will begin around 5 p.m. at the parking lot between Rec and Triangle parks and will include a barbecue and games for an entry fee of $3, Blakney said.

“In the past we have done Ultimate Frisbee, but we don’t get a lot of participants, so we tried to do a different evening event, and we thought it would be cool to have a school wide event,” she said of the tailgate.

For the game that follows, the theme is to wear purple and gold. “There have been other themes [for this year’s games], so it is exciting to just go all out purple and gold,” senior Activities Coordinator Madeline Steitz said.

Besides no Ultimate Frisbee, Steitz said there is less of a focus on dance decorations and more on music with ASB hiring a DJ for Saturday night, Oct. 25. The dance’s theme this year is Monte Carlo, and it will take place from 9 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $12 per person.

Despite a few changes, much of Homecoming’s recent traditions remain. Girls will compete in the Apple Bowl for Powder Puff on Monday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. and boys will hit the courts on Wednesday, Oct. 22 for Buff Puff at 7 p.m. Both events are $3 to watch, while Dodgeball, on Thursday, Oct. 23, is free.

Those not interested in athletic competition can participate in activities before school and during lunch, as well as spirit dress-up days. Starting with Monday, students are encouraged to follow the themes of PJs, sports, neon, patriotic, and Panther pride. Additionally, voting for royalty is currently under way, and underclassman and the senior court will be announced this Friday, Oct. 17. The senior King and Queen will not be announced until the Homecoming football game.