Homecoming hoopla brings big things to Purdue's campus

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The University’s 2012 Homecoming will host fun for students – and the general public. That means a parade, a pep rally with a basketball preview and tons of family events will take place for the whole community.

Everything gets rolling Wednesday and wraps up Saturday, Oct. 13, with the homecoming football game.

The Boilers will face off against the Badgers from the University of Wisconsin at Ross-Ade Stadium.

“100 Years of Hail Purdue – Join the Chorus” is the theme for this year’s homecoming.

The 11-day-long celebration includes:

• Voting for homecoming king and queen. Voting is open only to students, and they can vote from Wednesday through Oct. 11 online . A list of all the candidates along with their photographs and profiles can be found here .

• The Homecoming Kickoff Cookout. Students showing identification can get free food and take part in games 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 10 on the front lawn of Purdue Memorial Union.

• A blood drive. Sign up here to give blood from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 10 in Purdue Memorial Union’s South Ballroom.

• The Homecoming Talent Show. Come see acts starting at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 in Purdue Memorial Union’s North Ballroom. The show features 11 acts including piano, dancing and a rock band. Audience members will get the chance to win two free tickets to the B.o.B. concert.

• A rap show. B.o.B., also known as Bobby Ray Simmons, is an American rapper and singer-songwriter who will perform with Shwayze and Cyhi Da Prynce at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 in Elliott Hall of Music. Ticket prices are $34.50 for Purdue and Ivy Tech Lafayette students and $37.50 for the general public. You can nab tickets at the Elliott Hall of Music and Steward Center box offices or by calling (765) 494-3933. You can also get tickets here .

• The Boilermaker Night Train Parade. It starts at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12. The parade starts at Northwestern Avenue and Columbia Street and heads south on Northwestern and west on State Street before turning north on University Street and finishing at Mackey Arena. You’ll see floats decorated with this year’s theme, “Once Upon a Homecoming.” You’ll see the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band, former astronaut Eugene Cernan (the most recent man to walk on the moon), and acting President Tim Sands, who will be leading the parade. During the parade, Northwestern, State and University will be closed. You can find the parade route here .

• A pep rally. It will immediately follow the parade on Oct. 12 at Mackey. The rally will feature football coach Danny Hope and the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band. The Homecoming queen and king will be announced. Afterward at about 9:15, the athletics department has much entertainment planned. Doors open at 8 and the event is free and open to the public.

• An all-out family celebration. From 9 to 11 a.m. before the homecoming game on Oct. 13, head to the area between Armstrong Hall of Engineering and Schleman Hall of Student Services. There will be entertainment including the Black Voices of Inspiration, the Girls in Black, the Purduettes, and the “All-American” Marching Band. Plus, you'll get to hear from a quartet called "3 Nice Guys" from the Tippecanotes! There will also be activity and food tents. At 11, the band will lead a march to the stadium.

You can find more details on homecoming at Purdue’s website .