University of Georgia Homecoming Week 2016—“Home is Where the Arch Is”— gets underway Oct. 10 with a variety of activities and events to appeal to all members of the university community. Activities for students are scheduled throughout the week, and the weekend features events for alumni and the Oct. 15 football game against Vanderbilt, including the crowning of the Homecoming king and queen.

The official Homecoming kickoff will be the annual Bulldog Bash on Oct. 10 on Tate Student Center Plaza from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with games, free food and giveaways for students. That night, registered student organizations will paint Sanford Drive at the Tate Student Center bus stop. The street painting will be on display throughout the week.

On Oct. 11, the Homecoming Committee and the University Union Student Programming Board will co-host rock band NEEDTOBREATHE featuring opening act Welshly Arms. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. in Stegeman Coliseum, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 or $8 for students with valid UGACards who pay activity fees on the Athens campus. They can be purchased at http://bit.ly/ntbhc16.  More information about the concert can be found at http://homecoming.uga.edu.

The Homecoming Committee will partner with Serve UGA to host Stop & Serve on Oct. 12 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tate Plaza. The event is free and will give students the opportunity to engage in several quick service-related projects benefiting the Athens community.

A Lip Sync competition is scheduled on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Tate Student Center Grand Hall. Student organizations will prepare three-minute acts consisting of song, dance and lip syncing, and they will perform for a panel of judges. Admission is free.

The Homecoming parade kicks off Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. and winds through downtown Athens. Led by the Redcoat Band, the parade will include floats, displays and appearances by the UGA cheerleaders, athletes and university and Athens dignitaries. Local ordinances will prevent candy from being thrown from floats, but some parade marchers are expected to hand items to the crowd.

Following the parade, the annual Homecoming Carnival will be held on Legion Field from 7-11 p.m. with games, midway rides and free food. Admission is $5 or free for students with valid UGACards.

Voting for Homecoming king and queen will be open for students from Oct. 10-14; the ballot can be accessed on the UGA mobile application under the “UGA Polls” link.

Homecoming Court members, their majors and hometowns are as follows:

• Jake Carnes, a senior from Marietta majoring in international affairs and public relations.

• Houston Gaines, a senior from Athens majoring in economics and political science.        

• Jesse Hu, a senior from Peachtree City majoring in biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics.

• Aneek James, a senior from Stone Mountain majoring in electrical engineering.  

• Frank Martin, a senior from Athens majoring in entertainment and media studies.

• Catherine “Cali” Callaway, a senior from Johns Creek majoring in biology, while also pursuing a joint bachelor’s and master’s in artificial intelligence.

• Jordan Calhoun, a senior from Kennesaw majoring in public relations.

• Jameson Kenerly, a senior from Jesup majoring in biological science.    

• Ashitha Rajeurs, a senior from Roswell majoring in biology and psychology.

• Juhi Varshney, a senior from Rome majoring in and biochemistry, molecular biology and women’s studies.

Emily Cabell, a third-year advertising major from Macon who serves as director of the Homecoming Committee, hopes members of the Bulldog Nation show up in force for the week’s events.

“I, alongside the rest of the Homecoming Committee, am very eager to kick off a week full of tradition, spirit and fun for the Athens community, alumni and students alike,” she said. “We hope everyone who engages in the wonderful traditions of UGA during Homecoming Week will experience the deep love and commitment we have for our cherished university.”

The Homecoming Committee and the University Union Student Programming Board are registered student organizations within UGA Student Affairs.