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UGA celebrates Homecoming with a jam-packed week of activities including reunions, parties, a hip-hop concert, a carnival, a parade and an important Southeastern Conference football game.

“Homecoming Week 2008: A Lasting Legacy” is the theme of this year’s festivities sponsored by the Student Homecoming Committee, a part of the University Union. Activities for students are scheduled throughout the week and the weekend is crowded with events for alumni, including the Oct. 18 Georgia-Vanderbilt football game.

The official Homecoming kickoff will be Oct. 13 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. on the Tate Center Plaza with an event featuring displays, free food and giveaways. On Oct. 14, local restaurants will provide free food for a block party on Legion Field from 4–6 p.m.

Nationally known hip-hop artist T-Pain, who has had several hit singles, will perform Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. on Legion Field. The concert is free to students with valid UGACards. Non-student tickets are on sale at the Tate Center cashier’s window, $20 in advance and $30 the day of the show.

On Oct. 16, students will enjoy more free food and get fired up for the football game with spirit activities at a pre-tailgate party from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. on the Tate Student Center lawn.

Vince Dooley, former head football coach and director of athletics, will be the grand marshal for the Oct. 17 Homecoming parade, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. and wind 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.

Following the parade a carnival will be held on Legion Field from 6-11 p.m. with games, midway rides and free food. The event is free for students with a valid ID card and $5 for non-students.

Students will vote online during the week to choose the Homecoming King and Queen from among 10 students on the Homecoming Court. The King and Queen will be crowned during halftime of Georgia’s football game against the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Also during halftime, the Redcoat Band will play the “Red and Black March,” a tune composed in 1908 by R. E. Haughey, who directed UGA’s first band from 1905 to 1909. A history of the Redcoat Band refers to the piece as “Georgia’s first original school song,” but the music disappeared decades ago and was thought to be lost.

The UGA Alumni Association will hold a “Sink the ’Dores” Homecoming barbecue Oct. 17 from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Wray-Nicholson House. John Dunn and the Jazzmen will provide music for dancing and the UGA cheerleaders and Hairy Dawg will attend. Children’s activities include a bounce house, hula hoops and face painting. Tickets are $25 for non-student members of the Alumni Association, $15 for student members and $45 for non-members. For registration, contact Wanda Darden at wdarden@uga.edu.

After the football game the Alumni Association Multicultural Program will sponsor “Jazz on the Lawn” at the Wray-Nicholson House. The event will include barbecue, music by the Jaspects and family activities. To register, contact Chardina Choate at cchoate@uga.edu.