KEARNEY – Get ready to rock ’n’ roll.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney is hosting its annual homecoming celebration with a “Louie’s Jukebox Jive” theme, bringing 1950s and ’60s vibes to campus and the community. It’ll be a week filled with music, memories and plenty of Loper spirit.
The festivities begin Monday with a 5:15 p.m. pep rally near the Bell Tower on campus. Finalists for UNK homecoming royalty will be announced at that time. At 6:30 p.m., UNK students will take part in a “Grease” costume contest at The World Theatre in downtown Kearney, followed by a 7 p.m. screening of the iconic movie. Both events are free and open to the public.
The public is also invited to watch the always entertaining lip-sync competition scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Health and Sports Center. Attendees can expect to see lots of poodle skirts, ponytails, leather jackets and cuffed jeans as student groups perform choreographed dances tied to the retro theme.
UNK’s homecoming king and queen will be crowned immediately after the lip-sync contest in the Health and Sports Center.
For those who can’t attend in person, a livestream of the Thursday evening events will be available at unk.edu/watch.
The Loper Gridiron Club Golf Tournament, Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon, One Room, One Teacher Induction Ceremony and Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet are all scheduled for Friday.
Saturday’s fun begins bright and early with the annual homecoming parade set for 10 a.m. in downtown Kearney. Floats designed by UNK student organizations, local businesses and campus and community groups will be featured, along with Loper student-athletes, the cheer and dance teams, homecoming royalty, Pride of the Plains and other marching bands.
The parade route starts at the intersection of 24th Street and Central Avenue and progresses south on Central Avenue, west on Railroad Street, north on Third Avenue, west on 21st Street, south on Eighth Avenue and west on 20th Street before ending at Ninth Avenue near Pioneer Park.
UNK football faces Missouri Western State at 2 p.m. Saturday at Cope Stadium. Homecoming royalty and UNK Athletic Hall of Fame inductees are recognized during the game, and the UNK Sapphires and Pride of the Plains Marching Band perform. Fans can attend the annual Loper Alumni Tailgate beginning at noon outside the stadium.
Other Loper athletic teams are in action throughout the week.
The third-ranked UNK volleyball team hosts Fort Hays State at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Health and Sports Center, and Loper softball faces Central Community College-Columbus at 4 p.m. Thursday at Dryden Park. UNK women’s soccer faces Newman at 3 p.m. Friday and Central Oklahoma at 1 p.m. Sunday, with both matches at Cope Stadium.
The UNK Wind Ensemble performs 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Fine Arts Recital Hall on campus. That concert is free and open to the public.
