SIUC Homecoming Week: Comedy, Concerts, Parade, and Football Means Fun for the Entire Family

SIUC Homecoming kicks off this week, offering fun activities and opportunities for Southern Illinoisans to support the Salukis. 

“The Saluki Odyssey: Heroes, Myths and Traditions” is the theme and Walt “Clyde” Frazier, who led the Salukis to national fame and a 1967 NIT (National Invitation Tournament) basketball championships before a long All-Star career, will return to serve as grand marshal for the festivities. 

The city of Carbondale is showing its Saluki Pride by  “painting the town maroon”  and sponsoring a window decorating contest  for local businesses.  Here is a list of some of the rest of the week's highlights.

Wednesday October 11th
A comedy show with Troy Walker, is set for 8 p.m  in the Student Center Ballrooms. The show, is free and open to the public.
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Thursday October 12th
The fun continues with a lip sync battle at 8 p.m. on Oct. 12 in the Student Center Ballrooms. While students and campus organizations will compete, everyone is welcome to attend the show.

Thursday October 12th and Friday October 13th
Shoppers will find new and discounted books on a variety of topics, including Lincoln, the Civil War, regional history, theater, film, philosophy, poetry, rhetoric and more. Many books are $3 for paperback and $5 for cloth/hardback, with recently published books available at reduced prices. This is a sale for individuals and is not intended for wholesale purchasers. 
The Homecoming Book Sale is at SIU Press, 1915 University Press Drive, behind the McLafferty Annex. 


Friday October 13th
New this year is a FREE outdoo Homecoming concert on Friday evening at 7pm/
.Yard Squad, a St. Louis-based reggae band, will perform on the lawn of Morris Library at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13. Formed in 1994, the band has toured regionally and internationally, performing at the Chicago Reggae Festival, the Kentucky Reggae Festival and numerous other venues alongside such artists as “Kenyatta “Culture” Hill, Jah Dan, Admiral Tibet, Tosh 1 and Warrior King.

Saturday October 14th.
Homecoming Parade
A good old-fashioned homecoming pep rally begins at 11 a.m. on Oct. 13 at Faner Plaza, and the big homecoming parade is set for 10 a.m. on Oct. 14 through downtown Carbondale and onto campus

Family Friendly Tailgating
Tailgating on Saluki Row follows the parade and begins at 11 am. 

Football Game
The Salukis take on the Illinois State University Redbirds at 2 p.m. in Saluki Stadium. The homecoming king and queen will be crowned at halftime.

In recent weeks, SIU has been recognizing via social media and other publicity some of its special heroes, myths and traditions. For the first time, the Southern Illinois High School Heroes will receive special recognition from the university as well. Area high schools were given the opportunity to select their top two achieving students, and these young “heroes” will be showcased in SIU’s homecoming parade and during the game.

Its a great week to show your Saluki Pride!