Homecoming week started this week and will conclude with a basketball game on Saturday. The event brings back alumni and encourages students to be creative, get involved and show off their school pride.

The weeklong event started on Monday Jan. 20 and will end Saturday, Jan. 25. Homecoming week will reach its climax during a basketball game against San Francisco State on Saturday.

Homecoming will include a fashion show, parade, pre-game tailgate, house party concert, contests, and many more events to get the local community involved with the campus.

This event has been held annually for the past 50 years in celebration of more than five decades of learning success.  Students are encouraged to wear school colors, red and black, for Pioneer pride during the events.

“The true meaning of homecoming for me is the tradition of welcoming students and alumni with activities such as sports and culture events. It is kind of like spirit week for college, a week to appreciate your school,” said Hendrix Erhahon, the events coordinator assistant for student life and leadership.

The first event was the East Bay Idol competition. Submissions began Monday Jan. 20 and closed Wednesday Jan. 30 by 9 p.m. The winner will sing the national anthem at the basketball games during the week.

Next was the homecoming kickoff that took place Tuesday in front of the bookstore lawn, games and prices were provided.

On Thursday, Jan. 23 the Pioneer Pride fashion show will take place at the University Union starting at 12 p.m.

The final homecoming event will be Saturday Jan. 26. First thing in the morning will be the baseball doubleheader vs. Mission College starting 11 a.m. at the Pioneer baseball field.

Starting 5:30 p.m. the women’s basketball game will have their face-off against San Francisco State. After the women’s game the men’s basketball game will follow at 7:30 p.m. against San Francisco State as well, known as the rivals face off.

During the game, the homecoming ceremony will be introducing the future king, queen, prince, princess, duke, duchess and 2 freshmen ambassadors for a total of 8 students to represent the CSUEB homecoming tradition.

Homecoming spirit award winners will also be announced during the ceremony. “We do expect a lot of students to support the nominees for the court,” said Erhahon. He and Marguerite Hinrichs, the director of student life and leadership are expecting approximately 400 people to attend the event.

“We encourage all clubs and organizations to enter the homecoming planning, and every year we promote red and black,” said Hendrix. Clubs boost student’s creativity to show off their pioneer pride and promote the colors of the year, red and black.