Students, alumni and fans are invited to join in a week-long celebration leading up to the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Homecoming game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
Kick off is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Cajun Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. ESPN+ will televise the game.
Homecoming Week will begin on Sunday, Nov. 3. A list of some of the events and activities for Homecoming 2024 — themed “Starring the Ragin’ Cajuns” — is below.
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, student organizations will decorate Student Union windows with displays of school spirit during the Paint Your Pride Window Painting Event.
On Monday, Nov. 4, the University’s first Community Engagement Fair will take place from 12:30-4:30 p.m. at the Alumni Center. Food truck vendors will sell meals there from 4-7 p.m. Later, among the University Program Center’s Homecoming 2024 events will be the La Fleur Couture Fashion Show from 7-9 p.m. at Blackham Coliseum.
Schools and businesses will compete for bragging rights and get the chance to show off their Ragin’ Cajuns spirit and pride during the Paint the Town Red contest. Schools can submit their virtual entries by Tuesday, Nov. 5. Judges will visit businesses on Thursday, Nov. 7 to determine which exteriors and interiors boast the best displays of vermilion and white.
The Wear Red, Get Fed event and Campus Cupboard Food Drive for students will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday in the Quad. Students who bring nonperishable food items for the Campus Cupboard can present their University IDs for a free lunch. Later, student performances and creativity will be on display during the Cajuns Got Talent show from 6-8 p.m. at Blackham Coliseum.
On Thursday, Nov. 7, each academic college will host its own reception across campus from 5-7:30 p.m. Visit the University’s calendar of events to register and see the location for each reception.
The Yell Like Hell pep rally will also be held on Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at Blackham Coliseum. The Pride of Acadiana Marching Band, members of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Football team, head football coach Michael Desormeaux, cheerleaders and the Ragin’ Jazz Dance Team will help hype the crowd.
On Friday, Nov. 8, the Homecoming Tennis and Pickleball Tournaments will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Red Lerille’s Health & Racquet Club. The Bill Bass Open Golf Tournament will begin at 11 a.m. that day at the Les Vieux Chenes Golf Course.
Later on Friday, the Ragin’ Cajuns alumni clubs will host a hangout at The Yard Goat for anyone traveling to Homecoming from out of town. The event will take place on the Boilermaker patio from 6-9 p.m.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, the Christiana Smith African American Alumni Chapter will celebrate its annual Sweet Sounds of Sharing recognition program and reception. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bayou Bijou Theater. A zydeco brunch will follow in the Student Union ballroom.
Later that day, the Homecoming Day Parade will roll at noon from Blackham Coliseum, travel north on Cajundome Boulevard, and enter Cajun Field at Reinhardt Drive. The procession will wind around Cajun Field before exiting onto Bertrand Drive.
Join the post-Homecoming clean up effort on Monday, Nov. 11 from 2-4. p.m. Krewe de Coulee volunteers can meet at Blackham Coliseum to clean Cajundome Boulevard and Reinhardt Drive.
Learn more about Homecoming 2024.
Photo caption: The Homecoming Day Parade rolls down Cajundome Boulevard. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette