EPCHS Homecoming Week 2024: Parade, Fan Fest, Football Game, Dance

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -As we enter October, we're in the midst of what many consider the most exciting time of the year at Evergreen Park Community High School. Homecoming Week is already off to a fast start, with the best parts ahead at the end of the week as our football team will host Eisenhower Friday night and our Large Gym will be the site of Saturday night's Homecoming Dance.

While EPCHS students and staff members have been celebrating all week, the Evergreen Park community is encouraged to take part in a number of the events occurring toward the end of the week.

Homecoming Parade

The EPCHS Homecoming Parade will occur on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. The event will take place a day earlier in the week than the Friday it had been held on in years past. It will feature many of the school's clubs and sports teams in addition to school administrators and Village of Evergreen Park elected officials.

Parade Route

The parade will step off at 4 p.m. from Evergreen Park Community High School, 9901 S. Kedzie Ave. in Evergreen Park. The route will head west, crossing Kedzie Avenue at 100th Street and continuing on 100th Street to Clifton Park Avenue, where it will head south to 101st Street. It will head back east on 101st Street until it reaches Sawyer Avenue, where it will go north for a block back to 100th Street, and then east again back to the high school.

Orange Friday

Tune in to FOX-32-Chicago at 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 4 as Evergreen Park Community High School will be the site of FOX's "Orange Friday" broadcast this week. Viewers will see interviews with EPCHS Cheerleading Head Coach Rachael Mayo, two members of the varsity cheer team, EPCHS Football Head Coach Jim Ramazinski and EPCHS Principal Matt Dugan. The school's band, color guard and cheerleaders will perform on the EPCHS football field during the broadcast.

Pep Assembly

Students will pack the EPCHS Large Gym at 2:10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4 for the Homecoming Pep Assembly. Performances will be made by the EPCHS dance team, cheerleaders, band and color guard. Football players and coaches are also expected to address the crowd, and the Homecoming King and Queen will be named.

Fan Fest

EPCHS is proud to announce the addition of a new community event to celebrate homecoming. The Homecoming Fan Fest, scheduled for 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, will include fun activities for all ages. It will be held just before the Mustangs’ football team will take the field for their homecoming game against Eisenhower.

Featured activities will include face painting, games and inflatables, raffles and prizes, a dunk tank, a photo booth and food and crafts for purchase.

“Evergreen Park is the community high school and we’d love for everyone in the village to be part of our Homecoming celebration, especially because there are so many EP alumni who return to the village to raise their families,” said Amy Kazin, director of activities at EPCHS.

“Fan Fest is designed to give people of all ages the opportunity to come to our campus and enjoy the gameday experience,” Kazin added. “Then hopefully, after having some fun on Mayor Sexton Drive, community members will want to stay to cheer the Mustangs on to victory and enjoy the talents of our cheerleaders, dance team, marching band and color guard. We invite everyone to become an honorary member of Mustang Nation for the day.”

All Homecoming Fan Fest activities will take place along Mayor Sexton Drive, located between the school building and sports fields.

Football Game

The Homecoming varsity football game against the visiting Eisenhower High School Cardinals will kickoff at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4 at EPCHS' new, state-of-the-art football field. It will be the third and final home game of the Mustangs' 2024 season and also serve as Senior Night.

Homecoming Court

The 2024 EPCHS Homecoming Court consists of freshmen Esmeralda Garcia and Krystyna Herndobler, sophomores Kyle Croft, Salem Majoch and Abigail Delgado, juniors Hailey Bastian, Seyenna Billings and Destinee Feliciano and seniors Keshaun Vaval, Luke O'Malley, Kameja Burkes, Rosebud Summers, Aaliyah Frazier and Dalilah Ramirez. One senior boy and one senior girl will be named Homecoming King and Queen, respectively, during Friday afternoon's pep assembly.

Homecoming Dance

The Homecoming Dance will run from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 in the EPCHS Large Gym. Students can purchase tickets during lunch periods this week.