Community on Campus: Rebel Homecoming Festival and Parade

(Cover image by Allison Pacris)

School spirit on campus came alive this semester for the annual Rebel Homecoming Festival and Parade on Wednesday, October 23rd at Pida Plaza. This was an event that I happily looked forward to, as it always reminds me of the strong community that we have on campus.

As I made my way to Pida Plaza, I remembered the first time I stumbled upon this event last year. I had just finished my Spanish class at FDH around 5 p.m. I walked down to the lobby, headed towards the exit, and when I pushed the doors out of the FDH building, I was met with a sea of people walking through the Academic Mall, enjoying the festivities and free food.

The last time I was here, I considered myself to be a commuter student. I would drive to school, attend my classes, then drive right back home. I wasn’t involved in any after school activities, nor did I attend any school events. However, since then, I’ve joined Beyond Thought and started paying attention to the many events happening all around campus. 

Now, as I passed by the giant flood lights that lit up Pida Plaza, I became fully immersed in this schoolwide party of celebration and school pride. There was a DJ that played all kinds of party music, from 90s throwbacks, to pop hits, to Latin music that got people dancing around the Alumni Amphitheatre.

Along the walkway, there were booths of different UNLV schools, colleges, and departments that attracted crowds of people. Some booths invited people to play games, win prizes, or even take photos with their festive Halloween set up.

As I walked further down, there were bounce houses  and carnival rides for families with children to enjoy. And for the adults 21 years-old and over, there was also a beer garden that you could relax in for a $35 entrance fee.

A serving of walking tacos at the festival. (Photo by Allison Pacris)

Outside of the beer garden, however, there was an assortment of free food and drinks that you could grab, which was my favorite part of the festival. They served big barbeque chicken drumsticks, mini corn dogs, and walking tacos. But the longest line by far was for the potato wedges. Although the line seemed long, it went by fast, and it was well worth the wait to indulge in the freshly cooked wedges with warm melty cheese.

Free cotton candy from the Rebel Homecoming Festival. (Photo by Allison Pacris)

Along with the free food, there were also bags of cotton candy, cups of lemonade, a water station, and even cans of energy drinks available (which quickly ran out once I made a second lap around the festival). Just be careful if you’re carrying a full cup; it can be tricky to weave between everyone without spilling the drink on yourself. 

If you’re looking to get a nice photo from this event, it’s hard not to notice the orange glowing lights from the giant Rebel Homecoming sign. It’s a great spot to take a picture with your friends and family with this iconic sign as the perfect backdrop. The only difficult part is getting a photo with it since it was almost always occupied.

Then, at 7:30 p.m., everyone gathered around to see the fireworks shoot up into the night sky to kick off the parade. Once the fireworks cleared the skies, the marching band boomed through Pida Plaza and down the Academic Mall while playing the UNLV Fight Song.

Trailing behind them were golf carts that represented the different colleges and organizations at UNLV. Each cart was dressed in its own Halloween decor and costumes, such as the UNLV Custodial cart with spooky skeletons and the College of Education’s Moana themed cart. Some of its passengers also tossed candy, stickers, and even glow sticks to the amused crowd.

As I watched each vehicle drive by, I felt a strong sense of community on campus and pride to be a fellow Rebel. The Rebel Homecoming Festival and Parade is an event full of fun and entertainment, whether you’re a current UNLV student or alumni. But best of all, it’s an event where you’re surrounded by our UNLV community. I encourage everyone to attend the next one if you can and to bring your family, friends, and loved ones along for next year’s festivities.