When most people think about homecoming, the first image that usually comes to mind is winning the “big game” on Saturday, but the activities that make homecoming a week-long event vary depending on the university.Even within the state of Louisiana, homecoming traditions vary depending upon what region of the state in which the university is located.

Universities in the University of Louisiana System, such as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, in the south-central portion of the state, holds a triathlon for students to compete against one another in running, swimming and cycling.

Another event that is held at ULL that is different from events at Nicholls State is a “car rally.” The car rally is like a scavenger hunt with a vehicle. ULL students drive from checkpoint to checkpoint trying to figure out the answers to clues along the way.

ULL also celebrates mass at the campus Catholic church for the homecoming court to attend. The entire campus community is invited to attend and participate in the religious homecoming ceremony.

At McNeese State University in southwestern Louisiana, some of the activities students can participate in include a night of bowling and a black light party.

Northwestern State University in Natchitoches holds a lip sync contest, which is one of the highlights of that university’s homecoming week.

Nicholls also has homecoming activities that are exclusive to this University. One of these homecoming events is the pirogue race.

But there are also similarities among Louisiana universities, which include kicking off homecoming week with “Paint the Town Red,” or a similar event, homecoming parades and a bonfire.