NORTHRIDGE : CSUN to Host Gala Homecoming

After rain foiled plans by Cal State Northridge to make its homecoming festivities into a community event last year, the university plans to try again Saturday.

This year, said Heidi Nickerson Levy, interim director of CSUN Alumni Relations, the parade and picnic have been scheduled again, complete with a contingency plan in case of rain.

Altogether, 40,000 people are expected to attend the weekend-long homecoming festivities, culminating with the CSUN vs. Chico State football game Saturday night. Saturday’s celebration will include food booths, entertainment and a beer garden.

Homecoming traditionally is the day when university alumni are welcomed back to the campus. Levy said the efforts to make it a community event are tied to new community outreach efforts that have been the priority of school President Blenda J. Wilson since she was hired last year.

Homecoming has grown steadily more elaborate and well-attended in recent years, a fact Levy attributed to increased alumni loyalty. Traditionally a commuter school, CSUN’s dormitories have expanded recently, and more students are coming back to attend events on the campus where they lived, she said.

Homecoming festivities begin Saturday at 1 p.m. with an hourlong parade starting at the corner of Lindley Avenue and Nordhoff Street. The parade will go north on Reseda Boulevard, head east on Halsted Street and end on campus. Traffic will be blocked only as the parade passes so lengthy street closures are not expected, Levy said.

Parade highlights include sorority and fraternity floats, classic cars, marching bands and appearances by Assemblywoman Paula Boland, Los Angeles City Councilmen Richard Alarcon and Hal Bernson and actress Krystyne Haje of the television show “Head of the Class.”

The Alumni Family Picnic is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. on the campus field between Halsted and Plummer streets. Clowns, a disc jockey, food, campus tours and children’s entertainment will be featured.

Also at 1 p.m. on the field next to the picnic grounds, the alumni softball tournament is scheduled, featuring CSUN softball graduates.

The homecoming football game at the North Campus Stadium begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the gate.