The University of Memphis officially kicked off its 2021 Homecoming Week Sunday evening.
The seven days of events to show school spirit started with Aux Cord Wars, an old-school DJ competition style event where students competed to see who could play the best songs.
It was followed by the silent disco on Tuesday, a dance party of sorts except without music, at least music played out loud. This year’s theme was ‘90s and 2000s.
The beauty of a silent disco, which the university started doing a few years ago according to Darika Scott, president of the university’s student activities council, is that dancers get their own set of headphones that plays music only they can hear.
Tuesday’s disco had three DJs and headphones were color coded, so whatever color headphones that a student received dictated what playlist they had access to.
The biggest upcoming events this week are the Bluff City Bash and the Homecoming Parade. Like the silent disco, both events are held annually.
The Bluff City Bash will be a night of music and dancing featuring performances from two, well-known rappers. Native Memphian Young Dolph will be headlining the show and performing alongside him will be social media rap star, Flo Milli.
Both artists have been in the game for almost the same amount of time, but it was only until recently that Milli rose to fame.
Dolph, whose real name is Adolph Thornton Jr., started his career in 2013 when he released his first mixtape, “East Atlanta Memphis” with rap powerhouse, Gucci Mane. Milli, whose real name is Tamia Carter, started releasing music in 2015 but was not a signed artist until two of her songs blew up last year on the popular social media platform, TikTok. She then signed a deal with RCA Records.
Following the Bash is the Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally on Friday.
Each year the parade hosts registered student organizations that team up to create floats and parade them around campus. The event will start on Zach Curlin St. and make its way around the university before ending at the fountain plaza.
“The parade and pep rally are traditions. They involve all of the [campus] organizations,” Scott said.
The parade will be held first with the pep rally shortly after. The pep rally, which is an event to get students hyped up for this year’s homecoming football game, will see the Tigers face the SMU Mustangs. The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. and the pep rally is at 6:30 p.m.
Although these are the most anticipated events each year, there are also other activities going on where students can still participate in the homecoming festivities.
“This is the thing about SAC and their homecoming events, they have really big events and programs in the evening, but they also have small pop-up events during the day,” Scott said.
She added that every day there are new events both big and small happening.
“With over 15 events there is sure to be something for every student,” said MK Tyler, senior coordinator of student engagement at the university’s student leadership and involvement office.
All homecoming celebrations are free to University of Memphis students. More information about each event and how to reserve tickets can be found at https://alumni.memphis.edu/s/1728/c20/interior.aspx?sid=1728&gid=2&pgid=2401.
A group of students dancing at Tuesday's silent disco. Many students showed up to the unique event which the university has been putting on for several years.
