Homecoming was back in a big way this weekend in Tempe, when Sun Devils celebrated both school spirit and Halloween spookiness.
Friday night's traditional Lantern Walk kicked things off, and on Saturday, there were enough floats, clubs and groups to fill a nearly hourlong parade along University Drive. Then at the Homecoming Block Party, families, students and alumni enjoyed fun, educational activities at booths featuring ASU schools and departments — from science activities to sweet treats to playing games for prizes.
And although the Sun Devils fell to Washington State 34-21 at the football game after the block party, spirits were still high in the stands as students cheered on their team.
Homecoming Parade and Block Party
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Members of the Sun Devil marching band lead off the Homecoming 2021 parade on Saturday, Oct. 30, along University Drive in Tempe.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Four Fischer siblings — (from left) Konnor, 11, Lincoln, 9, Reese, 2, and Addison, 6 — have front-row seats for the Homecoming parade.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Parade Grand Marshal Jake "The Snake" Plummer joins Sparky at the Homecoming parade. Plummer and other members of the 1996–97 Sun Devil football Pac-10 champions were celebrated at the Legends Luncheon the day before. This historic team led ASU football to its fourth undefeated regular season and a trip to the Rose Bowl.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Ghostly downtown housing residents float in the Homecoming parade Oct. 30.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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ASU cheerleaders march and perform during the parade down University Drive.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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Football alumni throw a football between cars while riding in the parade.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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Homecoming king Ivan Hinson and Homecoming queen Renuka Vemuri ride in a carriage during the Homecoming parade.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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Students from the Sun Devil Motorsports club brought a race car and zoomed down University Drive during the parade.
Photo by Karishma Sood/ASU
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School of Life Sciences embraces the Halloween theme at the block party, which took place for the three hours before the noon football game Saturday. The free block party invites the ASU community and the public to explore more than 100 tents from ASU’s colleges, units and departments, featuring hands-on activities for the whole family.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Five-year-old Mateo Parsons helps his mother, Adriana Alvarado Parsons, build part of a skeleton with noodles and candies during the block party. Adriana is a 2005 graduate of the Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Information technology graduate student Akshara Kulkarni poses on a tractor during the block party.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Seven-year-old Cody Hudson is captivated by the School of Molecular Sciences' demonstration of ghoulish fluid, made with water, dry ice and dish soap. Cody's mother earned degrees from ASU in 2008 and 2010.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Andrew McDonald grins as he holds “Toast” the snake at the Homecoming Block Party.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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Sam sisters Ada (left), 15, and Margo, 10, play a Tubano community drum at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts tent at the block party Oct. 30.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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Jayiana Sunna, in her unicorn headband, looks at “Toast” the snake during the block party Oct 30.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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ASU Police member Dutch sports a tiny Sparky on Saturday at the Homecoming festivities.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
Football game
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Sparky steps onto the field before ASU's game against Washington State on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 30.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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Students cheer during the game at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. Fans were encouraged to wear black for the Homecoming blackout game.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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The Sun Devil marching band and color guard perfom a pregame show just minutes before kickoff Oct. 30.
Photo by Karishma Sood/ASU
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These guys are bananas for ASU football.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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Students gasp and sigh in disappointment after the ball is fumbled during a hard loss to Washington State, 34-21.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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Students dressed up for Halloween weekend pose for a photo with Sparky.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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From left: First-year civil engineering major Haley Prey, first-year kinesiology major Kristen Wendtland, first-year political science major Victoria Gradillas and first-year architecture major Vivian Pelayo cheer during game.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
Lantern Walk
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As seen through a phone, Sparky dances before the Lantern Walk at "A" Mountain on Friday evening, Oct. 29.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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The Lantern Walk is one of ASU's oldest traditions, first celebrated in 1917. Each year students, alumni, employees and friends climb to the top of "A" Mountain carrying lanterns to light up Tempe, following in the footsteps of Sun Devils who came before.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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Cheerleaders perform at the start of the trail up "A" Mountain.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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Renuka Vemuri (center) and Ivan Hinson (second from right) are announced as Homecoming queen and king during the Lantern Walk on Oct. 29.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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People listen to speakers during the Friday evening tradition.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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Sparky lights the "A" on "A" Mountain as part of the Lantern Walk.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
Top photo: Members of ASU's Undergraduate Student Government cheer up at a photographer standing on the bridge over University Drive as they ride a float in the Homecoming parade in Tempe on Oct. 30. Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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