Hurray for Homecoming fun

ASU celebrates with parade, music, hands-on activities for the family — and plenty of Halloween touches

Five members of the ASU undergraduate student government look up from their Homecoming float and cheer at the photographer standing overhead on a bridge
October 31, 2021

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

  • ASU Marching Band walks in the Homecoming Parade

    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

  • Four young siblings sit on an ASU blanket to watch the Homecoming parade

    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

  • Jake Plummer and Sparky wave from a vehicle in the Homecoming parade

    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

  • Students representing downtown housing are dressed as ghosts for the Homecoming parade

    Ghostly downtown housing residents float in the Homecoming parade Oct. 30.

    Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

  • Cheerleaders in the Homecoming Parade as seen from above

    ASU cheerleaders march and perform during the parade down University Drive.

    Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU

  • A football alum reaches up for a thrown football during the Homecoming parade

    Football alumni throw a football between cars while riding in the parade.

    Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU

  • The ASU Homecoming king and queen wave from their carriage during the Homecoming parade

    Homecoming king Ivan Hinson and Homecoming queen Renuka Vemuri ride in a carriage during the Homecoming parade.

    Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU

  • A race car drives in the Homecoming parade

    Students from the Sun Devil Motorsports club brought a race car and zoomed down University Drive during the parade.

    Photo by Karishma Sood/ASU

  • A skeleton with giant googly eyes and lab goggles

    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

  • A little boy and his mom make a skeleton out of noodles

    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

  • An ASU student wears a construction helmet while posing for a photo in a tractor

    Information technology graduate student Akshara Kulkarni poses on a tractor during the block party.

    Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

  • A little boy grins as he watching bubbles coming out of a beaker

    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

  • A boy grins as he watches someone hold a snake

    Andrew McDonald grins as he holds “Toast” the snake at the Homecoming Block Party.

    Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU

  • Two sisters play a drum with their hands

    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

  • A little girl wearing a unicorn headband watches as someone shows her a snake

    Jayiana Sunna, in her unicorn headband, looks at “Toast” the snake during the block party Oct 30.

    Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU

  • A black Lab dog wears a tiny Sparky on his back

    ASU Police member Dutch sports a tiny Sparky on Saturday at the Homecoming festivities.

    Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

Football game

  • Sparky the ASU mascot stands with his pitchfork thrust into the football turf at the start of the Homecoming game

    Sparky steps onto the field before ASU's game against Washington State on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 30.

    Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU

  • Students wearing shirts that say Fear the Fork cheer before the ASU football game

    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

  • The ASU Marching Band on the football field with a giant black pitchfork flag

    The Sun Devil marching band and color guard perfom a pregame show just minutes before kickoff Oct. 30.

    Photo by Karishma Sood/ASU

  • Three men wearing banana costumes cheer in the student section at an ASU football game

    These guys are bananas for ASU football.

    Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU

  • Students gasp at an ASU football game after a disappointing play

    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

  • Students in a variety of Halloween costumes pose with Sparky dressed in Homecoming regalia

    Students dressed up for Halloween weekend pose for a photo with Sparky.

    Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU

  • Three women cheer with gold pompoms at the ASU football game

    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 

  • A cellphone videotapes Sparky the ASU mascot dancing

    As seen through a phone, Sparky dances before the Lantern Walk at "A" Mountain on Friday evening, Oct. 29. 

    Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU

  • Three women wearing glow necklaces walk up the light-lined trail on A Mountain

    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

  • Four cheerleaders wearing masks at the Lantern Walk

    Cheerleaders perform at the start of the trail up "A" Mountain. 

    Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU

  • People clap as two people wearing sashes are named Homecoming king and queen

    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

  • People listen to speakers during the Friday evening tradition.

    Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU

  • Sparky the ASU mascot stands at the top of the light-lined giant A on A Mountain at night

    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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