High school homecomings are an American rite of fall as constant as autumn leaves turning.

        But many schools across the nation and Tristate color their annual homecoming celebrations in unique hues.

Kings High School students arrange buttons bearing photos of fall sports participants for sale at the Kings “Tailgreat” party. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        From Little Miami High School's tasty turkey feast in the Warren County village of Morrow to Middletown's roaring bonfire stretching high toward a crescent moon, Homecoming — born in the early 20th century — continues to thrive in the new millennium.

        For Kings High School, homecoming means an outdoor festival — “Tailgreat” — attended by thousands where students and parents line up for a chance to playfully plunge school officials into a dunking booth. And in Covington, Holmes High will have its annual citywide parade on Thursday, leading up to Friday night's game.

        During “Spirit Week” activities, there can be competitive school-hallway decorating,as sophomores, juniors and seniors feverishly cut, glue and string to show their superior school spirit. On game night, it's corsages of mums worn by homecoming queens who parade before thousands in the football stands.

        School officials often relax dress codes for special days during the week that leads up to school-colors day on game-day Friday. At Mason High, for example, this year's Spirit Week included a “super-heroes” dress-up day and an oldies day featuring hula-hoop competition. At Newport High, the week included “crazy hair” and “backward clothes” days. Ludlow High had a “twin day” and a “mismatch day.”

        At Hamilton County's Colerain High School, the fall football traditions spread into elementary schools where mini-pep rallies — featuring parts of the high school pep band, cheerleaders and football team — were led by Cardinal Coach Kerry Coombs. He jumped and cheered, all to the glee of the grade-school children old enough to recognize fun.

The Rev. Daryl Calhoun, a former Middletown High football star, holds his son, Darius, 3, on his shoulders during the Middletown bonfire. (Mike Simons photo) | ZOOM |

        And fun helps keep traditions passing on to the next generation, said Middletown High School Principal Cliff Clements.

        “Any kind of tradition is good because it helps to preserve our culture and gives us a link to the past,” said Mr. Clements, an educator for nearly three decades.

        Such traditions take on added significance given the increasingly transitory nature of America's population, he added.

        “With all the mobility of our society today, people don't grow as deep ofroots into a community as they used to,” he said.

        In Beechwood, Ky., parent Bebe Smith, who graduated from Beechwood High 25 years ago and now works as a school secretary, said homecoming wouldn't be the same without the annual mile-long parade through town.

        “It's awesome,” she said. “Everybody looks forward to it.”

Austin Schuler, a second-grader at Weigel Elementary School in Colerain Township, lets loose at a mini-pep rally. (Dick Swaim photo) | ZOOM |

        Mr. Clements noted that this year's homecoming events also had impromptu inclusion of patriotic themes, such as decorated hallways and signed posters declaring support for America.

        Often, parents pass on the homecoming customs. Teresa McLaughlin took her daughter, Stephanie, 11, to the Middletown High bonfire.

        “This is a wonderful tradition. It brings people together, and it's good for kids to see that and to know that people throughout the community are involved in the schools,” said Ms. McLaughlin.

        Nearby was Daryl Calhoun, a former Middletown football star, introducing his young children to homecoming.

        “It's important that the kids understand what this is about and what Middie magic is about. It's a togetherness that includes all different types of races and cultures,” he said, surveying a jubilant, diverse group of fans.

        At Warren County's Little Miami High School, 16-year-old Brittany Stiles took notice of homecoming's unifying force.

        “It breaks down the cliques at school. Everyone dresses the same during the week and everyone is excited,” said Brittany.

        Senior members of Morrow's United Methodist Church have been a key part of each Homecoming Friday since 1976, when church officials began an annual custom of roasting enough turkey dinners to feed nearly 400 people.

        “We have people who come to the dinner from all over Warren County because it's tradition,” said Ruth Emma Hofer. “We have the Homecoming parade on Thursday night, and then on Friday people come here for dinner then they go to the game.”

        In Kings Mill, many bring their fare and cook in the Kings High School parking lot at the annual “Tailgreat” celebration.

        “It builds up school spirit and it gets everybody pumped up for the game, especially the players when they see all these people and all the support they have,” said Kings Junior Stewart Smith and his school buddies just before they fired up their first-ever Tailgreat barbecue grill.

        Marvin Brandenburg has been coming to Kings' football games for 27 of his 51 years and kept his streak going for this year's Tailgreat festival, which besides the ever-popular dunking booth also features booths selling foods and school sports merchandise.

        “It all adds festivities to the game. Everybody gets into the spirit of the game and it brings the community closer together,” said Mr. Brandenburg.

        Sue Kiesewetter and Chris Mayhew contributed to this story.

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