In the dark night, a bonfire crackles and blazes as students show their pride on the Friday before the homecoming football game. These are experiences a student would have had in 1978. However, this is 2012. Throughout the years, homecoming festivities have evolved. In the mid-80s, the homecoming festivities and football game were held on the same Saturday as the dance. There was a parade that began in the circle around the junior high school. It included floats built on the back of flatbed trucks that drove down to the track where the students continued parading.

Friday night before the games, students held a bonfire in the grass opposite the pool, chaperoned by the teachers. Later, the bonfire was held at a campsite and was not a school sponsored event

“The floats were really fun. I remember going to one girls’ house every year to make the float,” social studies teacher and Central graduate Alison Taylor said.

The football game switched from Saturday afternoon to Friday evening in the 1990s when stadium lights were installed. Some, like social studies teacher Mark Goldenberg feel that the football game should be on Friday night so the dance can be the focus of Saturday.

“It made it easier for people to get hair and nails done on Saturday before the dance,” Goldenberg said.

The student-faculty basketball game and the pep rally are traditions that are still around and teachers love. However, some traditions, like donkey basketball and the school’s equestrian club have died out. Horses were led through the parade as part of the school spirit.

Students feel there are changes to our homecoming dance that would make it more enjoyable. One change considered is a live band. Live bands were present at homecoming dances in the 70s and 80s.

Even though homecoming festivities differ from year to year, students show their school spirit every fall when the time comes to dominate in the game, and dance the night away.