ASU gears up for a 'Devilish' Homecoming Oct. 24-31

Governor Jan Brewer will be the grand marshal for the Homecoming Parade at Arizona State University in Tempe on Oct. 31. The festive Block Party begins at 9 a.m. and the parade at 10 a.m., on University Drive, so grab your pitchforks and prepare for a devilishly good time.

The parade starts at Myrtle Avenue and moves east to McAllister, with Sparky and the Sun Devil Marching Band joining dozens of gala floats and entries from student clubs and organizations.

The Block Party will take place just south of the University Club on Tyler Mall, winding north over the Alumni Lawn and across the street into the Palo Verde residence hall area. University Drive will be blocked off from 9 a.m. until 12:15 p.m., when the party ends.  

Kickoff for the football game between the ASU Sun Devils and the California Golden Bears will be at 12:30 p.m., in Sun Devil Stadium.

This year’s Block Party features more than 30 tents with activities and treats for children, plus demonstrations and exhibits for everyone. There will be face painting, clowns, balloon animals, prize wheels, free crayons and candy. Food and ASU gear will be for sale, also. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to trick-or-treat.

Children and their parents can get an enjoyable introduction to the exciting research at the Biodesign Institute, with activities that include making necklaces from strawberry DNA and creating nylon polymers in a safe and slimy-fun experiment. ASU Libraries will have a guest appearance by the “Ask a Librarian” chicken, and an assortment of historical ASU yearbooks for the older crowd.

ASU Native American alumni will have cultural performances, student art, crafts for children, games, and tacos and fry bread for sale. ASU Athletics will offer inflatable bouncy games in the Kidz Zone, and Eight/KAET will feature Masters of Disaster, a free student- and family-focused safety course.

A special Challenges Mall created by the ASU Foundation will have interactive computer stations to learn about the challenges of today’s world and the ways ASU is trying to meet them. Everyone in the community is invited to join in the fun, whether they are alumni or not.

A week of events will precede the big day. Events listed below are at the Tempe campus and are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. For details and a complete schedule at all four campuses, visit the Web site http://homecoming.asu.edu.

Oct. 25 – Devil Duels, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Student Recreation Center tennis court, includes dodge ball tournament and hot dog eating contest.

Oct. 26 – Sun Devil Night on Mill Avenue, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with deals at shops and restaurants. Campus MovieFest, free student film premiere, 8 p.m., at MADCAP theater, 730 S. Mill.

Oct. 27 – Spirit and Culture Day, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., on Hayden Lawn, with live entertainment and music, and Penny Wars to raise funds for Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Oct. 27 – Devilish Dueling Pianos, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., on Palo Verde Beach (north of University Drive), with food and live entertainment from Scottsdale’s dueling piano bar, Howl at the Moon.

Oct. 28 – Locks of Love and Goin’ Bald for Bucks, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., on north side of Memorial Union, a service project to raise funds for Roswell Park Cancer Institute by shaving students’ heads. Student groups will perform.

Oct. 28 – Two-for-one concert and comedy performances, doors 5:30 p.m., show 6:30 p.m., at Tempe Beach Park, with music by Gym Class Heroes and comedy by Craig Robinson and the Nasty Delicious, presented by the ASU Programming and Activities Board. Advance tickets $15 with student ID and $22 for public, available at the ASU Bookstore; $5 extra at the gate.

Oct. 29 – “Phantom of the Opera,” 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Gammage Auditorium, discounts on tickets to the musical for students and alumni at http://homecoming.asu.edu/phantom.

Oct. 30 – Lantern Walk, 8 p.m., “A” Mountain, climb to the top of the mountain in one of ASU’s longest-standing traditions that dates back to 1917. Gather at 5th Street and College to carry lanterns to the summit, enjoying music and fireworks.

Oct. 31 – Block Party, 9 a.m., from Old Main’s alumni lawn north to Palo Verde Main, featuring 30 tents with demonstrations, exhibits and activities, plus a Challenges Mall.

Oct. 31 – Homecoming Parade, 10 a.m., University Drive from Myrtle to McAllister Avenues, with Sparky, Sun Devil Marching Band and Spirit Squad.

Oct. 31 – Football game, 12:30 p.m., Sun Devil Stadium, ASU Sun Devils vs. California Golden Bears, ticket charge.