This is YSU Homecoming week

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

This week’s Youngstown State University Homecoming festivities conclude with the annual parade and a football game Saturday when the Penguins face South Dakota State at Stambaugh Stadium.

The parade begins at 2 p.m. Saturday and runs from the Wood Street staging area, traveling up Fifth Avenue to the stadium for the 4 p.m. game.

This 75th homecoming celebration’s theme is Penguins are Forever and students and visitors can get a glimpse of festivities from years past from 1 to 4 p.m. all week. The Reading Room of Archives on the Maag Library’s fifth floor will display homecoming materials including a scrapbook donated by Marie Barrett, 1938’s homecoming queen.

In honor of the 75th anniversary, 35 past kings and queens return to the stadium at the end of the game’s first quarter.

The 2015 homecoming king and queen will be crowned during halftime of the game. This year’s nominees are Catherine Cooper, Steve DiPaolo, Ashley Milligan, Trevon Wright, Ahmed “Silver” Alghamdi, Gianna Marinucci, Austin McLean, Jordan Wolfe, Altoya Parnell and Natalie Kelly.

Other activities this week include hamburger- and doughnut-eating contests, sand art, Build-A-Penguin, bowling, visits by area television and radio stations.

From 7 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Penguin Productions will host Fall Fire Fest at the Green on Grant Street. The Vespers and Jordan DePaul will provide music and a bonfire, food and drink vendors and a YSU spirit rally are part of the festivities. Admission is free and open to YSU students and the public.