CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Homecoming Week at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign takes place Sept. 8-14. WCIA-TV news anchor and Illinois alumna Jennifer Roscoe is the parade grand marshal.
Homecoming kicks off at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, with the annual Alumni Center Fountain dyeing and “flying” pancake breakfast. The Illinois Homecoming 5K race will start at the same time that Sunday.
The Homecoming parade begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13. The parade route begins at the corner of Fourth Street and Kirby Avenue, turns at Gregory Drive and continues west to First Street, where it curls south toward Grange Grove at Memorial Stadium. A pep rally at Grange Grove follows the parade.
Roscoe graduated from Illinois in 1993 and is fiercely loyal to the Orange and Blue. She grew up in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago but has lived in central Illinois for more than 30 years. She began her career at WCIA as an intern, becoming a reporter and now the evening news anchor. Her special “Angels Among Us — Where are They Now?” was nominated for an Emmy.
“I watched the Homecoming parade as a student and have done live shots next to it as a reporter,” Roscoe said. “Being asked to lead the parade as the grand marshal is a huge honor. I’m already practicing my wave.”
Events for students and the community throughout the week include a student dinner on the Quad, the Global Talent Show and a concert at State Farm Center featuring Justin Moore and Tenille Arts.
The Fighting Illini men’s football team takes on Central Michigan at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Memorial Stadium. Homecoming festivities conclude with Saturday Night Live: Homecoming Edition in downtown Champaign.
View the full list of events, more details and visitor guides on the Homecoming 2024 website.