St. Joseph, Mo. — Fireworks will light-up Spratt Stadium Sunday night for the official kickoff to Missouri Western State University’s Homecoming week.

Western will celebrate Homecoming 2016 Oct. 9-15, culminating with the Griffon football game against Pittsburg State at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. The theme this year is “Griffons Bring Home the Gold,” paying tribute the Olympics.

The public is invited to a fireworks display at 8:45 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, on Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium.

The Homecoming Committee also invites the community to help the Griffons save a life in the annual Missouri Western vs. Northwest Missouri State Homecoming Blood Drive Challenge. The Community Blood Center will be collecting blood from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 11, 12 and 13, in the Hoff Conference Rooms, Blum Student Union rooms 218-219.

An annual highlight of Homecoming Week is the Homecoming Parade at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in downtown St. Joseph. The parade floats will form at Union and Frederick Avenues and proceed west on Frederick to City Hall, where they will be joined by the Golden Griffon Marching Band and high school marching bands. The parade will turn left on to 9^th Street, then right on to Felix Street, right on to 5^th Street, and right on Jules Street back to City Hall.

Following the Parade, the Alumni Association sponsors Arts, Beats & Treats, starting at 10:30 a.m. in the Remington Atrium. The event features fun activities for children, including painting, make-and-take crafts, face painting, make your own snack mix, fun with magnets and more. Free t-shirts will be given away while they last, and a free tailgate lunch begins at11 a.m. in Lot H.

The week’s full schedule includes:

Sunday, Oct. 9

• Forever Griffons: Celebrating our Alumni from 1940-1975, 11:30 a.m., Spratt Memorial Stadium Hall of Fame Room, advance registration required. Junior College alumni and early college alumni — make plans to join us as we kick off Homecoming week. A tour of the newly renovated Spratt Memorial Stadium will follow lunch.
• Gold Run 5K, 2 to 4 p.m. in Lot H, Baker Fitness Center. Get a free t-shirt by participating in this Color Run, sponsored by the Missouri National Guard. Visitgomoguard.org to preregister.
• Cookout and DJ, 5-8 p.m., Lot H
• Opening ceremony (bonfire), 8 p.m. behind Baker Fitness Center
• Fireworks, 8:45 p.m., Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium

Monday, Oct. 10

• Griffon Relay, 6:30 p.m., Glenn E. Marion Memorial Clock Tower

Tuesday, Oct. 11

• Homecoming Blood Drive Day 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hoff Conference Rooms, Blum 218-219. Help save a life, and help the Griffons beat the Bearcats in the annual Missouri Western vs. Northwest Missouri State blood drive challenge.
• Griffon Olympic Feud, 6:30 p.m, Kemper Recital Hall, Spratt 101

Wednesday, Oct. 12

• Homecoming Blood Drive Day 2, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hoff Conference Rooms, Blum 218-219
• Grecian Gala Dance Party, 7 p.m., Remington Atrium

Thursday, Oct. 13

• Homecoming Blood Drive Day 3, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hoff Conference Rooms, Blum 218-219
• Battle Ball and Bongo Ball, 8:30 p.m., Looney Complex Small Gym and Arena

Friday, Oct. 14

• Alumni Golf Tournament, 10 a.m. shotgun start, Fairview Golf Club. Cost of $45 per person; advance registration is required.
• 34^th Annual Alumni Awards Banquet, 5:45 p.m. reception, 6:15 p.m. dinner and program, Fulkerson Center. Cost of $30 per person, advance registration required. Honorees include Jeff Mittie ’89, Wayne Chatham ’90, Ellen Sommer ’93, Shannon Swanson White ’06, Jerry ’71 and Linda Myers, Dr. Robert Bergland and Howard McCauley.
• Pep rally, 9 p.m. (after the volleyball game), Looney Complex Arena

Saturday, Oct. 15

• Superheroes and Princesses Breakfast, 8:15 a.m., American Red Cross, 401 N. 12^th Street. Children are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite superhero or princess. Donuts and milk will be served, and each child will have the opportunity to make their own Olympic torch.
• Homecoming Parade, 9:30 a.m., Downtown St. Joseph
• Arts, Beats & Treats, 10:30 a.m. (after the parade), Remington Atrium
• Black and Gold Renewal Tailgate, 11 a.m., Lot H. The Alumni Association Board of Directors hosts this free pre-game event. Included in the Black and Gold Renewal Tailgate is the first Black Alumni Network Reunion and the first Cheerleader Reunion.
• SGA Tailgate, Noon
• Homecoming football game vs. Pittsburg State, Craig Field at Spratt Stadium, 2 p.m.

Also during Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 14-16, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will celebrate its 25^th anniversary on Missouri Western’s campus with a series of events.

The Griffon Olympian Court that will preside over the week’s activities includes: Alec Guy, Amy Insco, and Nathan Nold, all of St. Joseph; Brooke Bernhardt, of Macon, Missouri; Cooper Roberts, of Faucett, Missouri; Eli Dodge, of Stewartsville, Missouri; Kaitlin McLeod, of Independence, Missouri; Lauren Patton and Shannon Starr, both of Kansas City, Missouri; and Shelby Dier, of Holt, Missouri. The Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists of the Olympian Court will be named during the Friday night pep rally.