Southeast Missouri State University's annual homecoming celebration has been unfolding all week, but today and Saturday are the pinnacle of the fun and excitement.

As mentioned previously, the Copper Dome Dinner and Merit Award Presentations will be held at 6:30 this evening at the Show Me Center. Seven alumni and one faculty member are set to be honored for distinguished contributions in their respective fields.

Saturday will be packed with things to do and see beginning with the All Alumni Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in the Wehking Alumni Center, followed by a much-anticipated Homecoming Parade to begin at Capaha Park at 9:30 a.m. The parade will head east along Broadway to Main Street and then south on Main Street to Independence.

Homecoming wouldn't be homecoming without a football game. Southeast fans will enjoy tailgate parties from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of Houck Stadium along Bellevue Street. Marching-band members and cheerleaders will be on hand to whip up the excitement in advance of the Redhawks squaring off with Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Kentucky at 1 p.m.

Academic Dome tours will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and a Vets Corps Pig Roast will be unfolding as part of the tail-gaiting festivities in the parking lot of the Wehking Center along Broadway.

Several other, more specific alumni get-togethers are scheduled Saturday, so check them out at semo.edu/homecoming/.

And have a great time! Please do be safe and drink in moderation, if you partake of such things.