UNL’s annual homecoming celebration opens Sept. 20. Events through the week will carry the theme “Heroic Huskers Homecoming.”

A 5K fun run and walk will open the week’s activities at 4 p.m. Sept. 20. All UNL students, faculty and staff are welcome to participate. Pre-registration is not required. Registration begins the day of the race at 3:30 p.m. in the north parking lot of Harper Hall. The run/walk runs along the trail beside campus. Runners and walkers are encouraged to show school spirit by wearing Husker gear to the event.

The “Huskers Have Talent” contest, coordinated by Campus Night Life, will take place at 8 p.m. Sept. 21, at the Coliseum. The event will include four divisions of competition: singing, instruments/band, dance and reading/poetry. A mandatory dress rehearsal is 6 p.m. Sept. 20, at the Coliseum.

A free concert by Jon Pardi with the Brothers Osborne will take place at 8 p.m. Sept. 24, at the Lancaster Event Center, 4100 N. 84th St. The concert is presented by the University Program Council and local radio station New Country KX 96.9, along with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the Burr-Fedde Association of Resident Members.

One-hour campus tours leave from the Wick Alumni Center, 1520 R St., and run at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sept. 25. Pre-registration is required; call 1-888-353-1874 to make a reservation.

Also on Sept. 25, student lawn displays will be completed by 10:30 a.m. and judged at noon. The annual homecoming parade starts at 6 p.m. The route begins near the Coliseum, moves east to 16th Street, goes south to R Street, then goes west to the Student Union south entrance. The parade is free and open to the public.

In addition to floats built by registered student organizations, participants in the parade include the Cornhusker Marching Band, the Spirit Squad, 2015 homecoming royalty and student walking groups.

A pep rally will follow the parade from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Nebraska Union Plaza. The Scarlet Guard’s Homecoming Jester Competition is part of the pep rally.

The Nebraska Alumni Association will host a Football Friday gathering from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Wick Alumni Center. Football Friday includes appearances by former Husker football players, music, giveaways, children’s games and more.

Blood drives will be held during the week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, through Sept. 24, at the Nebraska Union and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 21 at the East Union.

Elections of UNL royalty will take place on students’ MyRed portal. Homecoming king and queen will be crowned at halftime of the Nebraska-Southern Miss football game, which is set to kick off at 11 a.m. Sept. 26, at Memorial Stadium.