Embarking on a weeklong journey of festivities, activities and school spirit, Eastern students and community members will be celebrating Homecoming Week with the theme “Paint the Town Blue.”

Monday will be the start of Homecoming Week, with more than 16 Charleston business supporting Eastern pride by having window paintings, lawn decorations and marquees displayed throughout the week.

Joining in on decorating for the week, several Eastern offices – from Old Main to the South Quad – will have Homecoming decorations set up for Monday’s Deck the Halls.

Capping off Monday will be the coronation. Being crowned at 7 p.m. Monday in MacAfee Gymnasium will be the Homecoming Royalty Court.

Zach Samples, co-coordinator of the Homecoming Committee, said in a press release Greek and RSO members are vying for the crown of Homecoming King, Queen, Prince and Princess. In addition the HC Faculty King and Queen and Lil’ Prince and Lil’ Princess will be announced.

“The 2013 HC Royalty Court will reign over all of the Homecoming events that will take place this week,” Samples said.

Tuesday will feature the “Blue Bash,” a family night for Eastern and Charleston community members. The night will center on games like Bingo, creation stations and inflatable games.

“Blue Bash” will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The South Quad will get colorized during Wednesday’s “Spirit Party” – an evening of colored-powder throwing at 5 p.m.

Heading back to the South Quad Thursday for the “BLUEfest,” students and community members can participate in a wide array of games and giveaways, Vicki Woodard, the coordinator of public information, said in a release.

The “BLUEfest” will be from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday in the South Quad.

Friday will help wrap up the week of activities with “Yell Like Hell” at 7 p.m. in MacAfee Gymnasium.

“‘The Homecoming Pep Rally/Yell Like Hell’ event will feature a display of EIU school spirit at its best,” Samples said in the release.

The rally will feature the Eastern student cheer team and mascots performing synchronized dance and chant routines, he added. Eastern’s mascot Billy the Panther will be the master of ceremonies.

One of the events bringing the week to a close Saturday will be the Homecoming parade, featuring a medley of floats, bands and decorated cars. The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Old Main.

Woodard said the route of the parade will consist of participants lining up near on the east side of Old Main, marching northward up Seventh Street to Monroe Avenue, west on Monroe to Sixth Street, then head south to Polk Avenue where they will again turn west. Upon reaching Division Street, they will turn south, cross Lincoln Avenue and head for Grant Avenue, winding up at the tailgate area at O’Brien Stadium.

Homecoming Week will conclude with the Eastern football game as the Panthers take on Southeast Missouri State. Kick off is at 1:30 p.m. and tickets are currently on sale through EIU Panthers website or at Eastern’s ticket office, however tickets will also be sold on game day.

After the week and weekend of festivities winds down, clean up will need to be done around campus.

From 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. volunteers to help clean up should meet at Old Main Sunday for the “Trash Bash.”

Bob Galuski can be reached at 581-2812 or rggaluski@eiu.edu.