DEKALB – Northern Illinois University students, faculty, staff, alumni and local fans are invited to the NIU Homecoming Block Party from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight in downtown DeKalb. The event will include student and community stage performances from 5 to 6 p.m., the March of the Huskies parade at 6 p.m., a Huskies pep rally at 6:30 p.m., a kid zone and food trucks from 5 to 8 p.m. The Downtown DeKalb Entertainment District will also be open from 4 to 10 p.m. during the celebration.
Jennifer Gross, NIU director of Community Engaged Partnerships said the event has grown into a community celebration over the past several years. “We’re all Huskies in this neck of the woods. So the celebration is a really cool opportunity to bring everybody together.” Gross said.
“We shut down Lincoln Highway right in the middle of DeKalb. We have a big stage and we have 11 live performances, super cool acts that people get to see and enjoy, plus a DJ.”
The March of the Huskies will feature hundreds of students and athletes before the pep rally at 6:30 p.m. The event will also include a free Ferris wheel on Lincoln Highway between Third and Fourth streets. NIU hosts Air Force Saturday night, with additional Homecoming activities planned throughout the weekend.
