Interested in making memories that last a lifetime? Want to participate in school events? Looking for a fun night with friends? This week, get ready for one of the biggest events hosted here at Mentor High School!

Four events encapsulate the Homecoming season: the Homecoming Pep Assembly, Parade, Football Game, and Dance. Now, let’s dive into each individual event to describe everything you should know including tips from experienced MHS students!

Homecoming Pep Assembly

On Thursday, September 19th, students will be attending the Homecoming Pep Assembly in the morning. The school will run on a slightly altered bell schedule, which you can see here. During the assembly, the Homecoming Court will be introduced, and the Homecoming King will be crowned. The assembly will also feature recognition of fall sports and performances from a slew of groups, including the Mentor Fighting Cardinal Marching Band and Cheer Team. In addition, the individual classes will battle it out in multiple games to determine the most dominant class of 2024 so far! The event, hosted by the Student Government, is always fun to attend and raises the School Spirit for the upcoming events to be discussed occurring on Friday and Saturday.

Homecoming Parade

On Friday, September 20th, the Homecoming parade will take off through the heart of the Mentor High School Campus. The parade of groups ranging from the Fighting Cardinal Marching Band (FCMB), elementary schools, and MHS clubs and activities will exit the MHS parking lot at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, turning right onto Center Street, which will be blocked off by the Mentor Police prior to the event’s start. The procession will slowly make its way down Center Street, eventually turning onto Civic Center Boulevard and heading towards the Jerome T. Osborne Football Stadium. All attendees are encouraged to safely position themselves along this route to experience the festivities.

Riding in the parade precession will also be the Homecoming Queen nominees, selected by the MHS Seniors over the past few weeks. A full list of the Parade Lineup, including all the groups you can plan on watching can be found here.

If you haven’t attended the event in the past, the Homecoming parade is a fantastic experience for little children, as many of the groups in the parade will be handing out candy and other assorted goodies to keep the spirits alive! Make sure to check out the event and cheer on your favorite groups when the parade rolls through town on Friday!

Homecoming Football Game

In addition to the parade, Mentor High School will also have its annual Homecoming football game on Friday, September 20th, where the Mentor Cardinals will battle the Cleveland Heights Tigers at 7 p.m. at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium at the Civic Center. While the Tigers currently hold a 2-2 record, the Cardinals boast an undefeated 4-0 record and hope to defend their position on Friday night.

Also, the Homecoming Queen will be announced at the game, finally resolving weeks of voting by MHS Seniors!

If you are attending the game, tickets can be purchased at the Mentor Athletics website or in the athletic office during school hours. The game’s theme is Blackout, so make sure to dress dark and cheer on the Cardinals in what is likely the busiest game of the year. This game is always one to remember, so make sure to attend!

Homecoming Dance

Perhaps the biggest event of the Homecoming season is the Homecoming dance, which is the most highly recommended activity. Whether the fun comes from hanging out and taking pictures with friends beforehand, or dancing in the gymnasium at the event itself, the Homecoming dance is sure to be a hit for all involved. As usual, this year’s dance will be held in the MHS gymnasium, where the DJ and dance will be held, on Saturday, September 21st. Water and small snacks will be available in the Student Center for any students looking for a break. The total event will take place 7-10 p.m., and students are allowed to begin arriving as early as 6:45 p.m. For a full list of FAQs and information regarding what and who to bring as well as tons more helpful information visit the Homecoming FAQ Sheet found here. The theme of this year’s Homecoming dance is “Tangled,” and students are encouraged to dress accordingly, but nothing is required. Formal attire is the usual go-to for many students (See “Pro Tips: From Experiences MHS Students” below), but make sure to keep all items within the school dress code.

The event is monitored by the Mentor Police and every student will be breathalyzed before entering the dance, so make sure to behave accordingly.

Still, the most important thing to remember is to attend the dance in the first place. Many past students will tell you that the dance is a crucial part of the High School experience and is fun regardless of how long you stay, who you attend with, or what you wear. In the end, all that matters is the fun you have while at the event, which is all but guaranteed.

To attend the event, students can visit this link to purchase tickets and must input their student ID as a password after clicking “Have a passcode?” to access the ticket purchasing section. Or as an alternative, tickets will be sold before school and during lunch mods on September 17th, 18th, and 19th. This year, tickets are $20. Once again, most information regarding the dance can be found here, and any further questions should be directed to your Unit Principal. Make sure to attend the Homecoming Dance!

Pro Tips: From Experienced MHS Students

As the festivities continue throughout the week, participate in as many things as possible. Whether attending the parade, football game, or Spirit Week, everyone is highly recommended to get involved. Especially, everyone is encouraged to the highest extent to attend the Homecoming Dance. So whether you are a Freshman experiencing their first Homecoming season or an older student who has not yet been convinced to join in on the fun, take a moment to read these Pro Tips and understand a bit more from a student’s perspective.

(The following tips have been gathered and paraphrased from students who preferred to remain anonymous)

Pro Tip #1: Even if you don’t have a date, make sure to still attend with your friends.

Pro Tip #2: For those wearing heels, make sure to plan ahead with additional footwear to change into at some point, you’ll need it.

Pro Tip #3: Plan on coordinating all rides from parents or other people as early as possible and get the details figured out, as the dance can become quite hectic at times when lots of students are entering or exiting.

Pro Tip #4: While other events such as Prom often require formal attire, Homecoming is a more relaxed event. A simple suit or dress shirt and tie are great choices for gentlemen, and of course, are not the only acceptable options, and ladies are perfectly acceptable in a dress or any other outfit that suits them in a semi-formal setting.

Pro Tip #5: Friday’s football game is usually the most attended, so make sure to plan on getting into the stadium early and always follow the themes.