UAB kicks off Homecoming 2018 on Sunday, Oct. 14. This year’s Homecoming theme is “Blazers in the Magic City”, and the week-long celebration brings with it an assortment of new and returning events.

Coordinators hope the UAB community will show off their Blazer spirit in celebration of Birmingham’s lively environment. Allyshia Hinton, Executive Director of the Student Homecoming Committee, says it’s more than “just a theme.”

“‘Blazers in the Magic City’... it’s a lifestyle for the students,” writes Allyshia. “We are ever faithful, ever loyal students in a city where magic is always happening. We believed this theme not only highlighted UAB, but also the city of Birmingham. We love our city and everything that it beholds. It’s a stamp on the UAB community and we definitely wanted to exemplify that.”

UAB students, faculty and staff, alumni and the greater Birmingham community can expect to experience their favorite returning events:

• Duck and weave at the Fifth Annual Dodging for Degrees Dodgeball Tournament on Oct. 14, at 4 p.m. Participation will cost $15 per person ($90 per team).
• Spotlight your talent in the Blazer Showdown on Oct. 15. General admission will cost $6, but all UAB students and staff can scoop a free ticket by bringing their One Card and reserving at the Alys Stephens Center Box.
• Show your mettle in the Seventh Annual DSS Wheelchair Flag Football game on Oct 16, at 6 p.m. The event will take place at the Campus Recreation Center, and admissionis free.

• Sign up to roll and race down 13th Street in the highly-anticipated Gurney Derby Competition on Oct. 17.
• Line up to watch or walk in the Homecoming Parade on Oct. 19. The parade lineup starts at 14th Street South at 9 a.m., and the judging of floats will begin at 11 a.m.

Homecoming 2018 brings with it a few new events to enjoy! Two of which are the Blazer Spirit Campus Clean Up and the Social Media Scavenger Hunt.

Join in the Blazer Spirit Campus Clean Up to help beautify UAB’s campus before Homecoming Week! Volunteer by checking into the HSC Amphitheater on Oct. 14, at 4 p.m. The Blazer Pop Tabs Project will take aluminum (drink) can tabs starting Sunday, with the ultimate goal of improving the environment and promoting recycling.

For the Blazers in the Magic City Social Media Scavenger Hunt, throughout the week, one Blaze doll will be hidden each day in a secret location. The official UAB Homecoming Instagram will give hints to where the doll is. Several prizes will be given to those who find Blaze, like your very own Blaze doll!

As exciting as the events are, one of the most important parts of Homecoming is the coming together of the UAB community. “[Homecoming] gives UAB and the city of Birmingham a sense of tradition,” says Allyshia. “During Homecoming, tons of memories are made that live on forever through UAB Alumni and students. Homecoming helps the campus celebrate our sports teams and appreciate our traditions.”

Experience Homecoming Week: Blazers in the Magic City and participate in all the fun! For a full schedule of all Homecoming events, visit the UAB Homecoming page. For questions, visit the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership in the Hill Student Center, email homecoming@uab.edu or call (205) 934-8020.