It’s the time of year when the call goes out for all Pirates past, present and future to join in celebrating homecoming at Englewood High School for activities scheduled from the kickoff assembly Sept. 25 to the homecoming dance Oct. 3.

This year’s theme is Viva Las Vegas and activities and events range from the Sept. 25 kickoff assembly to building floats and, of course, the Oct. 3 homecoming dance that wraps up the celebration.

Everything planned in the early part of next week is for and about students.

A list of lunch-time contests are planned as each of the four classes, freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, vie to earn class points. In the past, the lunch-time contests have ranged from a dance-off and a doughnut-eating contest to an air guitar competition.

Activities for the public resume Sept. 30 with the powder-puff football game at 6:30 p.m. on the Englewood High School Stadium field. The powder puff game is flag football, as the girls of the freshmen and sophomore classes join forces against a team of juniors and seniors. Since the girls are playing football, it is logical for boys, many of them football players, to don the proper attire, pick up the pom pons and become the cheerleaders.

The usually spirited powder-puff is followed by the homecoming pep rally in the field house at 7:30 and the evening’s activities wrap up with the snake dance to the practice field for the bonfire about 8 p.m. All the Sept. 30 activities are open to the public and there is no charge for admission or participation.

Several major homecoming events happen on Oct. 2.

Early that afternoon, middle school and high school classes end for the day so kids can get ready to take part in the parade and allows those who aren’t in the parade to watch it.

In keeping with long-standing tradition, the Pirate marching band will lead the parade, stepping off from the starting point at 1:30 p.m. and being joined providing the music for the parade by the Englewood Middle School band.

Traditionally, the event features homecoming royalty riding in convertibles as well as floats from the four classes, school clubs and the cheerleaders.

The parade will follow the route established last year as the units form up on West Union Avenue, adjacent to Englewood Middle School, 300 W. Chenango Ave. The bands, floats and marching groups will then proceed north on Delaware and go past Clayton Elementary School before turning east on Tufts Avenue and across Broadway so the route goes past Cherrelyn Elementary School. In the next block, the route turns north on Logan Street with the parade ending in the student parking lot at Englewood High School.

There will a big tailgate party in the student parking lot. This year, for the first time, organizers are encouraging alumni to attend instead of holding an after-the-football gathering for the EHS graduates.

Just as the day’s light is fading, the focus again shifts to Englewood High School Stadium for the homecoming game against Ridge View Academy.

Usually, students and alumni fill the stands for the game and cheer for the Pirates. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and admission is $5 for adults and $4 for students with school identification.

The length of halftime is extended for homecoming as royalty is introduced and the names of two members of the senior class are revealed as they are named homecoming king and queen.

Saturday, the week’s activities wrap up with the homecoming dance. In keeping with tradition, the dance will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight in the school commons. Tickets are sold at the commons during the lunch periods and the advance-purchase cost is $15 per person and $25 per couple.