Student perspectives played a large role in what types of homecoming events were scheduled for the 2025 homecoming season.
Photo courtesy of @usfstpetersburg, @youbelonghereusf and @usfhab on Instagram
By Julia Birdsall
With no hurricanes spawning in the Gulf this season, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s homecoming is running smoothly this year after a tumultuous hurricane season saw it postponed in 2024.
From Oct. 12 to Oct. 17 students will be able to get their school spirit up in preparation for USF’s homecoming football game against Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.
An increase to USF’s homecoming budget has ensured that the St. Petersburg campus can host bigger and better events and the campus’ Harborside Activities Board (HAB) planned them with the goal that students enjoy their 2025 homecoming experience.
Anastasia Fox, a junior management major and the executive director of HAB, told The Crow’s Nest that her team has generated a lot of new and fresh ideas by speaking with students about what they’d most like to see for 2025 homecoming.
While traditional events like Breakfast Tabling at Harborwalk on Oct. 13 and the Royalty Ball in the USC ballrooms on Oct. 14 will return, there will also be new twists.
New additions to homecoming include Casino Night event on Oct. 17 in the USC ballrooms and the Royalty Ball’s theme of “Alice in Wonderland.”
Fox is a candidate for 2025 homecoming royalty. Voting has already begun, and the winners will be announced during the Royalty Ball.
For the second year, St. Petersburg’s pet royalty will also be announced at the Royalty Ball. Dogs, cats, and even a hamster are in the running, and students still have plenty of time to vote for their favorite candidate.
The winners will be able to participate in the Running of the Bulls Parade at the Tampa campus on Oct. 18.
Photo courtesy of @usfstpetersburg, @youbelonghereusf and @usfhab on Instagram
Most of the extra money has been put towards Casino Night where there will be an external vendor providing the casino games and dealers so that the games are more accessible to students. The prizes available for winning the games will also be more substantial.
Fox stated that she is most excited about the Casino Night, as it’s different from anything else that HAB has done for homecoming in previous years.
The rest of the extra funding has gone towards enhancing other homecoming events, Fox said.
The themed Royalty Ball is one example. Another is new USF merchandise that students will be able to get for free at the Breakfast Tabling, as well as the inclusion of a popcorn bar at the “Knives Out” movie night at the USC lawn on Oct. 13 and a petting zoo at the Homecoming Harvest on Oct. 15 at the Harborside lawn and the Edge deck.
“I just love seeing the consistent faces come back to events. I feel like that’s what we’re here in college for. We’re here to make the connections and meet new people,” Fox said. “I want to be able to create a space where you are able to make those friends.”
With student engagement and community at the heart of each upcoming event, there is much to look forward to.
“Just show up and show out,” Fox said. “[Homecoming is] gonna be so fun; it’s gonna be a great week.”
