Ah, homecoming — the crown jewel of high school events, where a week of spirited activities ends in a night of unforgettable memories. The homecoming dance is a time-honored tradition where school pride is celebrated, and students are able to let loose with their friends. Planning an epic evening will be easy with these homecoming ideas, tips, and themes.
Start planning
Homecoming dances are common events for both high schools and colleges to celebrate a new school year. The big event occurs in early fall, usually following a football game, so planning should start at the beginning of the school year.
Coordinate the activities
Homecoming is often a week-long celebration with many school activities before the dance, including a pep rally, spirit week, and choosing a homecoming court. Whether the homecoming committee is tasked with planning all events or just the dance, ensure the theme is consistent throughout so everything flows well.
Find a venue
The school gym, with its familiar echoes of cheers and laughter, is the most common venue for your homecoming dance. However, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to explore off-campus locations, consider factors like accessibility, parking, and overall ambiance. A local park, community center, or even a rented banquet hall can provide a fresh canvas for your homecoming dreams.
Spread the word
Once you know all the details for homecoming week, it’s time to tell the students. Post everything on social media, put up banners in the halls, and hang posters in the classrooms. Give them plenty of notice so they have time to make spirit week plans, decide on their homecoming outfits, and vote for homecoming queen and king.
Choose a homecoming theme
Not all school dances need a theme. You could just go with simple decorations using your school colors and mascot for inspiration and hire a DJ to spin tunes all night. However, for something more unique, we have a few exciting homecoming ideas and themes to get you started.
🌳 Enchanted Forest
Invite students to step into a world of whimsy and wonder with an enchanted forest theme. Create a magical realm for your homecoming dance that will leave everyone spellbound.
Decor: Transform your venue into a woodland wonderland with lush greenery, twinkling fairy lights, and rustic accents. Think tree-stump seating and ethereal backdrops.
Menu: Embrace the enchantment of the outdoors with a DIY s’mores station. Mushroom cupcakes and fudge tree rings are also fun on-theme desserts!
Entertainment: Cast a spell on your guests with a live acoustic band or a mystical magician. Their talents will add that touch of charm to your forest soiree.
📼 Retro Rewind
Send students back in time to experience a whole new era. For your homecoming theme, you can choose any decade, from a rockin’ sock hop to a groovy disco to an epic 90s party.
Decor: Achieve your retro vibe with neon signage, vintage posters, and photo backdrops that scream nostalgia. Add props from your chosen decade, like cassette tapes, lava lamps, or disco balls.
Menu: Serve sliders, mini pizzas, and retro-inspired snacks and candy. If you go with an oldies theme, then a milkshake bar with classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry is a must!
Entertainment: Hire a live retro cover band to transport students to the decade of their choice. From oldies music to 90s groups, you can find performers from any era.
🌑 Galaxy Gala
Embark on a celestial journey beneath a star-studded sky. With this entrancing homecoming theme, the students will be dazzled by the wonders of the universe.
Decor: Create a celestial wonderland with shimmering star decorations, cosmic colors, and a dazzling backdrop of the night sky. Hang glow-in-the-dark stars from the ceiling for an ethereal touch.
Menu: Treat your guests to cosmic cupcakes adorned with edible glitter and moon or star-shaped cookies. Hiring a bartender to serve galactic-themed mocktails is another unique homecoming idea!
Entertainment: Let the student body add to the ambiance with cosmic-themed body art. Hire face painters or body painters who specialize in glow-in-the-dark designs to make everyone shine like stars.
🎞️ Silver Screen Soirée
Let your students be the star of the show with a Hollywood homecoming theme. Invite the paparazzi to make them feel like A-list celebrities and capture amazing shots for the yearbook!
Decor: Roll out the red carpet with gold accents, elegant drapery, and marquee letters that spell out “HOCO.” Another great homecoming idea is creating a custom film strip with photos of the students!
Menu: Indulge your guests with gourmet appetizers like mini lobster rolls and truffle mac ‘n’ cheese bites. Serving sparkling cider and fizzy water in champagne flutes will also add to the glamour.
Entertainment: A live jazz or swing band will transport students to the golden age and add an air of sophistication. For another fun activity, rent a photo booth so groups of friends can pose with Hollywood props.
🎪 Carnival Extravaganza
Step right up to a night of carnival magic. Channel P.T. Barnum and create the greatest show on Earth with games, live entertainment, and a spectacular dance floor under the big top.
Decor: Turn your venue into a carnival wonderland with colorful banners, oversized balloons, and circus-inspired decor. Be sure to set up carnival game booths for added fun!
Menu: Create a concession stand of classic treats like popcorn, peanuts, and cotton candy. You can also give those traditional treats a twist with unique carnival-themed cupcakes and beverages.
Entertainment: Bring in a roaming circus performer to captivate everyone with fire juggling, stilt walking, and more. It’s a spectacle the students will be talking about for years.
👉 Looking for more theme ideas? Borrow some inspiration from popular prom themes to use for your school’s homecoming dance.
So there you have it, folks! Homecoming ideas for a night that’ll go down in history. Get creative, have fun, and remember, GigSalad is always here to help you make your event dreams come true. Happy homecoming! 💖
Heather is the Content Manager and a GigSalad veteran of 15+ years. She loves helping event planners create unforgettable celebrations and talent make a living doing what they love. When not at work, she enjoys reading romance and fantasy books, bingeing TV shows, playing board games, and spending time with friends.