An aerial image of a Homecoming Festival with the Las Vegas strip in the background.

UNLV Rebel Homecoming Through the Years

Homecoming brings students and alumni to gether to celebrate at traditions like the golf cart parade, festival, and football game.

UNLV's annual Homecoming tradition features of a week of events for students, alumni, and the community. The Rebel Homecoming Festival features booths from academic colleges, free food, carnival rides, a parade, and more. 

From the very first homecoming event in 1966, students, staff, and alumni have come together to showcase school pride and Rebel connections. Now a beloved campus tradition, we’re looking back at some of our very first Homecoming memories and exploring new festivities that have become part of our celebration.

 

 

The first NSU homecoming was held in January 1966 and featured a basketball game with the University of Nevada Wolf Pack at the Las Vegas Convention Center instead of football. The Morrill Hall Bell served as the trophy to be awarded to the victor. The rivalry trophy later shifted to the Fremont Cannon. (UNLV Special Collections)
The first NSU homecoming was held in January 1966 and featured a basketball game with the University of Nevada Wolf Pack at the Las Vegas Convention Center instead of football. The Morrill Hall Bell served as the trophy to be awarded to the victor. The rivalry trophy later shifted to the Fremont Cannon. (UNLV Special Collections)
Selection of homecoming queen at halftime during the basketball game on Jan. 10, 1966. (UNLV Special Collections)
Selection of homecoming queen at halftime during the basketball game on Jan. 10, 1966. (UNLV Special Collections)
Students in cowboy shirts and hats fit in with the theme of 1979 homecoming: The Great Western Rebellion. Other events during Homecoming Week that year included a lasso rope contest, square dance lessons, horseshoes, and a covered wagon race.
Students in cowboy shirts and hats fit in with the theme of 1979 homecoming: The Great Western Rebellion. Other events during Homecoming Week that year included a lasso rope contest, square dance lessons, horseshoes, and a covered wagon race.
Rita Lucas was the first African-American to be UNLV’s homecoming queen, November 1971. She’s pictured with her attendants Barbie Apple, left, and Susan DiBiase. (UNLV Special Collections)
Rita Lucas was the first African American to be UNLV’s homecoming queen, November 1971. She’s pictured with her attendants Barbie Apple, left, and Susan DiBiase. (UNLV Special Collections)
A really big deal. Tanya the Elephant (an entertainer from Circus Circus) became the 1971 honorary homecoming queen. Pictured here, Bonnie Braiker-Gordon, a member of UNLV's drill team, accompanies Tanya during the celebration.
A really big deal. Tanya the Elephant (an entertainer from Circus Circus) became the 1971 honorary homecoming queen. Pictured here, Bonnie Braiker-Gordon, a member of UNLV's drill team, accompanies Tanya during the celebration.

 

This CSUN-sponsored pie-eating contest turned into a crazy pie fight at a campus homecoming event near the Student Union in 1975. (UNLV Special Collections)
This CSUN-sponsored pie-eating contest turned into a crazy pie fight at a campus homecoming event near the Student Union in 1975. (UNLV Special Collections)
Parades have been a long-standing UNLV homecoming tradition and students spent hours working on their elaborately decorated floats. For Homecoming '76, this float resembling the Star Trek Enterprise was the winning entry and matched that year's theme, "Space - The Final Frontier." (UNLV Special Collections)
Parades have been a long-standing UNLV homecoming tradition and students spent hours working on their elaborately decorated floats. For Homecoming '76, this float resembling the Star Trek Enterprise was the winning entry and matched that year's theme.
The UNLV Alumni Association brought back the popular community Homecoming festival in 2017 featuring a new twist: booths featuring all of the colleges and many campus units to highlight our academics. Though the COVID-19 pandemic has temporary paused this new tradition, we look forward to the next time we can celebrate together. More than 3,000 people attended!
The UNLV Alumni Association brought back the popular community Homecoming festival in 2017 featuring a new twist: booths with all of the colleges and many campus units to highlight our academics. More than 3,000 people attended! 
In 2019, UNLV’s eldest living alumna Audrey James (’65, ’71) was crowned honorary homecoming queen at 105 years of age and presided over the Scarlet and Gray parade.
In 2019, UNLV’s eldest living alumna Audrey James (’65, ’71) was crowned honorary homecoming queen at 105 years of age and presided over the Scarlet and Gray parade.
Two people wearing masks at an outdoor vaccine station.
In 2021, Rebel Homecoming week cautiously returned, complete with the opportunity for Rebels to receive a COVID-19 vaccine while celebrating their Rebel Pride at the Homecoming Festival. 
Students participate in a brightly-decorated float on a golf cart
In honor of the return of Rebel Homecoming, the week’s theme for student organizations was “Return of the Times,” prompting the groups to choose an era and go all-out. Students choose to throw it back to eras such as ancient Greece, the 70s, and even “all the way back” to the early 2000s! 
UNLV alumnus Guy Fieri flips a coin during a football pre-grame
To celebrate the return of Homecoming, the Rebels brought out 2021 Fred C. Albrecht Outstanding Alumnus of the Year, Guy Fieri ‘90 for the coin toss at the Homecoming football game against the San Jose State Spartans.
Two people collect trash at a city park
Rebel Homecoming returned in full force in 2022, kicking off with the first ever Alumni Day of Service. The UNLV Alumni Association partnered with Get Outdoors Nevada and Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft for a clean-up project at Charlie Frias Park.
Family members wear white, red, and gray pom poms during a stadium tailgate
Rebel alumni, family, and friends started their gameday outside Allegiant Stadium at the UNLV Alumni Association’s Family & Friends Pregame Tailgate on October 15, 2022.

Campus Units:

University Libraries,  Division of Student Affairs,  Student Life,  Alumni Engagement,  Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

You Might Also Like

Views: Our True North Amid Clouds of Uncertainty
blurred image of red banner with trees in background
UNLV History | April 17, 2025

For this column from UNLV Magazine, Nevada journalist John L. Smith seeks context from someone, he says, "who has done everything for UNLV but paint it."

The Loophole that Made UNLV
black and white photo of Herbert Derfelt
UNLV History | April 2, 2025

UNLV’s origin story traces back to one vote by one man, Herb Derfelt. And his legacy continues through generations of family members who followed in his educator footsteps.

More about UNLV History