Beyond the start of a new school year, football season and a crisp chill setting into the air, fall holds an exciting event throughout high schools in America – Homecoming.

The Homecoming season features several exciting aspects including spirit week, Garter Bowl, the Homecoming football game and the Homecoming dance itself.

This year, Parkland High School had yet another incredible Homecoming season with students showing their school spirit throughout all of the exciting events the week had to offer.

Homecoming week kicked off with the annual tradition of spirit week, a way for students to get excited about the weekend’s coming events.

Each day, students dressed to a different theme created by the school’s student council.

On Oct. 6, the halls were filled with students in Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses, honoring “Hawaiian Day.”

On Oct. 7, students wore their best tie-dye attire.

In honor of that night’s Garter Bowl, an annual girls flag football game, Oct. 8 was Class Colors Day, in which each grade wore their designated color to support their class’s Garter Bowl players.

The following day, students brought out their Mickey ears and costumes for Disney Day.

Finally, spirit week concluded with Parkland Pride day, where students wore their Parkland gear as well and school colors in order to show their school spirit.

In a school as large as Parkland High School which has over 3,000 students, spirit week is more than a way to get excited for the weekend – it’s a chance for all of the school’s different students and teachers to come together.

In addition to attending the Homecoming dance and football game, spirit week provided Parkland High School with an easy way to celebrate a beloved tradition.

The annual girls flag football game, known as Garter Bowl, took place Wednesday night.

Each grade had its own team, and the first two games were freshman against juniors and seniors against sophomores.

The sophomores and juniors made it through the first round and faced off in the final game, with the sophomores taking home the final victory and being the 2025 Garter Bowl champions.

“Everyone brought so much energy, and it was amazing to see how competitive but supportive everyone was that night,” Garter Bowl player Aneri McGalla said. “Playing in Garter Bowl was such a fun way to represent our class.”

Friday night’s Homecoming football game set the tone for the weekend with a 37-7 win for the Trojans.

The Trojan Pak, also known as the student section, was flooded with students wearing pink in support of breast cancer awareness as they cheered on the PHS football team.

Their energy was contagious as they chanted the names of football players after they scored the touchdowns which led to yet another win for the Trojans, bringing them to their eighth win of the season and retention of their undefeated status.

Finally, the highly anticipated Homecoming dance took place Oct. 11.

The event was one to remember as hundreds of students filled Parkland High School’s cafeteria.

Although it was a rainy night, nothing could put a damper on the students’ excitement as they dressed in their best semi-formal attire and danced the night away.

The school was filled with the sound of music and decorations honoring this year’s “Under the Sea” theme created by the student council.

Halfway through the dance, PHS seniors Maddox Rampen and Angelina Zaiter were crowned 2025 Homecoming King and Queen.

After a long night of singing along to their favorite songs and dancing with their friends, the students left the high school with plenty of new memories, concluding the homecoming week.

Following in the footsteps of years past, this year’s Homecoming was nothing short of a success.

Parkland students created amazing memories they are sure to remember for years to come as they honored an American high school tradition.