Niwot High School homecoming with a night of bright neon lights

Niwot High School's annual homecoming festivities begin Monday, Sept. 9 with a highly anticipated pep rally, where freshmen wear white, sophomores wear black, juniors wear green, and seniors wear the iconic Niwot camo pattern.

This year's theme is "Bright Lights, Neon Nights." Niwot's student council team, sponsored by counselor Leah Messinger, has been working hard to plan events, choose spirit week activities and make it a fun, welcoming event for everyone. Spirit week extends through the day of the homecoming dance, Saturday, Sept. 14. All sporting events mentioned will be hosted at the school, unless otherwise indicated.

At 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 the Niwot High School's Unified Bowling team will be competing at Centennial Lanes. At 6:00 p.m., "The Kickoff," Niwot's flag football tournament, will begin. Eight teams will be competing against one another throughout the night with upperclassmen receiving first priority.

Get your activewear and aprons out for Tuesday's festivities with the theme of "Soccer Mom vs. BBQ Dad." Wear golf shirts and cargo shorts or leggings and sports jackets to show your Niwot school spirit. After school, a free homecoming BBQ will be held by the baseball fields because Niwot will be hosting not one, but two sporting events. Boys tennis against Centaurus will kick off at 3:30 p.m., followed closely by a NHS softball game against Fairview High School at 4:00 p.m.

The theme for Wednesday, Sept. 11 is "Business on Top, Party on the Bottom." Wear your nicest tie with your fluffiest tutu on this sports-focused day. Gymnastics will be starting off the night competing against Roosevelt High School and Broomfield High School at 5:30 p.m. Following gymnastics, the NHS boys soccer team will be playing against Prairie View High School at 6:30 p.m., and a colorful drone show will be held afterwards.

Everybody owns one specific shirt that never fails to make people chuckle, "Tacky T-Shirt Day" will be held on Thursday, Sept. 12. All t-shirts worn must be school appropriate as per school policy, but tackiness will be honored. NHS volleyball will be facing Erie High School at 6:30 p.m. There, neon giveaway items will be handed out to students who will accessorize with everything neon that they can get their hands on at the football game on Friday.

Friday is the day every student is gearing up for. Given the "Bright Lights, Neon Nights" students are encouraged to show up in blinding neon colors of lime green, orange, and pink.

Directly after school at 3:00 p.m., the homecoming parade will start, and anyone is welcome to come and watch as Niwot's homecoming royalty and floats meander through the streets of Niwot.

The parade route starts at Niwot High School, and proceeds into Morton Heights, passing Niwot Elementary School before heading west on Niwot Road past Cottonwood Square, then proceeding down 2nd Avenue to Murray Street, and heading north, ending at 3rd Avenue. Niwot Road will be briefly closed.

Once the parade comes to a close, there will be a showing of a PG-rated movie in the commons of the school for students to watch at 4:30 p.m. There will also be a community tailgate at 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The homecoming football game will start promptly after the national anthem is sung by Niwot's Chamber Singers and Evenstar choirs at 7:00 p.m. at Niwot High School's field when the Cougars face Skyview High School. Niwot High's inaugural Hall of Fame class members will be introduced between quarters.

Saturday begins with a softball game at 10 a.m. with the Cougars hosting Fairview High School.

The Niwot High homecoming dance begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, in the large gym. Tickets are $20 at the door. The dance is scheduled to end at 11 p.m. Find more information on Niwot High's Student Council Instagram, @niwot_stuco.