The Norwich Purple Tornado football team will host Oneonta on Friday night for the 2024 Homecoming game. Pictured is the team running out from 2023 surrounded by the Norwich Varsity cheerleaders and the Norwich Cyclones. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

NORWICH – The Norwich City School District and the Norwich Purple Tornado football and cheerleading teams are set to kick off homecoming, which the students have been dressing up for special events inside the school while other events have been planned for the weekend.

The Norwich football team will be playing Oneonta on Friday night, so festivities will kick off this evening at 7 p.m. with a “Beat Oneonta” bonfire. A tradition that started a while back to rally up the Norwich football team and the community. While the event has taken place at East Park in the past, the Football Boosters are sponsoring the event behind the VFW this year, which will bring the same feel and school spirit.

Prior to the game on Friday, there will be a homecoming parade, starting roughly at 5:30 p.m. The parade will leave the side of the Norwich Middle School, continue down Midland Dr, down around Marconi Ave, and end at Ulrich Field. All four High School classes are invited to participate in the parade as well as all the Norwich fall sports teams, and even the Norwich Cyclones. Following the parade, all fall sports teams will be introduced.

At halftime, there will be an announcement of the Homecoming court.

To conclude homecoming, there will be a semi-formal dance sponsored by the Cheerleading Boosters. The dance will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday the 12th. The dance is for grades nine through 12 only and there is a $5 admission.

-From Norwich Cheer and Football Boosters