Lawrence's high schools celebrating homecoming

Lawrence’s high schools celebrating homecoming — at home

With stadiums at high schools, fall rituals take on added meaning

Lawrence High senior Jonathan Gabler, left, and other members of the school’s Drum Line were part of the homecoming pep rally Wednesday at the school, 1901 La. LHS and Free State High School will play homecoming football games Friday at newly constructed athletic fields on their campuses.

Lawrence’s high schools celebrating homecoming — at home

Home will be the key word for Lawrence’s two high schools Friday as they each celebrate homecoming. Enlarge video

Home will be the key word for Lawrence’s two high schools Friday as they each celebrating homecoming.

“The actual homecoming game will be played at home,” said Jan Leonard, the Lawrence High activities director and assistant principal.

With the nearly finished athletic stadiums now on the Lawrence High and Free State campuses, the Lions and Firebirds will take the field Friday night in games at home — a change from recent homecoming games at Haskell Stadium or Memorial Stadium.

“I think it makes it more of a home-like atmosphere,” said Lisa Boyd, a Free State assistant principal.

Also making this year somewhat of a rarity, both high schools’ homecoming games fall on the same night for the first time since 2005.

This week is filled with festivities for students at both schools, culminating Friday with simultaneous parades. Both parades will follow their traditional routes.

• The Lawrence High parade will leave South Park at 2:30 p.m. and head south on Massachusetts Street to 19th Street. Parade participants will then head west on 19th Street to LHS.

During the parade, traffic will be allowed to travel in the eastbound lanes of 19th Street and northbound on Massachusetts Street. However, due to parade traffic, Leonard said drivers might want to generally avoid the area — particularly the 19th Street intersections with Tennessee and Kentucky streets —from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

• The Free State parade begins at 2:45 p.m. at Bob Billings Parkway and Wakarusa Drive. Participants will move in the northbound lanes of Wakarusa Drive. The southbound lanes will be open, but Boyd said it was best for drivers to generally try to find a different route if they can until 3:15 p.m.

At 7 p.m. Friday, Lawrence High will take the field against Olathe South, and Free State plays Shawnee Mission Northwest. Homecoming dances will begin between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday at each high school.

puddleglum 3 years, 7 months ago

where is that driedoregano dude?

gsxr600 3 years, 7 months ago

Someone's going to get hit again this year. Odds are better with a lot of 23rd being diverted.

Curtis Lange 3 years, 7 months ago

So the dance starts two hours after the kickoff to the football game? That sucks.

FREESTATEFAN 3 years, 7 months ago

About time they had their own stadiums! The cheap wad who owned the land in front of Free State should have donated that land a long time ago...taken a huge tax break and named it after you...that would have lasted a long time longer than all your money. Greedy B..

workinghard 3 years, 7 months ago

FREESTATEFAN --curious as to how old you are?

hail2oldku 3 years, 7 months ago

Curtis - high school football games last about two hours, so the kids can go right to the dance once the game is over. That's the reason for the timing of the dance.

Freestatefan - all I can say is wow. I hope you aren't a product of the Lawrence school system, because if you are we are in for a serious decline around here.

From his comment history I get the impression he is.

hail2oldku: Just seems kind of hurried is all. At my HS, we would have the game on Friday night then the dance on Saturday night. Much better set up IMO.

That makes sense Curtis. I was reading your post as if you'd rather have the dance start at 8:00 (or even earlier) while the game was still being played. I've seen schools do it both ways (ie right after the game or the night after the game) so I'm not sure why I didn't consider that when I replied to your post.

Prana 3 years, 7 months ago

Can't wait for Homecoming game & dance! How fun for everyone to have their own 'home' stadium. When I grew up, the dance was the following night but it was also a much bigger deal -- formals, suits, flowers...the whole works! I think the Winter Formal has replaced the Homecoming dance formality. Now if we can get wins for our 2 home teams -- go LHS & FS!

svenway_park 3 years, 7 months ago

I say the new field needs a new homecoming tradition.

After the game let's point all the lights to the south onto the softball field and leave them on until 4 am. Then have a dance and party there. Maybe a band or two.

It would be a really Cool event.

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