Homecoming Week festivities will include an appearance on Friday by Pauly Shore, who will serve as master of ceremonies at the concert and pep rally.

Homecoming festivities, all involving the theme "Everything's Gone Pop," begin today with a window painting contest on Campus Corner from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Angela Hurd, vice chairwoman of publicity for homecoming, said one of the biggest changes in homecoming week is the pep rally, which is now being called the Sooner Rally.

The pep rally and concert will be combined into the Sooner Rally at 7 p.m. Friday at Lloyd Noble Center.

"Pauly Shore will be announcing the concert, Cary Brothers concert, and the Sooner Rally," Hurd said. "This is one of the biggest changes because usually the pep rally is separate with the men and women's basketball teams."

Hurd said she expects the Sooner Rally to have the largest turnout.

"Every day is a big opportunity for a huge turnout," Hurd said. "Flyers have been hung in the dorms, posters have been made with the schedule on them; we are making sure students, especially in the dorms, are informed of the events."

Royalty voting begins Tuesday. You can log onto homecoming.ou.edu and vote Tuesday and Wednesday for homecoming king and queen.

The walkabout is Tuesday and begins outside the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house at 6 p.m.

"Walkabout is when each organization performs a skit, and people can walk to each house and see the skits," Hurd said.

Wednesday begins with a blood drive in Molly Shi Boren Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The pep rally tryouts begin at 7 p.m. in the John Jacobs Track and Field Stadium.

"Another big change for this year's events is the pep rally tryouts are now located in the John Jacobs Track and Field Stadium instead of the field house," Hurd said. "I expect this to be really fun and with a large turnout of people."

Kate Biggs, nursing junior, said she participated in the pep rally cheer in past years.

"I think the change of location will make Wednesday's tryouts more exciting," Biggs said.

The blood drive continues Thursday at the Delta Gamma sorority house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sidewalk chalk competition outside of Bizzell Memorial Library begins at 2:30 p.m. Thursday and lasts until 4:30 p.m. The competition is for all of the organizations involved in homecoming week.

Multiple events are scheduled for Friday. "I expect Sooner Rally on Friday will be the biggest event," Hurd said.

The Sooner Rally includes the pep rally with groups performing cheers and dances, the Sooner basketball teams and performances by Thief and the Cary Brothers.

Throughout the day Friday, there will be multiple showings of 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' presented by the CAC film series in Meacham Auditorium in Oklahoma Memorial Union beginning at 4 p.m. with showings at 7 p.m., 10 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.

All of the events lead up to the OU vs. Baylor football game at 6 p.m. Saturday.

"Homecoming week is one of my favorite weeks of school because there is a buzz of excitement in the air," said Kaydee Carey, international and area studies sophomore.

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