Storybook characters will roam OU’s campus this week participating in contests and concerts as a part of OU’s “Once Upon a Time in Soonerland”-themed Homecoming week.

Spirit activities will take place throughout the week, which will culminate with Saturday’s football game against the Kansas Jayhawks in the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

“It’s exactly what OU is going to need after [the Sooners’ loss to Texas] this past weekend,” said Erika Burey, public relations senior and Campus Activities Council Homecoming chair. “They are going to need a big dose of Sooner Spirit.”

Burey said she hopes this year’s theme will help accomplish CAC’s goal of including the Norman community this year.

Book and blood drives will take place during the week. The Homecoming committee asked each participating organization to donate at least 50 new children’s books to be given to the Norman Public Library.

“I’m excited,” Spanish and advertising senior Joe Thomas said. “It’s a crazy week, but it’s probably one of the most fun weeks for those who are involved because there is just so much to do.”

Thomas, Homecoming chair for Brothers Under Christ, said the week offers something for everyone.

Megan Bebb, communications senior and CAC chair, said she is excited to see generations of Sooners come together and embrace the OU spirit.

Alumni will be in the audience at a pep rally Friday and members of both the Norman and university communities will line Boyd Street Saturday for the Homecoming parade.

The greek community, multicultural groups, the Engineering Club, housing groups and other organizations on campus will be involved in building floats for the parade, choreographing dances for the pep rally and decorating businesses on Campus Corner.

An array of activities are going on throughout the week. Some of the featured events of the week are the Sooner Showcase, the pep rally and a benefit concert sponsored by CAC and the Union Programming board.

Sooner Showcase will be held Monday by the Bizzell Statue on the South Oval from noon to 3 p.m. Sooner Showcase gives participants the chance to dress up as storybook characters and promote their group and homecoming events.

On Friday, the McCasland Field House doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for the pep rally, which includes performances by student groups.

After the pep rally, CAC Concert Series and Union Programming Board will host a benefit concert with performances by The Rocket Summer, Phantom Planet, The Secret Handshake and The Morning Light. The concert will benefit Children’s Miracle Network and Oklahoma Students for Uganda.

Monday

• 8 a.m. Banner Competition - Union Parking Garage-Original banners created by student groups displaying story-book themes

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Book Drive – South Oval giveaway table or Oklahoma Memorial Union room 370

• 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Blood Drive – Cate Center Main Social Lounge

• 12 p.m.-3 p.m. Sooner Showcase - The Bizzell Statue on the South Oval

Tuesday

• 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Book Drive - South Oval Giveaway Table or Oklahoma Memorial Union room 370

• 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Free Lunch on the South Oval Provided by Housing & Food

• 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Blood Drive – Walker Center

• 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Sidewalk Chalk Competition -in front of Bizzell Library

Wednesday

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Book Drive - South Oval Giveaway Table

• 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Blood Drive - Molly Shi Boren Ball Room

• 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Chili Cook-Off Benefiting the United Way - South Oval

• 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Window Paint Competition - Campus Corner

• 5 p.m. - Flag Football Tournament - Intramural Fields

Thursday

• 8 a.m.-South Oval Sculpture Competition

Friday

• 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30)-Pep rally begins in the McCasland Field House. Special seating for the first 100 fans and who arrive at the Pep Rally.

• 8:30 p.m. - CAC Concert Series & Union Programming Board Benefit Event on the Union East Lawn featuring The Rocket Summer, Phantom Planet, The Secret Handshake and the Morning Light. The event is free.

Saturday

• 3 hours prior to kickoff- Homecoming parade starts at the intersection of Elm Street and Boyd Street and ends at the intersection of Jenkins Avenue and Felgar Street.

The parade will include more than 12 floats representing children’s books, The Pride of Oklahoma, the Sooner Spirit Squad, cars, motorcycles and the Homecoming court.

• Game - OU vs. Kansas Jayhawks – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

• Halftime – Homecoming Royalty Coronation