Homecoming is a celebration of tradition. Within that tradition, the music of the marching band lives.

Huskie Marching Band Director Frank Bibb said the band will be a vital part of the Homecoming celebration this year.

Bibb said the Huskie Band will march in the Homecoming parade Friday. The band plans to hold an alumni reunion Friday evening at the Crystal Pistol Beach Club, 1312 W. Lincoln Hwy.

The band then is planning a dress rehearsal, which will be followed by its pre-game performance in the “tailgating” area, he said.

Finally, Bibb said the band will perform at the Homecoming half-time show. The band is planning to open with the song “Georgia on My Mind.” They also are planning to do the NIU Huskie Fight song with the help of the Huskie Marching Alumni Band, he said.

Other songs the band is planning to perform include “Think” and the “Theme from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.”

The band plans to end with its rendition of “Somewhere,” which Bibb said he believes “captures the emotion of the Homecoming celebration” and “is a good song to end the game with.”

The alumni band is included in the performance as “a fun activity for its members and the tradition of doing the fight song with the alumni band during past Homecomings,” Bibb said.

“The band’s participation (in Homecoming events) bring out the musical and visual tradition of the celebration,” he said.