by Christi Mathis
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Huge crowds turned out for Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s “Saluki Spooktacular” Homecoming 2025 drawn by nostalgia, lovely weather, a fun Halloween vibe and great activities galore, including a big block party, a Mariah the Scientist concert, a huge Carbondale Halloween Homecoming Music Street Festival and much more.
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(Above) SIU’s 2025 Homecoming parade drew more than 60 entries. (Below) Gaige Lage and Makenzie Gaines were crowned royalty during halftime festivities. (Photos by Erasmus Tornye)
Current students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members enjoyed diverse events and competitions, and many emerged as winners.
Everyone loves a parade
Floats, bands, marchers and assorted participants paraded through the streets of downtown Carbondale to the delight of the crowd on Saturday, Oct. 25, before winding its way through campus for tailgating and the big football victory over the University of Northern Iowa Panthers.
The parade featured more than 60 entries, and Jeremy Chinn, Saluki Hall of Famer and current Las Vegas Raiders NFL safety, was grand marshal.
Parade winners included:
Large float: Sigma Kappa and Sigma Pi with “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Small float: Alpha Sigma Pi and Delta Phi Epsilon with “Monster House.”
Band competition:
- Class A:Carbondale Community High School.
- Class B:Trico Junior and Senior High School.
- Class C:Carbondale Middle School.
Reigning over the festivities
The excitement continued on Saluki Row and in Saluki Stadium for tailgating and gridiron action, and the homecoming court was recognized at halftime. The homecoming royalty, chosen by online student voting, were Gaige Lage, king, and Makenzie Gaines, queen.
Lage, a senior musical theater major from Ava, Illinois, is very active in the theater and creative programs, which he credits for helping him grow. Gaines, a senior communication studies major from Champaign, Illinois, is involved with more than 20 campus and community organizations, including the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Black Affairs Council and National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs Inc.
The court also included:
- Iyanuoluwa Alabi, a senior industrial management and applied engineering majorfrom West Ridge/Chicago.
- Sydney Bailey, a senior business management majorwith a specialization in entrepreneurship and a public and nonprofit administration minor from Woodlawn, Illinois.
- Alberto Juarez, a junior accounting major from Skokie, Illinois.
- Kaitlyn Komperda, a business management majorspecializing in human resource management from Chicago.
- Cordelia Lemons, a junior civil engineering majorfrom Sesser, Illinois, with an environmental specialization and minors in environmental studies and sustainability.
- Demetrius Lovejoy, a senior psychology majorwith minors in political science and legal studies from the south side of
Showing Saluki pride
Students, faculty and staff across campus got into the “spirit” of things to show their Saluki pride by participating in a variety of campus competitions, decorating doors and banners. Winners of the campus door decorating competitions were:
- First – Student Center
- Second – Human Resources(also the City of Carbondale’s 2025 Spooktacular Home & Business Decorating Contest winner in the business category).
Emily Gayton, a freshman marketing major in Brown Hall, won the University Housing door decoration competition.
Also earning accolades were:
- Registered Student Organization spirit competition – Saluki Rainbow Network.
- Greek Lifespirit competition – Alpha Sigma Pi and Delta Phi Epsilon.
- Banner contest – Alpha Gamma Delta, Farmhouse and Phi Kappa Tau entry.
Looking forward
Plans are already in the works for Homecoming 2026, coming in October. Watch the homecoming website for the date and all of the details.
For more information, email homecoming@siu.edu or call 618-536-3393.