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Jennifer Walker, a fourth-year sociology student, puts final touches on a “Wild Westwood”cactus. Walker was part of the group working on the Sigma Alpha Epsilon/Kappa Alpha Theta homecoming float – one of eight floats planned for tonight’s parade.

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After six years, an absentee tradition is returning to UCLA in the form of Homecoming. With events such as a parade, rally and the game against Stanford, the celebration is pegged to heighten Bruin pride.

Homecoming begins today and will continue through Sunday with events taking place throughout Los Angeles.

The Rose Bowl will house the game against Stanford, the parade and rally will take place in Westwood, and the Founder’s Day luncheon will be held in Pauley Pavilion.

After receiving feedback from both students and alumni regarding the loss of community-building traditions, Keith Brant, assistant vice chancellor of Alumni Relations, and his colleagues formulated the idea for the return of homecoming.

Michelle Lindsay, director of the Student Alumni Association’s Homecoming committee and a third-year English student, began planning and notifying student groups about the parade in Marcy.

Obtaining permits for the parade and working with security enforcers was another factor of preparing for the event.

The Los Angeles Police Department will be patrolling the parade. Undercover officers will be involved to make sure public intoxication is not an issue, said Michael Wang, Sr. Lead Officer for the West Los Angeles Division.

Christy Royce, member of the Homecoming “Street Team,” a subcommittee helping out with the parade, said her group distributed flyers and checked with businesses to let them know about the parade.

“Most (businesses) were excited and wanted to do everything they could to help,” Royce said.

This week marked the beginning of promotions for the Homecoming celebration. On Tuesday a game fair was held at Bruin Plaza. Bowling down Stanford trees, goldfish tosses and a raffle were some of the activities available to students.

Bruin football players Marcedes Lewis and Tyler Ebell joined in by throwing passes to students for prizes.

During promotions week Lindsay ensured everything ran smoothly. This included preparing judges who will rate the floats and marching bands during the parade.

A stage will be set up on Broxton Avenue today at 6 p.m. and will feature alternative radio station KROQ and punk bands. The parade will start at 8 p.m. following the performances.

The theme of the parade will be “Wild Wild Westwood.” Lindsay said since each organization will have a different take on the theme, not all the floats will be western. Over 30 student groups will participate in the parade.

The Homecoming committee decided to omit a Homecoming court from the celebration. Lindsay cited a lack of interest as the reason for their decision.

An SAA tailgate party will take place on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in Lot H of the Rose Bowl. Free lunch, drinks, and face painting are benefits for SAA members. Admission for non-members is $5.

The tailgate party will be a chance to “have fun with fellow Bruins and get excited for the game,” said Ariel Hankin, director of SAA’s Member Benefits committee and a third-year communications and psychology student. “Everyone come, everyone is welcome.”

Homecoming festivities coincide with Parent’s Weekend, which Brant said will bring approximately 1800 parents to the campus.

The weekend’s activities conclude Sunday, with a Founder’s Day luncheon in Pauley Pavilion from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dr. Jorge A. Lazareff, the UCLA neurosurgeon who separated the conjoined twins, will speak at the $20 luncheon.

Brant added that he hopes this year’s Homecoming will encourage students to get involved in next year’s planning.

“We should bring back traditions so that today’s students can enjoy them like yesterday’s students did.”

With reports from Amy Frye, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.