By Amanda Free

Our Cards are stacked here at the University of Louisville, as students gear up for this year’s homecoming celebration.  The homecoming events will begin Sunday, Sept. 27, and will conclude with the homecoming game against the University of Southern Mississippi on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. 
Paint the Town Red will kick off the homecoming celebration at 3 p.m. on Sept. 27 in the Student Activities Center multipurpose room when teams gather with homecoming banners to hear the names of the 10 semifinalists for Homecoming King and Queen.  Festivities will continue with the 10th annual Foam Party on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 9 p.m. until midnight.
The corner of Third Street and Cardinal Boulevard will host the sixth annual Block Party, expected to be the largest homecoming event, on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m.  Attendees will enjoy live music, carnival rides, games and food.  They will also have the opportunity to participate in racing, jousting, the annual bed races, an obstacle course and a mystery competition.
“I can’t wait for the Block Party,” said Amber Marks, a senior humanities major. “We always have a great time.”
Student Outreach Uniting Louisville will contribute to the homecoming celebration by hosting a service event on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for students, alumni and faculty wishing to give back to the community.
“I’m really looking forward to the SOUL service event,” said Jacqueline Lindsey, a junior bioengineering major. “It’s a really great way to meet alumni and benefit our community.”
Students should Wear Red to Be Fed the following day, Oct. 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to show pride during homecoming week and earn free hot dogs and hamburgers at the Red Barn. 
Oct. 6 will bring another homecoming cookout on the Health Sciences Campus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Attendees are again asked to show their pride by wearing red.
Students attending So You Think You Can Laugh? on Oct. 6 in the SAC multipurpose room will be entertained by comedian Jen Kober from 7 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., and then by each other at Louisville’s Got Talent on Oct. 8 between 5 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 7 will bring a new event to the homecoming celebration.  Students will gather at 5 p.m. on the West Lawn to participate in a student Quidditch tournament.  Students wishing to participate can attend a practice session on Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. on the West Lawn to learn the rules of Quidditch.
“We really wanted to do some new things and get different types of students out to our homecoming events,” said Robin Chrisman, homecoming vice chair and developer of the Quidditch tournament.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council’s homecoming dance will be from 10 p.m. until midnight on Oct. 9 in the SAC multipurpose room, with admission costing five dollars.  NPHC is also hosting a Step Show the next day, on Oct. 10, at the Kentucky Center for the Arts’ Brown Theatre beginning at 7 p.m.  Admission to the step show is $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
“We are very excited,” said Nicole Wells-Anik, the 2009 homecoming chair. “We hope students will be interested in coming out to our events.”