HBCU Culture Homecoming Fest Tickets

For many colleges and universities, homecoming comes and goes without much notice. Homecomings at historically Black college and universities (HBCUs) are annual events that are not to be missed. These festivities include alumni events, major celebrity appearances, and parties. Whether this is your first time attending a HBCU Homecoming Battle of the Bands or you're alumni looking to continue tradition, this event is not to be missed!

The History of HBCU Homecoming

HBCU homecomings are a time for alumni, as well as current students to come together and share each other’s company. It is also a space for friends to reconnect, members of the community to connect, and more importantly, it serves as an environment for Black culture. While nobody knows for certain the exact inception of homecoming at HBCUs, there is record of an alumni-related event after a football game at Morehouse College in 1924.

Homecoming at HBCUs has become more than just a football game. There is typically a weeklong celebration consisting of events that occur in and around campus. It has now evolved into a festival celebrating black culture and excellence.

HBCU Marching Bands

With college football season being underway, that only means one thing – halftime shows. Step foot in a stadium of any HBCU during halftime and you won’t see too many folks at the concession stands or heading to the bathrooms. What you will see is stadium’s packed with fans clapping, singing, and dancing to the beat of some of the nation’s top marching bands. HBCU marching bands combine traditional high-stepping with head-bobbing, arm-swinging, with all movements accentuating the rhythm. This is not your typical college marching band!

Aside from the non-traditional marching style and choreography, HBCU marching bands incorporate the latest popular songs into their routines. The bands will also frequently break into a full-on dance routine during their performance.

HBCU bands also act as brand ambassadors to their respective universities. They play a fundamental role in the school’s marketing and recruiting efforts. Students often identify their school’s band as a reason why they may have chosen to attend that university.

Battle of the Bands

Much like the competition on the field, fans and competitors want to establish bragging rights and determine who is number 1. Every year, throughout the HBCU circuit, bands compete against one another to determine a winner. As of 2020, Bethune-Cookman leads all marching bands with 13 invitations to Battle of the Bands.

Some of the top national HBCU Marching Bands include:

Bethune-Cookman – With over 300 members, the Daytona Beach, Florida school has been a fixture among the HBCU marching band elite.

North Carolina A&T State University – Greensboro, North Carolina is home to the Blue and Gold Marching Machine. With over 200 members, they’ve become the official band of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.

Norfolk State – Voted best HBCU Sports Band of the Year in 2019, the Spartan Legion is known for not only covering some of the top musical tracks but doing so with style and class.

Frequently Asked Questions About HBCU Homecoming and Battle of the Bands

What is the Best HBCU Marching Band?

In 2021 ESPN's The Undefeated ranked Norfolk State as #1 in the nation

How are HBCU Bands Judged?

A panel of nine of the nation's top band directors will judge based on drill and design, auxiliary corps, drum majors, percussion, and musicality.

Why are HBCU Bands So Popular?

HBCU marching bands are the essence of campus culture and vital to a particular school's reputation. They create the soundtrack to a school's sporting events, homecomings, and alumni events. At some schools the band members are more popular than the athletes!

What is the oldest HBCU band?

It is believed that Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University) is the earliest HBCU band