DIXON, CA (MPG) - While this Friday, September 23, may very well be one of the quietest homecomings ever in Dixon as students continue to recoup school experiences and disconnects from COVID, there are some fun-filled activities going on out at 555 College Way. Spirit Week is one of them.

The Associated Student Body leaders created the menu of funny wear during the week. Monday was Favorite Team Jersey Day; Tuesday was Cosmo vs. Wanda, based on a popular cartoon, 'The Fairly OddParents'--where the parents are fairies and raising a son who grant him wishes to solve his everyday problems; Wednesday was Dress Down Before You Dress Up; Thursday was Construction Zone; and this Friday is Wear Green Day.

"This is my 24th year and since my first year here, nothing has changed, " said Norma Holtmeyer, Secretary for the Athletic Director and ASB Clerk. "Just the faces have changed. There may have been a tweak here or there but it's all the same. There will be a rally in the gym." However, there are no floats, or a parade planned.

What also is the same is the stadium filled with a zealous pep squad, lots of cheerleaders, and hundreds of families and friends to cheer on the Dixon Rams football players.

There will also be the introductions of the Homecoming Court and the crowning of the Homecoming Queen and King--a faithful tradition for so many years, a beginning could not be found in all the yearbooks at the Dixon History Museum.

Wikipedia reports the tradition of homecoming has its origin in alumni football games held at colleges and universities since the 19th century.

Since students are back in school one might wonder why some of the traditions seem asleep this year.

"Theres not that connection," said Courtney Williams Kett who was crowned Dixon Homecoming Queen in 1987 alongside Homecoming King Stewart Hayes. "The students don't have the memories from the years before. They did what their siblings did and now there is a whole class of students that didn't [experience these traditions,]" she theorized.

"Homecoming was a really big deal. We had games at school at lunch every day. We also had dress up days and spirit week with class competitions at lunch. All my family came, and you had to have your dress approved by Miss Adams," she reminisced. Even her big sister, Melissa, came home from college in San Francisco for the celebration.

"That's what Dixon did. We had a huge car rally on Homecoming Friday and all the floats went through town. We didn't have lights yet so our senior year, we had to have the game during the day on a Saturday on the field at the high school. I remember we did win the games," she added.

Kett, who along with her siblings own Dixon Florist, the business her parents started, said that her mother did all the bouquets for homecomings back then and she made her daughter's as a "big presentation" of a dozen roses. Kett's school spirit didn't stop there.

"Matt and I helped with the Quarterback Club, and we tried to bring some of those things back," she said. "I think the students really enjoyed it. It was very fun. The whole community got so involved. Everyone went to the games." Their son, Hunter, was Homecoming King in 2011.

"Stu Hayes lives in Idaho and is doing very well and it's a sweet connection," she said. "When he's in town, he stops and says hi." Hopefully more of the fun and traditions of Homecoming will soon return.

"After COVID, we're just happy to be back to normal," said Holtmeyer. begin with the JV game at 5 p.m. and Varsity at 7 p.m. The Homecoming festivities are when the JV game is over and before the Varsity start, about 6:30 p.m. Then at half time, the band will do their special show and then the cheerleaders do theirs.