As crunchy leaves begin to wend their way to the ground from colorful trees, the air is cooling, campfires are crackling, sweatshirts are being worn, pumpkin spice is tantalizing and the Friday night lights are burning. Fall is officially here and with that, comes homecoming!

Elmwood and Plum City high schools are celebrating homecoming this week, Sept. 20-24, culminating with a home football game vs. Cadott at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24 in Elmwood.

Plum City’s annual bonfire took place at 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at Legion Park, with the king and queen coronation at 8 p.m. All students, alumni and community members were welcome. The 2021 PCHS Homecoming Court members are Greta Batho, Lauren Schultz, Gaby Reyes, Hailee McDonough, Courtney Bignell, McKenna Kannel, Celeste Arredondo, Blair Bechel, Joey Bechel, Dayne Whipple, Jordan Clare and Travis Seipel.

Elmwood’s annual homecoming parade will take to the streets at 2:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24. Elmwood will also host a community pep rally in the Wolf’s Den at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23. The homecoming dance is 8-11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 at Elmwood’s Lien Gym.

Elmwood Homecoming Court members include: Seniors Halle Gilles, Emily Miller, Jacob Thiry, Patrick Tiffany; juniors Lily Webb and Salvador Stillday; sophomores Morgan Dux and Christopher Nunez; and freshmen Cadie Asher and Royce Buum.

Ellsworth’s and River Falls’ homecoming weeks coincide Sept. 27 through Oct. 1. The Panthers’ annual homecoming parade will take place at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1. The parade will leave from the west side of the high school, head to Piety Street, go past Ellsworth Elementary and end at Ellsworth Middle School. Any club, business or organization is welcome to join the parade. Line up at 4:45 p.m. at the bus garage. The parade will be followed by the football game at 7 p.m., where Ellsworth will clash with Highway 10 rivals the Prescott Cardinals.

River Falls will face Mississippi River Valley conference foe West Salem at 7 p.m. at David Smith Stadium at Ramer Field. A complete list of homecoming events will appear in next week’s edition.

Prescott High School will celebrate homecoming Oct. 48. Their football team will take on non-conference opponent La Crosse Aquinas at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at Laney Field.

Spring Valley High School’s Homecoming Week kicked off the village’s Dam Days celebration. Students crowned King Kaleb Casey and Queen Lilly Ninneman Friday, Sept. 17 during a pep rally before loading up court members for the tradition of riding down McKay Avenue in convertibles. Buses brought students from the school campus to watch the parade, which got everyone hyped up for the Cards’ victory over Dunn-St. Croix Conference foe Glenwood City.

The 2021 Plum City High School Homecoming Court includes (front, from left) Greta Batho, Lauren Schultz, Gaby Reyes, Hailee McDonough, Courtney Bignell, McKenna Kannel, Celeste Arredondo; (back) Blair Bechel, Joey Bechel, Dayne Whipple, Jordan Clare and Travis Seipel. The king and queen will be crowned (after our print deadline) at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22 in Legion Park. Photo courtesy of Melissa Devery

The 2021 Spring Valley High School Homecoming King and Queen are Kaleb Casey and Lilly Ninneman, crowned at the pep fest Friday, Sept. 17. Photo courtesy of Michelle Evers

The Spring Valley High School Homecoming King and Queen received their crowns, along with the rest of the court, on Friday, Sept. 17. Pictured by couple (from left): Freshmen Lauren Bigaouette and Tanner Dicus; sophomores Danielle Nyhus and Mason Zimmerman; Queen Lilly Ninneman and King Kaleb Casey; seniors Allison Graham and Brady Bednarek; seniors Grace Haug and Connor Ducklow, and juniors Ava Peabody and Dodge Sampair.Photo courtesy of Michelle Evers