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MARQUETTE -- Seventy-five years of Homecoming pride for Northern Michigan University.

Homecoming 2010 kicked off Sunday afternoon with the annual 'Dead River Games.'  Other student activities this week include a scavenger hunt, a step competition, and the crowning of a king and queen.  But each battle is meant to be all in good fun.

"The thing that I've loved about Homecoming is that it's very low-key, there's competitions, but mainly students just have a lot of fun with it.  It's early in the year when it's good for groups to get together, know other members, and it's just a great time of the year to do it," says alum Dave Bonsall, Director of the Center for Student Enrichment.

NMU has been a part of Marquette since 1899, and it contributes more to the community than just an economic boost.

"I think most importantly it's the enrichment of the lives of the people that are benefiting from the fact that the university's here and the wonderful resources we have," says alum Tom Peters, a retired university employee.

The campus has grown and evolved in the past 111 years, and this year's Homecoming celebration will allow Wildcats, past and present, to celebrate their alma mater.

"Homecoming really helps students identify with the university, get to know other students, other organizations, and interact with the community also," Bonsall adds.  "It's just kind of a celebration of being at Northern."

The two main Homecoming events that can also be enjoyed by the community are the parade and the football game.

The parade starts on Third Street at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and the football game is at the Superior Dome Saturday at 4 p.m., with a tailgate party beforehand.