One of the biggest community celebrations in California State University, Fresno’s year-long Centennial schedule is Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 16, with a parade, the “Tailgate of the Century,” football, a Centennial halftime event and fireworks after the game.

“Not only is this a special time for the campus,” said Dr. Peter Mehas, an alumnus, California State University trustee and Centennial Committee chair, “it’s big for our entire community, which Fresno State has been serving for so very long and so very well.”

“We’ve planned a busy Centennial-themed Homecoming Saturday so as many people as possible can come celebrate with us,” Mehas added. “We’ve kept in mind that while we want to party, many of our alumni and friends have to watch their budget very carefully right now.”

There is no charge to watch the Centennial Homecoming parade, nor to attend the big “Tailgate of the Century” or to park on campus for those events prior to 3:30 p.m., said Tracy Newel, the Centennial celebration coordinator. Also free are showings of the films “Ratatouille” and “The Wild Bunch,” both created by Fresno State alumni, and, of course, the postgame fireworks, which can be heard and seen outside Bulldog Stadium.

Saturday’s events begin at the Peace Garden, just north of the Henry Madden Library, with the “Tailgate of the Century,” an opportunity to park and then picnic at this event organized by the Fresno State Alumni Association.

A tri-tip dinner is available for $35 per person (http://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/CAF/homepage.cgi). Other food and beverages will be available for purchase, or picnickers can bring their own goodies and mingle with old friends from campus days or add new Fresno State friends.

Game booths, live music by Lisa’s Big Night Out, and tunes played by DJ Robert Granata will be part of the family-friendly fun. “Expect a visit from Bulldog Athletics mascot Timeout, rousing music by the Bulldog Marching Band and an energy boost from the Fresno State Spirit Squad,” said Sarah Schmidt, associate director of the Alumni Association.

Also scheduled is a taping of the television show “Cooking for All Seasons,” which will feature Gibson Farm Market foods produced by Fresno State students.

At 3 p.m., the parade will step off on Barstow Avenue headed west from Maple Avenue. Newel said there were 60 entries scheduled by Wednesday, Oct. 13, including the Madden Library Book Cart Drill Team and vintage autos.

The parade route goes south from Barstow at Campus Drive, past the Peace Garden on the street’s sidewalk extension, then east along Keats and Matoian avenues, past the Smittcamp Alumni House and back to the Save Mart Center Parking Lot 1 staging area.

There will be commentating stations on Barstow and at the Peace Garden to describe the participating entries in a Centennial revival of a Fresno State Homecoming tradition that died out in the 1960s.

The parade is expected to last about an hour, and the “Tailgate of the Century” will continue until 6:30 p.m., an hour before the kickoff in Bulldog Stadium of the nationally televised (ESPNU) game between the Bulldogs and New Mexico State.

Homecoming organizers suggest everyone arrive early for the best campus parking and to allow extra time throughout the day – and before the game – to cope with road closures and heavy traffic.

Tickets for the football game are available through www.GoBulldogs.com, by calling the Bulldog Ticket Office at 559.278-DOGS or visiting the office at 1600 E. Bulldog Lane just south of Bulldog Stadium.

As part of the College of Arts and Humanities’ monthlong Centennial observance, alumnus Brad Lewis’ Oscar-, Golden Globe- and Grammy-winning “Ratatouille” will be presented at 1 p.m. at the Alice Peters Auditorium in the University Business Center.

Alumnus Sam Peckinpah’s “The Wild Bunch” will be screened at 4 p.m. in the Leon S. and Pete P. Peters Education Center at the Student Recreation Center (Woodrow and Shaw avenues).

“We hope that everyone who has had any connection with our campus in these first 100 years will participate in our Centennial celebration. And that’s just about everyone in the Valley, when you think about it,” said Newel.

A schedule of Centennial events through Fresno State’s 100th Commencement on May 21 is available at www.FresnoState100.com.