While football fans all over the country know the Florida Gators are hosting the Arkansas Razorbacks this weekend, Gator Nation anxiously awaits the Homecoming festivities.

The celebration begins Thursday night, as no one in Gainesville has class on Friday.

Beyond the usual debauchery, what special events are there for you to celebrate Homecoming 2009?

A university-sanctioned list of events is here. But I'll throw in some extra stuff.

Thursday

8 pm: Before hitting your favorite Ladies' Nights and usual bars (who was I kidding back there, no one goes to class on Friday EVERY WEEK), check out a concert courtesy the Reitz Union. See the World (friends of Gators First) is a fantastic band traveling through the State of Florida, and they play the Local Brew with My Lady Four and the Matt Hobbs Band. Information is here. If you can't make it to Gainesville on Thursday night, you can see them in Jacksonville Wednesday night at UNF.

Beer thirty - Shot O'Clock: your favorite bar, whether it's downtown or &mid town&, as I hear the kids call it nowadays.

Friday

Sometime Friday Florida Gators basketball is set to begin. Billy Donovan's squad had an autograph session last month, and I can't find any links right now that say if the Gators' first practice (see what I did there?) is open to the public. I'll keep you posted. At any rate, the season tips off very soon, so here's some ticket information (for you non-students) and one college basketball preview. There will be much more season preview activity soon, so check Gators First news feeds every day to get the latest!

11:30 am: Gator Gallop. Get off your ass and run before the parade. Okay, it's for the super-motivated and the Alachua County School Board kids who get Friday off, too. Sleep off your hangover, then head to Gators First to hear all the latest Gator Nation sports news.

Noon: The Parade. Floats and stuff are cool, but you'd rather be home, using Gators First's forums.

2 pm: ESPN Correspondent and UF Grad Tom Farrey is speaking about youth sports in Reitz Union Room 282. Details here.

3:45 pm: Gator Baseball hosts an Orange and Blue Scrimmage at McKethan Stadium. The Florida Gators made a Super Regional last year, so 2010 is a highly anticipated season. Check them out early! Details here.

7 pm: Let the Gator Growl! The largest student-run pep rally in the world features Dana Carvey, O.A.R., UF Athletes, and someone called the JabbaWockeeZ (I'm not the pop-culture expert in these parts). The seniors always speak to the crowd, and this is Timmy T's Homecoming... I'll just start crying at about 8 pm to pretend like I'm there. If you see Mr. Carvey around town, and throw him some random Wayne's World Quotations... well, I might just have to send you a Gators First t-shirt.

Saturday

Crack O' Dawn: Tailgate. You know how this goes. It's game day!

3:30 pm: Kickoff. Watch us fry some bacon? Pull some pork? Not sure I know what to call it, other than hoping Tim Tebow gets to work the passing game with his now-healthy receiving corps.

Anyway, there are loads of activities around town... Be safe and represent the Gator Nation well. And tell all your friends to visit Gators First.