Wearing orange and blue is a theme and trademark for Illinois game days throughout the year. However, for one week in the fall, campus businesses’ storefronts join in on the tradition.

On Sunday, the seventh annual House and Window decorating contest took place across various locations on campus, in preparation for a week of homecoming activities and the large return of alumni to the University. Twenty-six business storefronts were painted with orange and blue to get ready for the week, including the windows of Subway, Apricot Lane Boutique, Campus Florist, Coldstone Creamery and Jersey Mike’s Subs, among others. Additionally, several Greek houses and residence halls across the campus were decorated. 

“It sets the mood for students,” said Steven Farag, Student Alumni Ambassadors president and senior in Engineering. “We do it a week in advance, and it is great because everyone walks down Green Street every day and you can see different vendors, but to see it decked out in orange and blue is a really cool, fun thing to do that builds the energy and spirit. Alumni come back and see it, and they love to see the restaurants they went to still engaging with the student community.”

The event was co-hosted by SAA and Greeks Support Homecoming and included 15 registered student organizations, along with 20 Greek chapters. Nine of the 20 chapters decorated their houses and the remaining 11 painted the windows of  businesses. 

“The event really kicks off the homecoming week,” said Tricia Maxwell, SAA’s vice president of Homecoming and senior in Business. “Seeing the windows painted is definitely something people look forward to.”

Lauren Gay, director of Greeks Support Homecoming and junior in LAS, said this year both SAA and Greeks Support Homecoming wanted to focus on getting the non-SAA and non-Greek student body involved in homecoming events. The organizations that participated in the event included professional groups such as the American Advertising Federation and leadership organizations, such as the Illinois Student Senate. 

Each organization had a different take on homecoming. Designs included paintings of the Block I, references to beating Michigan State and drawings of Phi Sigma Sigma’s pharaoh, all now lining Green Street.

Lauren Feingold, vice president of community outreach for the American Advertising Federation and senior in Media, said this year was the first time AAF had participated in the contest.

“It was coordinated well, and we got to use Illini colors. Our station is at Apricot Lane … and it was an awesome experience,” she said.

Declan can be reached at [email protected].

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article misidentified a drawing of Phi Sigma Sigma’s pharaoh as Chief Illiniwek. The Daily Illini regrets the error.