NORWICH – If you’ve got a purple and white umbrella, it might come in handy tomorrow. Because, even though the forecast may be calling for rain, not even a torrential downpour will be able to dampen Norwich’s Purple Pride as the school and community prepare for this year’s Homecoming events.

Norwich is in for a “whole bunch of purple pride,” according to Norwich High School Band Director Lansing Dimon, who also serves as Pep Club Advisor and Homecoming coordinator.

Thanks to the effort of Dimon and the roughly two dozen students involved with the school’s Pep Club, the action will get started long before the Purple Tornado hit the field at 7 p.m. on Friday against their historic rivals, the Oneonta Yellow Jackets.

The first of the Homecoming activities will begin today with a student pep rally at 2:20 p.m. at the Norwich High School, Dimon explained. To even further whip up school spirit in advance of the game, the Football Boosters will be hosting a bonfire at 7 tonight behind the school.

On Friday, events will kick off with the annual Homecoming Parade. Participants will line up at 4:45 p.m. and “step off” at 5:15 p.m. from in the P&C Parking Lot, Dimon said.