The gist: Fall, football and all the festivities of homecoming make a fevered pitch for fun for Jackson State University students, alums and the general public.

Get in the spirit with a pep rally and picnic, noon Friday on the Gibbs-Green Pedestrian Walkway.

The annual Homecoming Greek Show and Concert is 7 p.m. Friday at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at JSU. The R&B lineup sizzles with Bobby V, K'Jon and Terisa Griffin. Admission is $25 advance ($20 JSU students) and $35 at the door.

Saturday morning's downtown Jackson parade rolls at 9 a.m., proceeding on Amite from North to Farish streets, then crossing to Capitol. This year, 185 entries - cars, floats, bands and marching units - will take to the street to the delight of thousands of spectators, who start turning out around 8 a.m. to secure a good spot along the route.

A festive field: It all culminates in Saturday's football match between JSU and Alabama State, 4 p.m. at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. Find post-game fun at the JSU Alumni J-Settes Party, 9 p.m. at the Jackson Convention Complex, $30 advance, or the JSU CyberPlaza Party, 9 p.m. at Dreamz Nightclub, $10 before 10 p.m. (www. reunionevent.com).