Homecoming Could Be East Hampton's Biggest Yet

is gearing up for what administrators believe will be the biggest Homecoming celebration in years.

Slated for Sept. 22, that Homecoming Saturday is jam packed with activities, including the , a carnival, bonfire and a big game between old rivalries.

“This is the first time in years that the football game will pit East Hampton versus Southampton," said school principal Adam Fine, a former assistant principal at Southampton High School before taking his current position in 2010.

He estimates that as many as 3,000 people have shown up over the course of the last two Homecoming games. "This year I expect as many as 5,000 spectators, in addition to the few thousand that attend the other games, carnival and bonfire. It is going to be a great day for our school and community.”

Joe Vasile-Cozzo, the athletic director, believes it's been at least 10 years since the two schools, once old rivals, have played each other.

East Hampton High School is now a Conference 4 school, when it used to be in Conference 3. Conferences are based on the enrollment of ninth, tenth and eleventh grades from the previous school year, he said. This year, East Hampon is considered at 662, just under the 676-student cut off for the next conference up.

Also different this year, East Hampton did not combine with for certain athletics, though it does still combine with Bridgehampton High School.

"Playing Southampton home under the lights is a great community draw for both communities," Vasile-Cozzo said.

The inaugural Bonac Hall of Fame induction ceremony is sure to be a draw, too, he said. It will be held, around 9:45 a.m., in the auditorium. A breakfast will be held beforehand, at 9 a.m., in the high school cafeteria. Both events are open to the public. Breakfast is $10 per ticket and those who wish to attend must call the athletic office by Sept. 15. The ceremony does not have an admission charge.

The inductees will also be introduced on the field before the game.

Other events on Homecoming day include a carnival on school grounds from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. There is no charge for admission and food will be sold. The bonfire will be held before the big game at 6:30 p.m.

The football game is free for students to attend, $2 for everyone else. The money is being used to defray the costs of the lights.

What draws you to the Homecoming game? Tell us in the comment section below.