Los Altos High School will hold the Homecoming dance — the first dance of the year — on Saturday, October 30. Despite the cancellation of previous school dances, Homecoming is proceeding per usual, with COVID-19 safety precautions in accordance with school and state guidelines.

To accommodate for social distancing, the dance will be located on the football field. LAHS’s Associated Student Body (ASB) set the initial maximum capacity of the dance at 800 students — about a 200-person decrease from previous years’ attendance. This limit may change if tickets sell out quickly and upperclassmen miss the opportunity to purchase tickets, according to ASB president senior Aida Yezalaluel.

All students must be masked at all times during the dance, unless they’re eating or drinking. No proof of vaccination is required, a change from ASB’s initial Homecoming policy.

This year’s fantasy-themed dance will be held as a finale to a series of Homecoming events: a week of spirit days and activities leading up to the Homecoming rally, the Homecoming Parade in Downtown Los Altos and the Homecoming football game in which the Top 2 from the Homecoming Court will be announced.

Tickets are for sale at the finance office and online, and prices will increase over time. As of this week, tickets are available for $20 with ASB and $25 without ASB. Attire for the Homecoming dance is semi-formal.

Homecoming week, October 25–29, will be a spirit week; each day’s fantasy theme and corresponding lunchtime activities will be announced at a later date. The end of week rally on Friday, October 2, will be held outdoors on the football field as well, performed in two 40-minute intervals, each to half of the school to maintain COVID-19 safety. Students will see performances from ASB, the marching band, the cheer team, the dance team and the Homecoming Top 20 groups.

The Homecoming dance itself is put on by the Junior Class Council, and will conclude the 2021 Homecoming season. A custom Homecoming 2021 T-shirt, selected by ASB from student-drawn submissions, will be for sale for students beginning Monday, October 18.