Oak Park High School families and community members packed the OPHS parking lot on Friday, Sept. 19, to prepare for the homecoming football game.

“The tailgate is really meant to be a community event,” Lori Getz, who played a role in organizing the event, said. “We invite every student from every school, every family. We also invite our neighbors, because we want all of Oak Park here. Whether you come from Woodland Hills or Sherman Oaks, we love it.”

The Athletic Booster Club had been planning the tailgate for weeks, ensuring that every last detail was perfect for the students.

“It’s really important to us, in this particular committee, that all the profits go to the kids,” Getz said. “We took on sponsorships to pay for the tailgate so that we could make the food as affordable as possible and not take a single dime from the Athletic department.”

While younger kids tossed a football across the parking lot, adults chatted over the commotion. Some cars were decked out, sporting festive banners and decorations.

“[The tailgate] brings together the community, and I was able to talk to a lot of people I wouldn’t usually get to talk with,”  senior Joely Chadwick said. “It’s always super fun meeting new people.”

During the tailgate, fall athletes participated in a parade to congratulate athletic programs and represent student athletes.

“This is our first time doing the fall athletes parade, and we’re really excited to be a part of it,” senior golf captain Madeleine Kim said. “I’m excited for the homecoming game, and I’m hoping we can pull off a win tonight.”

The tailgate is only part of a much bigger homecoming-week production, such as ASB’s spirit week, homecoming rally and annual dance. 

“It’s fun to see all the kids in class getting into the spirit days and coming together at the rally to be one as a school,” math teacher Lauren Heinrich said.