Annual Homecoming activities will begin Monday in a weeklong preparation for next Saturday's Penn State football game against West Virginia.

This year's theme, "Homecoming 1989: A Penn State Kaleidoscope," was chosen because a kaleidoscope represents the diversity of the University, said Amy Dusch, public relations chairwoman for the event.

She added it also represents the involvement of independent students in Homecoming activities.

Friday night's Homecoming parade will feature former Pittsburgh Steeler Franco Harris as Grand Marshall, replacing the Joe Paterno look-alike contest that has taken place in previous years. Harris is a 1972 Penn State graduate.

Scott Steinberg, overall committee chairman for Homecoming, said the Pittsburgh Pirates' parrot mascot will also appear in the parade.

This year, the overall committees are stressing independent student involvement, Dusch said. In the past, Homecoming has been viewed an event for Greeks only, she said.

Steinberg said independent participation is being stressed to build new Homecoming traditions. Four out of the eight members of this year's Homecoming court are independent students, compared to only one last year, he said.

"Actually, this year, there are more independent groups in the parade than there are fraternity floats," Steinberg said.

Voting for this year's Homecoming King and Queen will take place Monday and Tuesday in the HUB basement, Dusch said, and everyone is encouraged to participate in the election process.

The activities scheduled for the rest of the week are as follows:

-- Wednesday -- A crazy band competition will take place at the fields by Beaver Stadium, followed by the coronation of Homecoming King and Queen at 8 p.m. and a bonfire at 8:30 p.m.

-- Friday -- The Homecoming parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. At 7 p.m. a candlelight vigil will be held on the steps of Old Main. And at 8 p.m. the Young Alumni will have a reception in the HUB Ballroom. The traditional Nittany Lion Shrine vigil will begin at 10 p.m. capping the night's activities.

-- Saturday -- The Nittany Lions will take on the West Virginia Mountaineers at 4 p.m. in Beaver Stadium to play the Homecoming football game.

-- Sunday -- The final day of homecoming week. The Alumni Fun Run will begin at 9 p.m. Runners will run three miles through campus, starting at Old Main. The event will be followed by a brunch.

Steinberg said planning for the events began in March. "I'm already excited about it," he said.