The tradition of a college or university homecoming appears to have its roots in college football. The University of Missouri claims to have had the first homecoming game in 1911, with athletic director Chester Brewer calling on Missouri alumni to "come home" to a game played against their longtime rival, the University of Kansas. This event was accompanied by a parade, a bonfire, and a dance.
By 1920, Central was listing one of its fall home football games as a "Homecoming" in its student newspaper, the Collegian, and football games were attended along with the election of a "Homecoming court" including king and queen, parades, dances, and performances by Central's music program. Other traditions, such as Band Day, came out of Central's Homecoming practices.
While the 2020 Homecoming Day celebration has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during the last years of World War II-- 1943 to 1945-- Homecoming was effectively cancelled, as Central's football program was suspended, along the football programs of many neighboring colleges.