In the first hour of the Homecoming Kick-off Sunday evening on Harris Field, more than 1,500 Homecoming T-shirts were handed out, dozens of pizzas and sodas were consumed and The Embers entertained the crowd with rhythm and blues music.

Publicity chair Adam Compton said the Homecoming Committee has worked diligently to prepare for this week’s events.

“We’ve been working on this quite a bit. It’s been a long semester, and we’ve put in a lot of hours,” Compton, a senior in agricultural business management, said.

Caitlin Garrison, spirit and service chair of the Homecoming Committee, said she has been impressed with the participation thus far.

“We have a lot of volunteers and organizations that are helping out,” Garrison, a junior in graphic design, said. “I think everyone is on top of it.”

According to Garrison, participation in the spirit contest has seen growth with at least 23 student groups signed up.

“We’re growing a little bit, which is exciting,” she said. “We’ve been focusing on trying to get more student organization involved, not just Greek life.”

Compton said the format for this week’s events is similar to last year due to the popularity of the set-up.

“A lot of people really liked the events that we had last year,” he said.

The week culminates in the PackHowl Pep Rally and Concert Friday at Reynolds Coliseum and the Virginia football game Saturday.

Compton said he looks most forward to PackHowl.

“It’s going to be a good show, and coach O’Brien is really helping us out with some things,” he said.