Homecoming: Night on the Bayou

By Dex Hong' 28

Follow your friends up the stairs to Upper Booth. You’re glad to be out of your suit or dress and into comfortable clothes, but you still sweat in the hot air. Loud music blasts from above, the bass vibrations shaking each stair. When you reach the top of the staircase, walk through the colorful paper streamers and into the dark realm of Upper Booth, a familiar sight now transformed into a shadowy unknown. The lighting is sparse, just enough for you to watch your step. Avoid the inflatable crocodiles perched on the railing. Pretend you didn’t jump in fright. The rest of the walk is straightforward, though, and you make it to the large common area without a scratch. The music is at full blast as you take in the scene: balloons, decorations, two student DJs in the corner holding down the beat, a smoke machine misting the humid air, and a crowded mob of sweaty kids jumping frantically. When you join the crowd, don’t trip and fall on someone like a domino. Don’t make the mistake of patting someone on the back, only to find your hand soaking wet. Most importantly, don’t stop dancing. Welcome to the Night on the Bayou.

On September 26th, Cate’s Homecoming theme brought the enchanting magic of the Louisiana Bayou to life, in large part inspired by Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. Both the Booth dining hall and Upper Booth were fully decked out with greens, golds, and violets, while draped fabrics, lanterns, and balloons set the backdrop. On the normally Spartan wooden dining tables, formally dressed students shared meals and conversation among lilypad placemats, paper lanterns, and flower bouquets. The decorations were all carefully assembled by parents, as the Cate Parents Organization worked tirelessly in the days leading up to Hoco. Miles Williams ’27 appreciated their effort to give us the best possible experience, from setting up fishing rods on the railing of Upper Booth to carrying large decorative cages onto the dance floor.

The kitchen staff served a Bayou special of jambalaya, mac and cheese, salad, and roasted vegetables. According to Miles, “This year was the best-themed dinner I’ve seen.” He wasn’t sure what food best matched the theme, but by the night’s end, he was convinced they made the right choice, saying that “they did a really good job of picking that food and then going all in on it.” However, Will Murray ‘28 said he would’ve preferred a more familiar meal, as jambalaya is not typically served at school dances. The reviews for the dessert—beignets drizzled in chocolate syrup and sugar—were overwhelmingly positive. Several students were so eager for a sweet treat that they wanted the dessert to be served right after dinner, rather than half an hour later at the dance. Nevertheless, we all appreciated how hard the kitchen crew worked to feed every one of us. Teenagers are notoriously hard to please, but our cooks did a great job.

One of the most unique parts of this year’s Homecoming was that two students DJed the entire dance. In past years, the school hired outside DJs for the event, but this Hoco featured Miles and Ati Zwieback ‘27 as joint DJs. In Will’s words, “Miles and Ati's DJing was special because they’re part of the Cate community.” The duo is no stranger to performing, having played at Spring Fling, which brings Thacher and Cate students together, as well as at other schoolwide events. Several weeks before the dance, Ati and Miles worked together to build a playlist of over 800 songs, which they then narrowed down with input from some of their musically-minded peers. Individually, they scoured the Internet for slick remixes and transitions, incorporating their own as well. In preparation, the school acquired a brand-new subwoofer and two speakers specifically built for DJing. During the dance, Ati and Miles took turns choosing songs and competed to see who could make the best transitions. They chose many songs in the moment based on how the crowd was reacting. Miles admitted that they played a bit too much house music for such a young crowd, and looking back, he would change a few song choices. But everyone was too busy dancing their hearts out to notice. 

Homecoming really encapsulated the full Cate experience. From mingling with the entire student body during photos on Senior Lawn to sharing a meal with kids across grades and even moshing in Upper Booth, stripped of our fancy clothes and social divisions, students partied as a community. Even the DJs were our very own classmates! The Night on the Bayou brought the entire community together in a way only Cate can. You won’t forget the night you survived the crocodiles.