Thousands of alumni and friends will return to the N.C. Central University campus this week to join students in celebrating Homecoming.

The festivities began with the coronation of Mr. and Miss NCCU and their court at 5 p.m. Sunday in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.

The Lyceum performance, which is expected to pull a big crowd, will feature gospel artist and songwriter Marvin Sapp. His 2007 hit, “Never Would Have Made It,” held down the No. 1 slot on gospel radio for almost a full year and crossed over to No. 1 on the urban adult contemporary chart, making it the longest-running No. 1 song in the history of the Nielsen BDS Gospel Chart and across all genres in the history of Billboard analysis. The concert will take place at 7 p.m. Monday in the McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.

Comedian Lil Duval will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, also in the gymnasium.

Founder’s Day on Friday will be filled with ceremonial pageantry in honor of Dr. James E. Shepard, who opened the doors of what is now NCCU in 1910. This event is free and open to the public. NCCU alumna Dorothy Bailey, an educator, public servant, community leader and writer, will be the speaker. Members of the Class of 1962, celebrating their 50th class reunion, will be inducted into the Society of Golden of Eagles.

NCCU’s homecoming parade begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at W.G. Pearson Elementary School on Fayetteville Street and ends at Fayetteville and Lawson streets. Police will close streets several minutes before the parade begins. J. Anthony Brown of the Tom Joyner Morning Show will serve as the grand marshal. The Homecoming football game, at 2 p.m. in O’Kelly–Riddick Stadium, pits NCCU against Delaware State University.

Other popular events this week, some of which charge for admission, include:

• The Choir Ball, a showcase of NCCU’s University Choir, at 7 p.m. Wednesday

Pan-Hellenic Step Show at 7 p.m. Friday in the McDougald–McLendon Gym

Class reunions for graduating class years ending in 2 and 7.

Golf Tournament Friday to support the student athlete book fund scholarship