For anyone attending this year’s Homecoming at the University College of the Fraser Valley on Sept. 26 and 27, coming home means enjoying some top-rate performers, including award-winning comedian Nikki Payne and hometown Canadian Idol contestant, Karen-Lee Batten.

“We wanted to make this year’s Homecoming something really special, something that people would enjoy now and remember for years to come,” says Philippe Gerard, UCFV’s event coordinator and organizer of the Homecoming shows.

To meet that goal, UCFV is inviting all former students and friends to join current students, staff and faculty for two great evenings of entertainment.

On Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. , Abbotsford’s Karen-Lee Batten will take the stage at the UCFV Student Activity Centre. The 23-year-old singer came into the national spotlight earlier this year when she was chosen to be one of 30 contestants on the television program, Canadian Idol. Batten sang her way to a respectable spot on the show as one of 11 finalists before being eliminated.

The singer, whose talent is a little bit country and a little bit jazz, came home recently to wow local audiences, and a large turnout is expected for the UCFV show as well. “We’re hoping for good weather,” says Gerard, “in case we need to spill out onto the lawn.”

The Homecoming fun will continue on Saturday, Sept. 27 with two alumni basketball games pitting old flames against new sparks. The alumni women’s team will take on the new crop of Cascades at 4 p.m. , while the men’s teams will hit the court at 6 p.m. The games are a good chance to preview the new 2003/04 Cascade teams and, as posters for the event put it, to see if alumni players “still have what it takes” to compete.

The final bill for Homecoming is comedian Nikki Payne, 8 p.m. at Casey’s on Campus. Crowned by The Comedy Network as “ Canada ’s Funniest New Comic” in 2001, Payne’s popularity has continued to grow, with a recent unheard of standing ovation at the Halifax Comedy Festival and a Gemini nomination for her comedy work on TV.

Payne’s comedy style has been described as a combination of the whimsical voice of 'Olive Oyl' with the cutting edge, sultry standup style of a young Phyllis Diller. Her work has also been labeled “brazen” and “fearless,” which will explain why organizers are advising audiences that Payne’s show contains adult subject material.

Admission to all events is free. For more information on UCFV Homecoming, visit www.ucfv.ca/homecoming, phone 604-864-4612, or email philippe.gerard@ucfv.ca