Organizers of Homecoming and Parents Weekend, Oct. 24–26, say this year’s schedule of festivities is planned to inspire parents, alumni, students and community members.
This year’s theme is “Live the Tradition,” and last year’s was “Create a Tradition,” signifying the committee’s goal to make Homecoming more cohesive by involving the surrounding community.
“We are trying to make it become the tradition that it should be,” says Kerrie Rueda, assistant director of campus activities.
The weekend will feature both tried-and-true traditions as well as new innovations.
“We work hard to make sure that there are activities that the whole family will want to attend,” says senior HRTM major Matt Lane, DU Programs Board (DUPB) director of traditions. “Different events appeal to different people but they are all crucial to the homecoming tradition.”
From Oct. 20–26 local businesses will offer specials on products and services as part of the second annual 1864 Week, celebrating the year DU was founded.
DUPB will host the Pioneer Pre-game Tailgate at 5 p.m. on Campus Green prior to Friday night’s hockey game against Ohio State. The event will include a beer garden, spirit tent, a showcase put on by various student organizations, games hosted by club sports and food provided by the DU Grilling Society.
Saturday’s highlights include a Homecoming parade followed by a barbecue celebrating the 50th anniversary of Johnson-MacFarlane Hall. The parade will start at 3 p.m. and will follow a slightly different route due to construction on Josephine Street — from Lot 108 on Buchtel Boulevard proceeding south on Columbine Street to Warren Avenue, where it will head west to pick up Josephine Street. At Iliff Avenue the parade will head west to High Street, proceed north to Buchtel Boulevard and back to Lot 108.
Homecoming events include:
Oct. 23
DU Recent Graduate Third Annual Wine Reception, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24
“Roadmap to a Rewarding Career,” 9 a.m.
“Study Abroad and the Cherrington Global Scholars Initiative,” 10 a.m.
“Chasing Rabbits,” 11 a.m.
Baseball Alumni Dinner, 4:30 p.m.–7 p.m.
DU Volleyball vs. Troy, 7 p.m.
DU Hockey vs. Ohio State, 7:37 p.m.
Oct. 25
Baseball Alumni Golf Tournament, 8 a.m.
Parents Breakfast with the Chancellor, 9 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Roundtable Discussion for Single/Divorced Parents, 10:30 a.m.
Parents and Alumni Bagel Brunch, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Club Cycling Homecoming Ride, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
DU Swimming — Quadrangular Swim Meet, 12 p.m.
DU Men’s Soccer vs. Alabama A&M, 1 p.m.
GSAC Event, before parade
Chamberlin Observatory Reception, 6–10 p.m.
Paula Poundstone, 7:30 p.m.
DU Hockey vs. Ohio State, 7:07 p.m.
Oct. 26
Family Breakfast, 9 a.m.–10 a.m.
Alumni Baseball Game, 10 a.m.
Family Brunch, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
See www.du.edu/homecoming/ for a full list of events and registration information.
[Editor’s note: Last year’s homecoming theme was incorrectly identified in an earlier version of this story. We regret the error.]