Hockey games and a parade will highlight the University’s Homecoming and Parents Weekend, taking place Oct. 25–28.
Both hockey match-ups against Minnesota-Duluth — Friday at 7:35 p.m. and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. — are sold out.
The weekend will kick off Thursday night with an Athletic Hall of Fame banquet and a recent graduates reception.
This year’s celebration will begin a move to make Homecoming weekend more cohesive as a student and alumni celebration rather than purely a parents’ weekend visit, says Natalie Ryan, University Events director of sales and marketing.
“We want to create an event that will bring people back to campus,” Ryan says.
Sophomore Antoine Perretta, DU Programs Board (DUPB) Homecoming director, says the first step was to “take a heavy look at the parade.” The parade is an opportunity to celebrate all the activities and students on campus, Perretta says. This year, DUPB provided $100 to 20 clubs’ building floats. The parade also will feature 30 student athletes, a high school marching band and a bagpipe band. English Professor Margaret Whitt will serve as grand marshal.
The parade will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, in Lot W. It will proceed down Josephine Street, turn on Iliff Street, go down High Street and end on Buchtel Boulevard.
Two other events, Perretta says, aim to unite students with parents, alums and community members. A tailgate party will pep up fans for Friday’s hockey game; it will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Lot W. “Crimson and Gold: Center Stage” — a showcase of DU musicians, comedians and other talent — will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday in Gates Field House. Admission is free; an optional pasta dinner is $10.
This year’s Homecoming celebration will usher in a new tradition — 1864 Week — in celebration of the year DU was founded. From Oct. 22–28, a number of neighborhood businesses will offer discounts (see a list of participants).
Other Homecoming events include:
Oct. 26
Daniels alumni lecture breakfast, 7:30 a.m.
“Roadmap to a rewarding career,” 9 a.m.
Campus tours, 9 a.m.
“Study abroad and the Cherrington Global Scholars Initiative,” 10 a.m.
Cherrington Global Scholars open house, 1 p.m.
Burns School of Real Estate presentation and tour, 1:30 p.m.
Alpha Kappa Psi alumni and parents networking event, 2 p.m.
Gymnastics open house, 2:30 p.m.
“The Beginning of the Space Era — the First Sputnik,” 4 p.m.
Pioneer Legends alumni gathering, 2:30 p.m.
“Alcohol, Students, Parents and College,” 4 p.m.
School of Accounting reception, 5:30 p.m.
Lamont School of Music Wind Ensemble concert, 7:30 p.m.
Noche Caliente, 7 p.m.
“A Look at the Stars,” 8 p.m.
Oct. 27
Campus tours, 9 a.m.
Parents breakfast with the chancellor, 9 a.m.
Parent and alumni bagel brunch, 10 a.m.
Club Cycling Homecoming bike ride, 10 a.m.
Dianne Reeves concert, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28
Parents breakfast, 8 a.m.
Parents brunch, 11 a.m.
Get more information and register for these events.