It’s one month away, so you are bound to start hearing about Homecoming, but what are we talking about? Let’s start by defining some terms. The three Homecoming events that are often shortened to “Homecoming” are… 

1. Homecoming and Family Day is a campus-wide all-day event on October 5th where alumni, faculty & staff, students, and their families come to campus to celebrate Anderson University. This is a ticketed event for guests, but students with a meal plan do not need to purchase tickets. Student tickets are included with their meal plans and must be picked up before the event. Current students who do not have a meal plan may get into the event for free and do not need to register beforehand (if you don’t want a meal). Just stop at the registration table when you arrive and show your student I.D. to receive a wristband. More detailed information about this will be sent closer to the event. During this time, all other dining options are closed.  
2. Homecoming Week is hosted by Student Activities. They bring on the hype all week before Family Day with a different event every night for current students. (Think Welcome Week, but the middle of the semester!) This includes some of our favorite events such as Outdoor Movie Night, Fall Fest, Faculty and Staff vs. Student Kickball Game, Powderpuff: Battle of the Classes, and the Homecoming Dance. 
3. The Homecoming Dance is one of the events Student Activities hosts during Homecoming Week, always on Friday night, the day before Homecoming and Family Day. This is a ticketed event (a wristband is your ticket – not to be confused with the wristbands for Family Day, though!) that is only available to current AU students. Tickets are purchased through Student Activities and are completely separate from the Homecoming and Family Day tickets.  

So, should you make plans to attend Homecoming and Family Day? Do other parents really attend? The answer is yes! Homecoming and Family Day is the highest-attended event at AU all year. It is a true picture of the AU community as alumni return to campus, faculty and staff bring their families, and students’ families come to visit. My family has joined me every year for Homecoming and Family Day, and we have all loved spending the day together. Here’s an idea of what you can expect: 

If your parent(s) or guardians are part of the Parent Association, they might arrive on Friday night for a special Parent Association event at 6 p.m. Or if your parents are flying in from out of town or are driving a long way, they might choose to spend the weekend in Anderson. If this is the case, I suggest grabbing dinner downtown and maybe doing some shopping if you have time earlier in the day. Then head back to campus for either the Women’s Volleyball game at 7 p.m. or go see The Sound of Music at 7:30 p.m. (Just make sure you get tickets ahead of time!) If your parents aren’t here yet or are unable to attend, then consider spending the night dancing with your friends at the Homecoming Dance! 

All the Homecoming and Family Day activities will start the next day at 10 a.m. if you’re interested in watching the alumni basketball games. Or you could sleep in and start by meeting your fam for lunch between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. This is also when most of the non-athletic festivities begin, such as the Fun Zone if you have younger siblings, or the School of Nursing Health Fair, or Teddy Gets a Checkup, where nursing students use a teddy bear to teach younger children about the importance of their health. They also use the teddy bear to help make doctor visits less scary. At noon, faculty will be around for a meet and greet, so this is a great time to introduce the people you love to your favorite professors!  

At 2:00, if you’re ready for some air conditioning, you can head to Henderson Auditorium for a performance of The Sound of Music. These tickets are sold separately from the Homecoming and Family Day tickets and must be purchased ahead of time online or by calling the box office at 864-231-2080. Or if you’re ready to cheer for the Trojans, head to Spero Financial Field as our football team takes on Catawba College. (Note: the football game also requires an additional ticket. Students get in for free, but guests will need to purchase a single game ticket online beforehand.) The 2024 Homecoming Court will be presented at halftime, and it’s always fun to cheer for my friends who were nominated. If you want to see both football and theatre, then choose the football game at 2 and go to the 7:30 p.m. showing of The Sound of Music.   

If you want to get away from the crowd, my mom and I love shopping at the Ceramics Sale, which features handmade ceramics by AU students. It will take place from 12-6 p.m. on the Thrift Library Plaza. My dad’s favorite part is meeting my professors. We all love the BBQ meal and watching the AUthenticity concert, AU’s flagship commercial band, which will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Center Theater. There are also two soccer games at 6 and 8:30 p.m. vs Catawba College. 

As you can see there are lots of things to do! If they’re staying until Sunday, consider bringing them to your local church or grabbing brunch before they head out! Beyond the Homecoming and Family Day schedule, this a great time just to visit with your family! Maybe give them a tour of your favorite spots on campus or take them around downtown. There are so many small businesses to support in Anderson and I love introducing them to my family whenever they are here.  

To see the full Homecoming and Family Day schedule, or to register, click here!