From the best parade in Fort Collins, to a rockin’ festival and beer garden in an iconic campus setting, to a popular 5K run, to a gridiron clash between conference foes, CSU’s Homecoming and Family Weekend has got your entertainment needs covered.
CSU’s 102nd Homecoming celebration is set for Oct. 3-8 and includes something for everyone. Themed “Capture Your Moment,” the schedule includes lots of fun activities and opportunities to celebrate all things CSU for students, alumni, faculty and staff, and the Fort Collins community.
Wall-to-wall happenings
Daily student led activities kick off on Monday, Oct. 3, including a brunch, performances, CANstruction, and a comedy show. Thursday, Oct. 6, marks the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner, which honors the best of the best among alumni, faculty and students. The dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Lory Student Center ballroom. Pre-registration and tickets are required.
Friday, Oct. 7, is filled with a multitude of events, starting with the 50 Year Club Luncheon hosted by the CSU Alumni Association, which is open to any Ram alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago. The event kicks off at 10:30 a.m. at the Fort Collins Hilton. Advanced registration is encouraged.
The family-friendly Festival on the Oval begins at 3 p.m. and is free and open to all in the CSU and Fort Collins communities. Live music, a beer garden, food trucks, bounce houses and inflatables are included. The annual Homecoming Parade begins at 4:30 p.m. on Howes Street and, after winding through the Oval, ends west of the Lory Student Center.
As part of CSU celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Black African/American Cultural Center and El Centro, alumnae Blanche Hughes and Polly Baca will serve as homecoming parade co-marshals. Hughes is CSU’s vice president for student affairs, while Baca has spent the past 50-plus years in politics, serving 12 years in the Colorado legislature and as the first Latina co-chair of the Democratic National Convention.
Following the parade, the annual Friday Night Lights celebration ensues. It includes a bonfire, pep rally and the lighting of the “A” in the foothills west of the city. A reunion reception, hosted in the Lory Student Center West Ballroom starting at 6:30 p.m., welcomes all alumni reunion classes to enjoy dessert and coffee and provides a great spot to watch the West Lawn activities.
Saturday’s festivities include the 36th annual Homecoming 5K, which begins at 8 a.m. on the Oval, and the football game matching the Rams and Mountain West foe Utah State. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. for the final Homecoming game to be played at Hughes Stadium. Tickets are on sale.
Find a full list of events and ticket information at homecoming.colostate.edu.
