It’s Homecoming week, which means there are lots of opportunities to celebrate what it means to be a CSU Ram. From a parade to a bonfire, a football game to a road race, CSU’s Homecoming offers something for everyone.

Here’s a sampling of the many scheduled events:

Wednesday

• Join your friends at Alumni Night Out at the Gilded Goat Brewery in Fort Collins. The event, open to all, begins at 5:30 p.m. and offers the opportunity to sample the creations of alumnus Charlie Hoxmeier, the head brewer.
• CANstruction is part of CSU’s remarkable Cans Around the Oval food drive. Student groups gather from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Lory Student Center Plaza to use their collected canned food to create amazing structures.
• Get your laugh on at the Homecoming Comedy Show, set for 6 p.m. at the Lory Student Center Theater. The show features Saturday Night Live alumnus Sasheer Zamata. Tickets are free.

Thursday

• CSU will honor some of its best and brightest alumni at the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards, set for 5:30 p.m. at the Lory Student Center ballrooms. A few tickets for this annual dinner remain but are going fast.

Friday

• Events like the 50 Year Club Luncheon and the College of Business Scholarship Luncheon get things started before the heart-and-soul Homecoming events take over, starting with the Festival on the Oval. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. you can enjoy live music, food trucks, inflatables for the kids and a beer garden. Everything but the food and beer are free and open to the community.

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  The annual Homecoming parade begins at 4:30 p.m. and features a new route; the parade  starts on Laurel Street before ending near Canvas Stadium on campus. The amazing CSU Marching Band, CAM the Ram and lots of campus and community entries make for a festive celebration.  The theme his year is “Tradition.”

• Friday Night Lights begins as the parade ends. A Homecoming pep rally, bonfire, fireworks and the lighting of CSU’s iconic “A” are included in this fun and free celebration.

Saturday

• The Parent and Family Breakfast, set for 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Lory Student Center ballroom, gives families a chance to connect with students. Be sure to register for this event.
• The Coors Light Ram Walk Tailgate opens at 10 a.m. and is the perfect way to meet friends and get ready for the football game that afternoon. Food, beer and wine are available for purchase, and free live music provided by Write Minded and Julia Kirkwood – part of CSU’s popular Stadium Sessions series – will set the tone.

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  Homecoming and football go hand in hand, so don’t miss out when the Rams host New Mexico at 2 p.m. at Canvas Stadium. The Rams are coming off a big win over San Jose State and will look to make it two in a row vs. the Lobos. A few tickets remain, so come join the fun.

Sunday

• The Homecoming 5K, one of the city’s most popular road racing events, returns to campus. This year’s race begins on the south side of the Moby Arena complex and offers great T-shirts and plenty of post-race goodies for participants. You can pre-register online or on race day.