Elizabethtown College welcomed back alumni, family, students and faculty fromon Oct. 9 to Oct. 11-11 for the annual Homecoming and Ffamily Wweekend, including campus traditions, athletic events and reunion of generations of alumni.
This weekend featured a variety of activities for the college community ranging from performances, the family fair and parade. The events gave visitors and students the opportunity for students to participate in the longstanding traditions.
On Saturday, the main events unfolded with the campus’s most notable homecoming events and traditions like the parade.
The 31st annual Homecoming Parade began at 11 a.m., bringing together many student organizations, campus faculty, alumni, families and local businesses. Student organizations and clubs traveled in floats. Live music and candy were also featured during the parade and concluded with President Elizabeth Rider officially kicking off Homecoming Day in front of the Alumni House.
The parade offered a way for students and alumni to celebrate the college community and clubs. It also gave clubs a way to showcase their creativity and involvement on campus.
Athletics also played a significant role throughout the weekend. Alumni were able to return and watch and participate in events. One event included the 14th annual Homecoming Blue/Gray Swim Meet. Additional athletic events included a softball game, men’s lacrosse game and a men’s club soccer match.
Beyond the parade and sporting events, Homecoming and Family Weekend offered activities designed to appeal to visitors of all ages and interests. The Homecoming Family Fair held on the Academic Quad, featured vendors from student organizations and the surrounding community. Planned activities included face painting, balloon animals, wax hand sculptures and yard games. Food trucks were also available featuring coffee, milkshakes and food like mac and cheese and brisket.
For those interested in the arts, the weekend included a Fall Choral Showcase with performances by the Concert VChoir, Fenice, College Community Chorus and Alumni VChoir. The college’s student vocal groups Melica, Vocalign and Phalanx were also scheduled to perform during the 15th annual Homecoming M.V.P Spectacular Saturday evening.
The show also included the presentation of the 2026 Distinguished Graduate of the Last Decade to Christina Angelucci, a member of the class of 2018.
Alumni reunions remained another central component of the celebration. Graduates with milestone anniversaries, including the Class of 2026, returning for their first Homecoming as alumni. Graduates celebrating 50 years or more were also invited to attend additional programs.
FEST, the college’s alumni gathering, was held Saturday afternoon at the Brinser Field. The event included live music, food and beverages and a special Taste of Local menu which highlighted the college’s connection to the local community. The gathering provides former classmates with an opportunity to reconnect and share memories of their time on campus.
The weekend also highlighted the college’s academic community. Alumni were invited to reunions with former classmates and faculty from their various academic programs. The Honors Program held a reunion for graduates and current students. These events featured opportunities to revisit classrooms, relationships and experiences during time on campus.
Sunday’s schedule extended the celebration with more athletic activities and a service day for theatere alumni and friends. They were invited to assist in projects surrounding the college’s theatre program.
Although Homecoming lasts only a few days, each fall the purpose extends well beyond a single weekend celebration. The events bring together people whose experiences at Elizabethtown span many different graduating classes, academic programs and life stages.
For current students, the weekend gives them a chance to participate in traditions and experience the wider Blue Jay community. For returning alumni and visiting families, it provides an opportunity to reconnect with the college and the people who made their years on campus meaningful.
Through the combination of athletics, performances, reunions and activities on campus, Elizabethtown College’s 2026 Homecoming and Family Weekend helped emphasize the relationships and experiences shared and the continuation in the community.
