Eastern has a long-standing tradition of celebrating Homecoming Week with several exciting events.
This year, Homecoming Week will be held from Oct. 2 to Oct. 8.
Eastern’s Homecoming Week is an opportunity for students, alumni, faculty, staff and the community to come together and celebrate the university’s spirit.
The week-long celebration will kick off on Monday, Oct. 2 with Bingo and Bagels with Billy in the Library Quad, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At this event, participants will be served breakfast and have the opportunity to chat with Billy the Panther!
One of the main events everyone has been voting for, students will find out who won Homecoming King, Queen, Prince and Princess at the Coronation in the Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union starting at 7 p.m.
On Tuesday, Oct. 3, Family Fun Night in the University Ballroom at the MLK Jr. Union will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Come out, have fun and compete with your friends!
On Wednesday, Oct. 4, Cosmic Bowling Mixer will be hosted at EIU Lanes in the MLK Jr. Union from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Thursday, Oct. 5, Casino Royale will be hosted in the Grand Ballroom at the MLK Jr. Union from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Let’s see who wins the most dining dollars!
On Friday, Oct. 6, a Block Party will be hosted at O’Brien Stadium Parking Lot from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Let’s party the night away, before the main event.
Finally, on Saturday, Oct. 7, so many great things will be going on. A pancake breakfast will be hosted in Dirty’s parking lot from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and the 2.5K Fun Run/Walk starting at Old Main will begin at 9:00 a.m.
EIU’s Homecoming Parade will start at 9:30 a.m., the parade runs through the heart of campus and is a great way to see the creativity and enthusiasm of Eastern students.
The parade will feature the EIU Panther Marching Band, cheerleaders and student organizations.
The Panther Parade will start at 9:30 am from 7th and Division Streets and will end at the O’Brien Stadium. Following the parade, there will be tailgating behind the O’Brien Stadium.
Right after tailgating, it’s time to show our Panther pride at the football game, where the EIU Panthers take on a rival team UT-Martin.
Let’s pack the student section and cheer on our Mid-America Classic Champs! The stadium will be filled with fans wearing the school’s colors and cheering on the home team.
Let’s have a great Eastern Homecoming Week. It’s a time to celebrate and have fun and exciting times with all members of the campus community, and a great way to bring the alumni back and celebrate the school’s history and traditions.
With events ranging from Bingo and Bagels with Billy to tailgating, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
These events are designed to bring students together, fostering a sense of community and pride in the university.
Payton Liggins can be reached at 581-2812 or at paliggins@eiu.edu.
