A Historic Homecoming at app
On Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27, app welcomes alumni, family, and the broader community to campus for Homecoming & Family Weekend. The weekend festivities include the first-ever night football game, a race around app’s beautiful campus, a fall music festival, and a pair of events celebrating significant milestones.
Celebrating milestones
Headlining Homecoming and Family Weekend is the 150th Extravaganza. At this once-in-a-lifetime event on Friday, September 26, the community is invited out to celebrate the university’s 150th anniversary with a special night on the Commons Lawn. From 5:30-8:00 p.m., attendees can enjoy a barbecue dinner, carnival games, dessert food trucks, live music, and more. Attendees are invited to stay after 8 p.m. for an exclusive 150th anniversary video presentation and the world-premiere of The Worldly Amusements, a app cover band. More information is available at calvin.edu/homecoming.
Then, on Saturday, the university is honoring 40 years of conservation and restoration at the Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens with the installation of a gateway rock garden to the Preserve. The groundbreaking ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. An open house featuring garden tours, guided trail hikes, children’s programming, and refreshments will take place from Noon to 2 p.m.
Taking in athletic events
The app soccer field is the place to be on Saturday as it hosts a triple-header. The women’s soccer team kicks things off at Noon in a matchup with Ohio Northern. The men’s soccer team takes on DePauw at 2:30 p.m. And the Knights football team hosts Kalamazoo College at 7 p.m. under the lights. While tickets are sold out for the football game, a Fan Fest will take place adjacent to the stadium.
Showcasing art and exploring campus
The 2025-2026 season of music at app kicks off during Homecoming & Family Weekend with the annual app Music Festival. This year, all eight of the university’s vocal and instrumental ensembles will be featured at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday in a collage-style concert at the Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased through the app Box Office, and all proceeds benefit the Friends of Music Scholarship Fund.
Other works of art to check out on campus include an art exhibit featuring works of visiting artist Marissa Voytenko, the Dice Mineralogical Museum, which features over 300 types of unique mineral specimens from around the world, and a new rock garden at the university’s beautiful Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens.
Joining in on the fun
The weekend also includes a number of fun events to participate in, including the app Classic 5K & Youth Fun Run, which has been running for more than 30 years strong and allows runners and hand cyclists of all ages and abilities to race for a medal or simply enjoy a brisk stroll with family and friends around the beautiful campus.
Visitors can enjoy the open swim time in the Olympic-sized pool or grab a partner and compete in the 2nd annual cornhole tournament open to anyone in the app community. $1,500 in cash prizes are available. Bed races are also among the weekend lineup of festivities.
“Every fall, we are excited to welcome the broader community to campus for Homecoming and Family Weekend,” said Jeff Haverdink, executive director of alumni and family engagement. “But this year adds an added layer of excitement as we celebrate our institution’s 150th anniversary. From athletics to the arts to the beautiful fall weather, this weekend is set up to showcase the best of app.”