ORONO — The University of Maine’s largest and most activity-filled event of the year begins on Friday, Oct. 18 when the UMaine Alumni Association kicks off Homecoming 2024.
The three-day gathering features a wide variety of formal and informal social, recreational and educational activities. They include class reunions, tailgating, campus tours, concerts, lectures, presentations and football, ice hockey, soccer, and field hockey games. Sponsors for the Homecoming events include University Credit Union, the University of Maine Foundation, Eaton Peabody Attorneys at Law, and First National Bank.
Friday events include a “Welcome Home” reception for alumni and their guests at 4:30 p.m. at the Buchanan Alumni House; tours of athletic facilities, the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center, the Hudson Museum, the Advanced Structures and Composites and more; a School of Performing Arts Division of Theatre and Dance production of “The Women of Lockerbie” and a men’s ice hockey game against Quinnipiac University at 7 p.m. at the Alfond Arena.
On Saturday, a full day of activities starts with multiple receptions and class gatherings across campus. Pregame tailgating opens in the parking lots near Alfond Stadium at 9 a.m., with the UMaine versus Villanova football game starting at 1 p.m. Reunion Row, a large catered pregame party for alumni and guests, precedes the game from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Corbett tailgating lot. Several alumni classes will host their own tailgating tents in conjunction with the Alumni Association’s reunion programming.
Also on Saturday, the School of Performing Arts will hold its annual free alumni concert at 5 p.m. at the Minsky Recital Hall, followed by “A Day in the Life: A Beatles Experience” at the Collins Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. The men’s ice hockey team will face Quinnipiac again on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the UMaine Women’s Soccer Team plays Albany at noon at Alumni Field, and the symphonic band and jazz ensemble will perform together at 2 p.m. at the Collins Center.
More information, including a full schedule of events, tickets and preregistration, can be found at umainehomecoming.com. Free Homecoming T-shirts will be available at Buchanan Alumni House for registrants while supplies last. Registrants will also be given an exclusive 20 percent off UMaine Bookstore coupon! Pick up all of your Homecoming materials when you check from noon to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18 or from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19.
