2026 Grand marshals
Recognizing Sarah and Dan Opperman
Now through October 31, we're waiving application fees for all domestic freshman and transfer applicants!
*Common app code: Central27
Homecoming
2026 CMU Homecoming
Thursday, Oct. 1 - Sunday, Oct. 4Homecoming is a perfect time to return to Central Michigan University, relive your favorite memories, and make new ones. (Plus, there’s no better time on campus than the fall!) From the parade to the big game, homecoming offers everyone fun, connection and fired-up experiences.
Schedule of events
Homecoming weekend brings a lot of activity across campus and in Mt. Pleasant. The schedule includes college and alumni chapter events, Rock Rally, the cardboard boat races and multiple CMU Chippewa athletic events. And that’s just for starters.
CMU's 2026 homecoming celebration schedule is posted below and will be updated regularly when new information emerges. Check back often for updates!
Thursday, Oct. 1
All day | School of Music Class of 2013 Alumni
10 AM - Kristen Zelenak (Band Director - Florida International) Conducting Master Class with conducting class (open to all interested)
11 AM - Lara Brooks (Voice Professor - University of Illinois) - Voice Master Class for all voice majors
11 AM - Andrew Wheelock - (Percussion Prof - Univ of Wyoming) - Percussion Masterclass for all percussion majors
11 AM - Myles Boothroyd (Saxophone Prof - Univ of Oklahoma) - Saxophone Masterclass for all saxophone students
Noon - Robert Brooks (Jazz Prof - Ohio State Univ) Jazz Masterclass for all jazz and education students
6-7:30 PM - CAM Alumni reception in the Tuma lobby prior to the concert, refreshments sponsored by CAM Alumni Advisory Board
7:30 PM - Recital by the five guest alumni in Staples Hall
Contact: musicadmit@cmich.edu
6 p.m. | Football Coaches Show
Where: Ascend Sports Bar & Lounge at Soaring Eagle Casino
Open to the Public
Coach Drinkall + Players in attendance / Meet & Greet
Friday, Oct. 2
1 p.m. | Annual Career Awareness Session with the CMU Latine Alumni Chapter
Location: UC Auditorium & UC 303 Lake MI Room
For more information and to register: https://go.cmualum.com/latinehomecoming26
2 p.m. | Honors Alumni Chapter Anniversary Proclamation
Where: Powers Hall lobby
What: Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce to host ribbon cutting celebration and reading of the Honors and Centralis Anniversary Proclamation.
Information: https://go.cmualum.com/HonorsHoco26
2:15 p.m. | Honors Alumni Chapter Panel
Where: Grawn Hall Atrium
Current students, alumni and friends are welcome to attend. Hear from a panel of Honors Alumni about their career paths and how the Honors Program shaped their journey.
Information: https://go.cmualum.com/HonorsHoco26
4 p.m. | Honors Alumni Chapter Campus Tours
Meet in the Grawn Hall atrium. Check out facility updates and familiar sites on campus. Tour led by Honors students. All alumni and friends are welcome. Pre-registration required.
Information: https://go.cmualum.com/HonorsHoco26
5 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Greek Alumni at The Cabin
Where: The Cabin, 930 W Broomfield St, Mt Pleasant, MI 48858
Register: https://advancement.apps.cmich.edu/events/advancement/1977
Join the Fraternity and Sorority Alumni Chapter to kick off Homecoming weekend with fellow fraternity and sorority alumni! Registration includes light bites, plenty of time to reconnect and a special celebration of 125 years of Greek life at CMU! All alumni and friends are welcome.
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Black Alumni Chapter Welcome Mixer
Where: Bovee University Center, 3rd floor
Register: https://advancement.apps.cmich.edu/events/advancement/1960
Welcome home, CMU Black Alumni! Kick off Homecoming weekend by catching up with old friends and making new connections. Join us for games, light hors d’oeuvres, networking, and plenty of CMU spirit. All alumni and friends are welcome. Pre-registration required.
Information: https://go.cmualum.com/BAChoco26
6 p.m. | Rock Rally
Where: Plachta Auditorium
When: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Annual Rock Rally, Gold Ambassador Announcement
Contact: sai@cmich.edu
6 p.m. | Alumni Takeover: Wayside Edition
Where: 2002 S. Mission St., Mt. Pleasant (Wayside Central)
Kick-off Homecoming weekend and celebrate over five decades of memories at Wayside Central with CMU alumni and friends! Enjoy music from every decade provided by our very own alumni DJs, DJ Mack and DJ ChipWreck, who will keep the party going all night long. This event is open to the entire CMU community and all supporters, so let’s pack the Wayside and celebrate in true maroon and gold fashion!
Information: https://advancement.apps.cmich.edu/events/advancement/1975
7 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Honors Alumni Chapter Social Hour
Where: Hunter's Ale House, 4855 E Blue Grass Rd, Mt. Pleasant
$18 Cover includes heavy appetizers. Children 10 and under free. Cash bar. All alumni and friends are welcome.9 p.m. - 11 p.m. | Homecoming Greek Showcase and Step Show
Doors open at 8:30 p.m.
Performances featuring undergraduate and alumni members of CMU’s National Pan-Hellenic Council and Multicultural Greek Council organizations. Teams will compete for cash prizes benefiting CMU’s current undergraduate chapters.
Contact: cmugreeks@cmich.edu
10:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. | Black Alumni Chapter Back Like We Never Left! Alumni Party
Where: Encore Nightclub, 108 Court St, Mt. Pleasant
We’re back—and bringing the Homecoming energy with us! Following the Greek Showcase and Step Show, join fellow alumni and friends at Encore Nightclub for a night of music, dancing, celebration, and memories featuring Detroit Lions Official DJ, DJ Ray! Come ready to turn up and party like we never left! All alumni and friends are welcome. Pre-registration is required.
Information: https://go.cmualum.com/BAChoco26
Saturday, Oct. 3
All Day | School of Communication, Journalism, and Media events
Reception will be held in the lobby outside the Kiva. The reception will begin 2.5 hours before kickoff and conclude 30 minutes before the game begins. Food will be provided, with additional details to come.
Several programs and activities are also being planned throughout the Moore Hall area:
8 a.m. | Special Olympics Michigan 5K Race
Where: Finch Fieldhouse
Registration: 7 a.m. – 8 a.m.
Registration link: https://charity.pledgeit.org/2026cmuhomecoming5k
Start time: 8:20 a.m.
8 a.m. - 9 a.m. | Band Alumni Coffee Hour
Where: Kelly/Shorts Stadium West Concourse
Join the Marching Chips Alumni for a coffee hour at Kelly/Shorts Stadium West Concourse.
Contact: musicadmit@cmich.edu
9:00 a.m. | Rehearsal on the Stadium Field with the Marching Chips
Join and/or watch Marching Band alumni at Kelly/Shorts Stadium as they prepare for the day's parade and halftime performances.
9:30 a.m. | Community Coffee and Donuts
Where: Powers Lobby
When: 9:30 a.m.
Open to the community
Join CMU alumni, friends, and community members in the Powers Hall Lobby to kick off Homecoming morning for complimentary coffee and donuts. Step right out on-to Washington Street to enjoy the parade after enjoying refreshments!
9:30 a.m. | Alumni Breakfast and Maroon/Gold Ambassador Breakfast
Where: Powers Ballroom (Room 243)
Rekindle old friendships, explore campus and honor cherished traditions at the Alumni Breakfast during CMU’s Homecoming Weekend! Enjoy a delicious breakfast and some of the best parade-viewing seats in town. Open to all alumni and friends, this special gathering will also celebrate the 50-year reunion of the Class of 1976—making it the perfect time to connect, reminisce and create new memories.
Information: https://go.cmualum.com/alumnibreakfast26
10 a.m. - noon | College of Business Administration Open House and Parade Viewing
11 a.m. - noon | Parade Viewing with Honors Alumni Chapter
Where: Larzelere Hall
Cheer on the Thorpe Hall (Honors residential community) float and take in the entire CMU Homecoming Parade. Afterward, join us for an Honors photo op on the Larzy steps! All alumni and friends are welcome.
Information: https://go.cmualum.com/HonorsHoco26
11 a.m. | Homecoming Parade
Join the CMU community for a Fired Up Homecoming parade prior to kick off!
11 a.m. - noon | College of Science and Engineering Chili Cook-off and Cardboard Boat Parade
Where: Engineering and Technology Building
Bring family and friends to vote on what they think is the tastiest; and then after having great chili, move on to the ponds and cheer on the Cardboard Boat Racers followed by Football!
Contact: se@cmich.edu
11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. | College of Health Professions Scavenger Hunt
Location: The College of Health Professions at 1280 E Campus Dr.
The College of Health Professions (CHP) invites you to join our campus scavenger hunt. Take photos of or with the items listed on the bingo card, then complete 5 squares in a row. Once you get a bingo, visit CHP to claim your prize!
11:30 a.m. | Black Alumni Chapter Tailgate
Location:Grass lot southeast of Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Homecoming Art and Design Homecoming Reception
Where: Wightman Hall, Room 152
Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be provided
Contact: artanddesign@cmich.edu
11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Honors Alumni Tailgate
Join Honors Alumni on Alumni Island for complimentary tailgate food and non-alcoholic beverages.
12 p.m. | Leadership Institute, Student Activities & Involvement and Volunteer Center Alumni Tailgate
Where: Lot 62E
Join alumni and current students that have been involved with the Leadership Institute, Student Activities and Involvement, and the Volunteer Center for a Homecoming Tailgate!
Contact: sai@cmich.edu
12 p.m. - 4 p.m. | Tours of the Student Activity Center
Where: Student Activity Center
Alumni can return to revisit the home of their greatest CMU memories. University Recreation alumni are encouraged to explore the places they used to work and connect with students and staff that are keeping the tradition alive.
Contact: Urec@cmich.edu
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Cider & Donuts with The College of Education and Human Services
There’s no place like a CEHS Homecoming! As you walk through campus heading towards Kelly/Shorts Stadium, swing by the Education and Human Services Building to enjoy cider and doughnuts – all are welcome!
1 p.m. | Cardboard Boat Races
Where: Rose Ponds
For two weeks, School of Engineering & Technology students build cardboard boats and sail them across the ponds. The fastest team to the other side wins.
Contact: se@cmich.edu
1:30 p.m. | College of the Arts and Media Alumni tailgate
Location: Lot 63W
All CAM alumni and their families are welcome to come by and have a hot dog!
3:30 p.m. | Football Game vs. Akron
Where: Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Ticket information: https://cmich.evenue.net/event/FB2627/FB03
10 p.m. - 2 a.m. | All Bets on Black: Black Alumni Chapter Party
Where: Soaring Eagle Casino
A night of music, dancing and casino time featuring a Detroit Lions Official DJ, DJ Ray.
The tailgate may be over, but Homecoming isn’t finished yet! Meet the CMU Black Alumni Chapter at Soaring Eagle Casino as we go ALL IN for a night of music, dancing, casino action, and grown alumni energy featuring Detroit Lions Official DJ, DJ Ray! Come ready to celebrate and make a few new memories—because when Black alumni come home, we don’t fold…we go all in! All alumni and friends are welcome. Pre-registration is required.
Information: https://go.cmualum.com/BAChoco26
Sunday, Oct. 4
1 p.m. | Soccer vs. Miami (OH)
Where: Lacrosse and Soccer Student Recreation Complex
Cost: Free
Alumni Day / Mental Health Awareness
Grand marshals
Each year, CMU selects one or more outstanding alumni, community members and/or university advocates to be honorary leaders of the homecoming parade and other homecoming events.
We proudly honor Sarah and Dan Opperman as the 2026 homecoming grand marshals.
