Homecoming & Family Weekend
Events
Join us for an exciting schedule of Homecoming and Family Weekend events and make memories that will last a lifetime!
Continue to check back as events will continuously be added.
Tell us you're coming and pick the events you plan to attend. Most events are open to drop-ins — events marked Registration Required have limited space, a fee, or a separate signup.
Events Audience Key: AL = Alumni, FM = Family, ST = Current Students, FS = Faculty & Staff
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Showing all 41 events.
October
9
Blue Jay Open Golf Tournament 2026, Presented by DDMP Investment Advisors LLC
Blue Jay Athletics’ largest fundraising event of the year is back and better than ever! Included in your registration are breakfast to start your day, on-course snacks and beverages, a delicious post-round meal, and exclusive participant gifts. Whether you are out on the green with a foursome or experiencing the fun away from the course, your involvement will support all 24 varsity sports and help sustain Etown’s tradition of excellence! Registration is required by Saturday, Sept. 19, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Note: Because of this tournament’s popularity, event planners expect the available entrant spots will fill up quickly. Due to this anticipated demand, it is highly recommended that interested parties register today.
Register for Blue Jay Open Golf Tournament 2026, Presented by DDMP Investment Advisors LLC Registration required
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Lebanon Country Club
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Athletics, Marquee Events
October
9
College Store
Beat the Homecoming and Family Weekend rush and check out the new arrivals in the College Store today!
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Brossman Commons
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Campus Services
October
9
High Library Escape Room
Dr. Frankenstein is away at a conference and needs you to check in on an experiment. Yes, that one. The monster has broken out of the lab, and there are only 30 minutes left on his GPS tracker. It’s up to you to find him before time runs out. The Escape Room will be open in 30-minute time slots throughout Homecoming and Family Weekend. This program is free.
Register for the High Library Escape Room Registration required
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Room 220, High Library
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Recreational Events
October
9
Homecoming Parade Float-Building Party
This is when it all comes together! Experience the excitement as student groups, faculty, staff, families, and alumni build and decorate their floats for the big event on Homecoming Day!
Register for the Homecoming Parade Float-Building Party Registration required
Register by Sept. 10 — call 800-877-2604 or email alumni@etown.edu.
Time: Noon - 5 p.m.
Location: Elizabethtown Fairgrounds
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Recreational Events
October
9
Mad Cow Improv Homecoming Weekend Kickoff Show
Enjoy the spirited antics of Etown’s own student improvisational comedy group Mad Cow as its members help kick off Homecoming and Family Weekend!
Register for Mad Cow Improv Homecoming Weekend Kickoff Show
Time: 7 - 8 p.m.
Location: Gibble Auditorium, Masters Center
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Performances, Recreational Events
October
9
Alumni Concert Choir Rehearsal
Bring your score, pencil, and singing voice, and join fellow choir alumni for the first official Alumni Concert Choir rehearsal of Homecoming and Family Weekend 2026!
Register for Alumni Concert Choir Rehearsal Registration required
Time: 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Location: Leffler Chapel and Performance Center
Audience: Alumni
Event Type: Reunion Events, Performances
October
10
Homecoming Day Breakfast
Tickets available at the door, $8.50.
Register for Homecoming Day Breakfast
Time: 7 - 11 a.m.
Location: The Marketplace, Brossman Commons
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Dining
October
10
Self-Guided Tours of the Bowers Center
Check out the amenities offered in the state-of-the-art Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness & Well-Being! Facility maps will be available at the check-in desk, and student attendants will be stationed throughout the building to answer your questions.
Register for Self-Guided Tours of the Bowers Center
Time: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness & Well-Being
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Recreational Events, Presentations
October
10
Alumni Council Meeting
Time: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Location: McCormick Classroom, High Library
Audience: Alumni
Event Type: Campus Services, Reunion Events
October
10
Blue Jay Rise & Restore Pilates
Start your Homecoming weekend feeling refreshed and energized with this all-levels Pilates class led by student Alli Walker. Improve core strength, posture, balance, and flexibility through intentional, low-impact movements designed to wake up both body and mind. Whether you’re an alumnus returning to campus, a current student, or a family member joining the festivities, this welcoming class is the perfect way to begin a day of Blue Jay celebrations. Space is limited to 30 participants.
Register for Blue Jay Rise & Restore Pilates Registration required
Time: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Location: Group Fitness Room, Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness & Well-Being
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Recreational Events, Athletics
October
10
President’s Honors Breakfast
Families of first-year Honors and Scholar students are invited to join the President and other members of the Honors program and College community for a light breakfast. This is a drop-in event with remarks at 9 a.m.
Time: 8:30 - 10 a.m.
Location: By invitation only
Audience: Family, Students
Event Type: Dining
October
10
14th Annual Homecoming Blue/Gray Swim Meet
All-star alumni spanning rosters from past decades of Blue Jay Swimming will be returning to suit up with current varsity team members in this annual “blue vs. gray teams” classic. Also included this year is a celebration of the 1995 Men’s Swimming MAC Championship team!
Continental breakfast takes place at 8:30 a.m. and the meet begins at 9:30 a.m.
Register for the 14th Annual Homecoming Blue/Gray Swim Meet Registration required
Time: 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Thompson Gymnasium — Alumni Pool
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Athletics, Reunion Events
October
10
College Store
Homecoming Day isn’t complete without a visit to the College Store! Choose from the latest Etown gear while supplies last!
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Brossman Commons
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Campus Services
October
10
Blue Jay Softball Homecoming Game
In this annual celebration of Blue Jay Softball, alumnae return to meet members of the current team and play in a game at the Nest with the team! Alumnae who plan to play in the game should arrive at the Nest no later than 9:15 a.m. The game will begin at 10 a.m.
Register for Blue Jay Softball Homecoming Game
Playing in the game? Registration is required. To learn more, contact Head Softball Coach Bekah Slattery.
Time: 9:15 - 11:45 a.m.
Location: The Nest
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Athletics, Reunion Events
October
10
Alumni Choir Concert Rehearsal
You’ve learned the music, now it’s time to polish! Be sure to bring your score with you as you join fellow choir alumni for the second Alumni Concert Choir rehearsal.
Register for Alumni Choir Concert Rehearsal Registration required
Time: 9:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Location: Leffler Chapel and Performance Center
Audience: Alumni
Event Type: Reunion Events, Performances
October
10
Honors Program Alumni Reunion
Fellow Honors alumni and current Honors students are cordially invited for a memorable morning that promises camaraderie, nostalgia, freshly brewed tea/coffee, and warm cookies. Your presence will make this gathering special, highlighting the truly distinguished nature of our Honors Program community!
Register for Honors Program Alumni Reunion
Time: 10 - 11 a.m.
Location: Myer Hall
Audience: Alumni, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Reunion Events
October
10
Blue Jay Men’s Lacrosse vs. Alumni Game
Alumni go head to head against our current Men’s Lacrosse team at Wolf Field. Warm up begins at 10 a.m. and the game begins at 11 a.m. Join us for a tailgate after the game!
Register for Blue Jay Men’s Lacrosse vs. Alumni Game
Alumni playing in the game should register in advance.
Time: 10 a.m. - Noon
Location: Wolf Field
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Athletics, Reunion Events
October
10
Explore the Labyrinth
Join Rev. Amy Shorner-Johnson, Chaplain and Director of Spiritual and Religious Life, as she takes attendees on a storytelling journey of how the campus labyrinth came to be. There will also be time and opportunity to walk the path for self-meditation.
Register for Explore the Labyrinth
For more information, contact Rev. Amy Shorner-Johnson.
Time: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Labyrinth, Path to Bowers Writers House
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Recreational Events, Presentations
October
10
31st Annual Homecoming Parade and Homecoming Day Kick-Off
This time-honored and beloved Blue Jay tradition — celebrating its 31st consecutive year — will surely be one to remember! In true Etown Homecoming fashion, the Parade will feature floats constructed by current students and staff members, live music, alumni celebrating class reunions, local volunteer fire companies, businesses, and loads of candy. Then, at the conclusion of the Parade, President Betty Rider will officially kick off Homecoming Day in front of Raffensperger Alumni House!
Can’t make it in person? Watch the parade live.
Register for 31st Annual Homecoming Parade and Homecoming Day Kick-Off
Time: 11 a.m. - Noon
Location: Hickory Lane to Willow Street to Spruce Street to College Avenue
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Marquee Events, Recreational Events, Performances
October
10
Homecoming and Family Weekend Brunch
Enjoy specially prepared Homecoming and Family Weekend fare that can only come from Etown’s Dining Services staff! Tickets available at the door, $15; $7.50 for ages 3–10; free for ages younger than three.
Time: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: The Marketplace, Brossman Commons
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Dining
October
10
High Library Escape Room
Dr. Frankenstein is away at a conference and needs you to check in on an experiment. Yes, that one. The monster has broken out of the lab, and there are only 30 minutes left on his GPS tracker. It’s up to you to find him before time runs out. The Escape Room will be open in 30-minute time slots throughout Homecoming and Family Weekend. This program is free.
Register for the High Library Escape Room Registration required
Time: Noon - 5 p.m.
Location: Room 220, High Library
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Recreational Events
October
10
FEST
Reconnect with classmates and celebrate your Elizabethtown College memories at FEST! Gather with fellow Blue Jays for an afternoon of great conversation, live music by the Little Brother Band, and delicious food and beverages as we welcome you home to campus.
This year, enjoy a special “Taste of Local” woven throughout the menu that reflects the College’s connection to the surrounding community and offers a small taste of the area as you return home to Etown. Moo-Duck Brewery returns as our featured event sponsor, and we’re excited to offer an expanded beverage selection with sangria, non-alcoholic refreshments, and a refreshing kombucha option, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Reconnect with classmates celebrating reunion years ending in “6” and “1.” Members of the Class of 2026 will be gathering to celebrate their first Homecoming Day as alumni for their Zero-Year Reunion, while graduates from classes celebrating reunions of 50 years or more can Return to the Nest at their special gathering area! The gathering space area will again be featured for Blue Jay Athletics.
Class Reunion Details
Alumni from the classes below will be celebrating milestone reunion gatherings!
1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026
Return to the Nest — 1976 and earlier!
Admission: Express Check-In price $25, $15 for children ages 3–10. At-the-door price $30, $20 for children ages 3–10. Register and pay online by Friday, Sept. 25, for Express Check-In pricing.
This event is not open to current Etown students.
Register for FEST Registration required
For more information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 800-877-2604 or alumni@etown.edu.
Time: Noon - 3 p.m.
Location: Brinser Field
Audience: Alumni, Faculty/Staff
Event Type: Marquee Events, Dining, Reunion Events, Performances
October
10
Homecoming Family Fair
Get ready for a fun Etown Homecoming event for the whole family! The Family Fair at the Academic Quad is packed with delicious food trucks, live music and entertainment, unique crafts from Etown students and local artisans, and fun around every corner. Bring the whole family and enjoy an afternoon of food, festivities, and Blue Jay spirit!
Time: Noon - 3 p.m.
Location: Academic Quad (formerly known as “The Midway”)
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Recreational Events, Dining, Performances
October
10
Blue Jay Men’s Soccer vs. Scranton University
The pitch will be filled with excitement as our Blue Jays host the Royals!
Register for Blue Jay Men’s Soccer vs. Scranton University
Learn more at etownbluejays.com.
Time: 1 - 2 p.m.
Location: Ira R. Herr Field
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Athletics
October
10
Young Center Festival
Join us on the Young Center patio for a family-friendly time of conversation with popcorn and homemade ice cream churned by Etown’s innovative Engineering students! Come inside and explore interactive exhibits in the Young Center’s Bowers Interpretive Gallery and learn more about the College’s history and traditions.
Register for Young Center Festival
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.
Location: Young Center patio, facing Lake Placida
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Recreational Events, Dining
October
10
Young Center 40th Anniversary Celebration
Elizabethtown College’s internationally recognized Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies is turning 40! Join us to celebrate four decades of research and public programming that has brought understanding and visibility to the values that shape Etown. The event will also honor Dr. Donald B. Kraybill, the Young Center’s Senior Scholar Emeritus, who launched the Center in 1986 and taught countless Etown students from 1971 to 2015.
Register for Young Center 40th Anniversary Celebration
Time: 2 - 3 p.m.
Location: Bucher Meetinghouse Auditorium, Young Center
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Presentations, Marquee Events
October
10
Fall Choral Showcase
Fellow alumni, students, families, and friends flock together to share in the sweet sounds of the annual Fall Choral Showcase! Included in this concert are the Concert Choir, Fenice, College Community Chorus, and — back by popular demand — the Alumni Choir!
Call for Alumni Choir is 1 p.m.
Time: 2 - 3 p.m.
Location: Musser Auditorium, Leffler Chapel and Performance Center
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Performances
October
10
Chemistry and Biochemistry Alumni Award Ceremony
In this exciting annual event, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will present the O.F. Stambaugh Chemistry Alumni Award for 2026 to Michael Santillo ’03, Ph.D.!
Register for Chemistry and Biochemistry Alumni Award Ceremony
Time: 2:30 - 3 p.m.
Location: Room 370, Esbenshade Wing, Masters Center
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Presentations
October
10
Academic School Alumni Reunions
- School of Arts and Humanities — Alcove, High Library. Asian Studies, English, Fine Art, Graphic Design, History, Modern Languages, Music, and Religious Studies.
- School of Business — Room 110, Hoover Center. Accounting, Actuarial Science, Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Financial Economics, Healthcare Administration, International Business, Marketing, Mathematical Business, Mathematics, and Mathematics Education.
- School of Engineering and Computer Science — Bollman Fabrication Laboratory, Esbenshade Wing, Masters Center. Computer Science, Engineering, and Information Systems.
- School of Sciences and Health — Masters Mineral Gallery, Masters Center. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Chemistry Laboratory Science, Environmental Science, Exercise Science, Neuroscience, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, and Physician Assistant Studies.
-
School of Public Service — locations vary by program:
- Second Floor, Steinman Center, Room 200 — Journalism, Public Relations, Digital Media Production, Communications.
- Room 114, High Auditorium for Collaborative Learning, Steinman Center (formerly known as the ‘BLR’) — Legal Studies, Political Science, Public Health, Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Anthropology.
- Room 205, Nicarry Hall — Social Work.
- Room 106, Nicarry Hall — Education, including secondary science education programs, social studies education, early childhood, and elementary/middle level.
Register for Academic School Alumni Reunions
Time: 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Various
Audience: Alumni, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Reunion Events, Marquee Events
October
10
Theatre Alumni Reunion
Theatre Jays, you’re being called back on the stage! Join alumni and friends in the Tempest Theatre to reconnect during this special social centered around the shared experiences of Etown performances and productions. Along with Barry Fritz and leaders of Etown’s theatre alumni and friends group, Encore, this is a Homecoming Day event that will surely be a tough act to follow!
Register for Theatre Alumni Reunion
Time: 3 - 5 p.m.
Location: Tempest Theatre, Baugher Student Center
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Reunion Events
October
10
Ultimate Frisbee Game
Join the current Ultimate Frisbee Club for a fun game on Wolf Field that's open to all!
Register for the Ultimate Frisbee Game
Time: 4 - 5 p.m.
Location: Wolf Field
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Athletics
October
10
Blue Jay Women’s Soccer vs. Scranton University
The feathers will be flying as our Blue Jays take on the Royals in this exciting and immensely important game! And, in traditional Etown style, the College’s Homecoming Court festivities will take place in advance of the second half.
Register for Blue Jay Women’s Soccer vs. Scranton University
Learn more at etownbluejays.com.
Time: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Ira R. Herr Field
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Athletics
October
10
Homecoming Family Dinner
Delight in a wide variety of delectable culinary creations while enjoying live music, played to perfection by the Dutchers band, featuring Bruce Campbell ’76, P’08 and Adjunct Professor Faith Shiffer. Tickets available at the door, $17; $8.50 for ages 3–10; free for ages younger than three.
Time: 5 - 7 p.m.
Location: The Marketplace, Brossman Commons
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Dining, Performances
October
10
Theatre Alumni Reunion at Twisted Bine
Attention Theatre alumni and friends — your evening calling place awaits! Share good times and revisit special memories together with fellow Jays and friends at Twisted Bine! This event is sponsored by Encore, Etown’s theatre alumni and friends group.
Register for Theatre Alumni Reunion at Twisted Bine
Time: 6:30 - 9 p.m.
Location: Twisted Bine Beer Co., 93 E. Main St., Mount Joy, Pa., 17552
Audience: Alumni, Faculty/Staff
Event Type: Reunion Events, Recreational Events, Dining
October
10
15th Annual Homecoming M.V.P. Spectacular, Featuring the Distinguished Graduate of the Last Decade Award
Now in its 15th year, Etown’s very own M.V.P. (Melica, Vocalign, and Phalanx) vocal bands bring their best to the Homecoming stage in a brand-new show! Featuring the high-energy antics of an all-star collection of alumni announcers from the bands along with the conferral of the 2026 Distinguished Graduate of the Last Decade Award to alumna Christina Angelucci ’18, this is a night of sweet sounds and fun memories that is sure to hit all the right notes! Tickets available at the door.
Time: 8 - 9 p.m.
Location: Musser Auditorium, Leffler Chapel and Performance Center
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Marquee Events, Performances
October
11
Marketplace Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Hours
Tickets available at the door.
Breakfast: 7–10:30 a.m., $8.40
Lunch: 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m., $13.65
Dinner: 4–7 p.m., $16.25
Time: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Location: Brossman Commons
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Dining
October
11
Theatre Alumni and Friends Annual Fall Service Day
Theatre fun doesn’t stop on Homecoming Day! Join fellow Blue Jays and friends in assisting with simple projects in and around the Tempest Theatre. With everything on tap from assisting with set building, organizing the tech booth, and repairing props and costumes, this special service opportunity helps to support Etown’s fall production and overall theatre program. This event is sponsored by Encore, Etown’s theatre alumni and friends group.
Register for Theatre Alumni and Friends Annual Fall Service Day
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: The Tempest Theatre
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Recreational Events, Campus Services
October
11
Worship Service
Time: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren, 777 S. Mt. Joy St., Elizabethtown, Pa.
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Recreational Events
October
11
High Library Escape Room
Dr. Frankenstein is away at a conference and needs you to check in on an experiment. Yes, that one. The monster has broken out of the lab, and there are only 30 minutes left on his GPS tracker. It’s up to you to find him before time runs out. The Escape Room will be open in 30-minute time slots throughout Homecoming and Family Weekend. This program is free.
Register for the High Library Escape Room Registration required
Time: Noon - 5 p.m.
Location: Room 220, High Library
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Recreational Events
October
11
Self-Guided Tours of the Bowers Center
Check out the amenities offered in the state-of-the-art Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness & Well-Being! Facility maps will be available at the check-in desk, and student attendants will be stationed throughout the building to answer your questions.
Register for Self-Guided Tours of the Bowers Center
Time: Noon - 8 p.m.
Location: Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness & Well-Being
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Recreational Events, Presentations
October
11
Men’s Volleyball Alumni Match
Participants should arrive by 4:15 p.m. with warm up beginning at 4:30 p.m. Match time is set for 5 p.m.
Register for Men’s Volleyball Alumni Match
Time: 5 - 6 p.m.
Location: Thompson Gymnasium
Audience: Alumni, Family, Faculty/Staff, Students
Event Type: Athletics, Reunion Events
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Planning to Join Us?
Let us know you're coming and choose the events you'll attend. Registering helps us plan seating, food, and staffing.
Some activities are marked in the schedule:
- ($) — this activity has a fee, payable the day of the event. Details are in the activity's description.
- (*) — this activity needs a second form to finalize your registration. Use the link in the activity's description to register with the coach or choir director.