UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s 2023 Homecoming week is scheduled for Oct. 8-14, with celebrations culminating with the Homecoming Parade at 6 p.m. on Oct. 13 and the Homecoming football game against the University of Massachusetts at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 14.
The week of events is meant to honor the pride and tradition of Penn State while encouraging faculty, students and alumni to "Illuminate the Lion Within," this year’s theme. This year’s Homecoming grand marshal is Tanisha Wright, former Penn State women's basketball great and current head coach of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream. The honorary grand marshal for 2023 is Gregory Drane, director of the Penn State Blue Band.
Additional details about the week’s events can be found at homecoming.psu.edu.
Golf Tournament: Oct. 8, 9 a.m., Penn State White Course. From 9 to 10:30 a.m. there will be community and alumni tee times, and from 10:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. there will be student tee times. Students are free and community/alumni members are $54/person. Try your drive and putt skills in a 9-hole tournament with a long drive and closest to the pin competition. Several prizes have been donated by local businesses.
Rally and Roar in partnership with SPA: Oct. 8, 5-9 p.m., Curtin Road.
Allen Street Jam: Oct. 9, 3-7 p.m., South Allen Street, State College. Stop by Allen Street between Beaver and College avenues for a street fair featuring food, games, live music, performances and more.
Allen Street Jam Dance Competition: Oct. 9, 6 p.m., South Allen Street, State College.
Past to Present: Oct. 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Get to know the history behind some of Penn State and State College’s most prevalent organizations and see performances.
For the Glory Talent Show: Oct. 10, 7 p.m., Schwab Auditorium. Homecoming will host a talent show to showcase organizations and individuals with great talents. Come out and be a part of it or watch the amazing performers in action.
Best of Penn State Carnival: Oct. 11, 2-7 p.m., HUB Lawn. Enjoy snacks and booths hosted by student organizations to celebrate a week of Penn State traditions.
Homecoming/Opulence Drag Show: Oct. 11, 5 p.m., The Basement, State College. Penn State Homecoming is excited to partner with the student group Opulence to put on its second annual drag show. Opulence is Penn State’s premiere drag ambassador group. Come out for a fun night of performances.
Pride in our Community Pep Rally: Oct. 12, 5-7 p.m., HUB Stairs. Join the Paul Robeson Cultural Center for this annual celebration and enjoy student performances, dance and community with different cultural-based student organizations.
Alumni Ice Cream Social: Oct. 13, 1-3 p.m., Hintz Family Alumni Center. Enjoy Berkey Creamery ice cream and welcome alumni back to campus. Join together as a community to celebrate. Register here to attend the ice cream social.
Homecoming Parade: Oct. 13, 6 p.m., University Park and downtown State College. Celebrate one of Penn State’s oldest and most famous traditions that keeps students, faculty, staff and alumni connected. The parade will start on the University Park campus, continue through downtown State College, and end at the Nittany Lion Shrine. Livestream coverage of the parade, produced by students in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, will be available on the Homecoming website beginning at 6 p.m.
Guard the Lion Shrine: Oct. 13, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Nittany Lion Shrine. Held immediately after the Homecoming parade every year, Guard The Lion Shrine is one of Penn State’s longest-standing traditions. The event will feature live entertainment, guest speakers, free food, games and activities centered around members of Penn State’s Army ROTC program standing guard to protect the symbol of our best.
Homecoming Football Game: Oct. 14, 3:30 p.m., Beaver Stadium. Cheer on the Nittany Lions as they take on the University of Massachusetts Minutemen. Come and see the black and pink S-Zone, the “Generations of Greatness” jerseys, the presentation of the Homecoming Courts and Grand Marshals, and more.