Penn State Homecoming’s Annual Legacy event was created to celebrate and honor the legacy that graduating seniors will be leaving here at Penn State while also celebrating the legacy undergraduate students are creating during their time here at Penn State. As an organization part of our mission is to instill pride in all members of the Penn State family. Recognizing and celebrating our students is one way we pursue this. Legacy will be a time to “Rewind and Relive” the time each student has spent here at Penn State, where students can enjoy free food, a photo booth, a mechanical bull, and more.
Calm those first-week nerves with a movie at the HUB! At Nittany Night, you can relax while watching Monsters University, enjoying some snacks, and learning about Penn State Homecoming. Nittany Night is a great way to learn about a student organization in a relaxed, welcoming environment. We hope to see you there!
Do you have what it takes to win it all?
Find out at the Penn State Homecoming Wiffle Ball Tournament on Saturday, October 5th — time and location TBD.
Join us for a fun and competitive day of wiffle ball! We’ll be hosting a friendly tournament, and the top teams will win prizes. Whether you’re aiming to take home the win or just want to swing by for some fun, we’re sure to have a good time!
You can sign up solo or with a team of up to 8 players.
See the Participate tab for more details!
Get ready, Penn State family — Homecoming Week kicks off with the ultimate community celebration!
Join us Monday, October 6th, from 3–7 PM for the Allen Street Jam — the biggest block party in State College!
Feast on local favorites, grab sweet treats, and take home some fun goodies. Snap a photo with the Nittany Lion, meet the Homecoming Court, and enjoy free games, face painting, caricatures, and so much more.
The energy cranks up around 6 PM with live performances from Penn State’s own dance groups and nonstop music that will keep you moving in the street..
This is THE place to kick off Homecoming — and we can’t wait to see you there!
Come celebrate Penn State’s history with us on the Old Main Plaza on Tuesday, October 7th, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM! Step into a throwback experience featuring a sign shop where you can create unique keepsakes, plus cotton candy, popcorn, cake, lively performances, and interactive games happening throughout the day. Various student clubs will also be showcasing their history, highlighting how every Penn Stater contributes to our shared story. Don’t miss this fun, hands-on journey through the past!
The Penn State For The Glory Talent Show is an annual event where students from various majors showcase their talents, including singing, dancing, comedy, music, and poetry. It brings the Penn State community together to celebrate creativity and school spirit. Participants compete for prizes, with the grand prize winner earning a stage performance during THON™ Weekend. This cherished tradition embodies Penn State’s motto, “For the Glory,” highlighting excellence, diversity, and unity through performance and self-expression.
On Wednesday, October 8th from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the HUB lawn will be transformed into the site of the Best of Penn State Carnival, and you won’t want to miss it! Explore the booths hosted by student organizations and clubs, take your turn on one of the inflatable attractions, and sit for a caricature drawing with your friends! When you get hungry, we’ll have popcorn, lemonade, and creamery ice cream available for all. Hope to see you there!
Penn State Homecoming is so excited to partner with Opulence to put on our drag show! Opulence is Penn State’s Premiere Drag Ambassador group. Come out for a fun night of performances!
The Homecoming Pride in Our Community Pep Rally put on by the Paul Robeson Cultural Center takes place every year on the Monumental Staircase. The POC Pep Rally brings the community together. You can always see students dancing, stepping, and cheering for each other!
Primary Contact: Please contact prcc@psu.edu if you have any questions.
The Homecoming Ice Cream Social is an event all students, alumni, and members of the Penn State community are welcome to attend. Berkey Creamery ice cream will be served along with music, Alumni Blue Band performances, and a cash-only Homecoming merchandise sale! The Ice Cream Social helps welcome alumni back home for the weekend while boosting Penn State pride leading up to the Homecoming Parade!
If you’re interested in attending the Ice Cream Social, please visit the PSAA for more information.
On behalf of Penn State Homecoming, the Parade Committee is excited for this year’s Homecoming Parade with the theme “Find the Glory in Your Story.” We hope that you will join us to celebrate one of Penn State’s oldest and most famous traditions that keeps students, faculty, staff, and alumni connected. As Homecoming, we celebrate our legacy and share our Penn State pride with all those who were, are, and will be a part of the Penn State community. The annual Homecoming Parade will take place on Friday, October 10th at The Pennsylvania State University’s University Park campus in downtown State College, starting at 6:00 PM. We would love to be able to showcase student organizations, alumni, community groups, and our VIPS and their role in the Penn State community. Groups can register for the Homecoming parade at this link on the Homecoming website.
Held immediately after the Homecoming parade every year, Guard The Lion Shrine is one of Penn State’s longest standing traditions. This tradition originates from a well-know story featuring Sue Paterno, a friend, and some Syracuse fans. The Syracuse fans, during Homecoming weekend, covered the Lion Shrine in oil-based paint, making the removal of the paint very difficult. Since then, Guarding the Shrine has become a cherished Homecoming celebration featuring live entertainment, guest speakers, often Sue Paterno herself, free food, games, and activities centered around protecting the symbol of our best! Join us in Guarding the Shrine this Homecoming Weekend!
Contact:
executivevp@lionambassadors.com
The Homecoming football game will take place Saturday, October 11, against Northwestern. Come witness the black and pink S-Zone, the “Generations of Greatness” jerseys, and the presentation of the Homecoming Courts, Grand Marshals, and much more!
Events Captains (2)
The Events Captain is responsible for planning events in celebration of the selection of the 2026 Homecoming Court. This includes Court Reception, Court Workshop, and Court Crashes. They also communicate with the Alumni Association and Staff at the Hintz Center to prepare for these events. This captain will lead initiatives and conversations throughout the year to bring up common Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion issues, and is responsible for taking meeting minutes and fostering morale and bonding within the committee.
Student Court Captains (1-2)
The Student Court Captain(s) coordinates all efforts involving the Homecoming 2026 Student Court. This includes communicating with the past court and involving them in Spring events for Homecoming. These Captains are also responsible for the nomination, application, voting, and selection of the Student Court for Homecoming 2026. This also involves assisting in the coordination of the Faculty Panel and ensuring the appearance of the Homecoming Student Court at events throughout Homecoming Week.
University Court Captain (1)
The University Court Captain is involved in the coordination of all things surrounding the University Court of Homecoming 2026. This includes the nomination and selection of the Court as well as the appearance of the Court at events throughout Homecoming Week. This captain will also work with the Graduate Court Captain to select a Student Panel.
Graduate and Professional School Court Captain (1)
The Graduate and Professional School Court Captain is in charge of the coordination of all things surrounding the Graduate Court for Homecoming 2026. This includes the nomination and selection of the Court as well as the appearance of the court at events throughout Homecoming Week. This will include outreach efforts to different graduate organizations to make them aware of nominations. This captain will also work with the University Court Captain to select a Student Panel.