Campus Life

Variety of events planned for Homecoming Week 2021

The Homecoming parade will begin at 6 p.m. Oct. 22 and continue across Penn State's University Park campus and through downtown State College. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s 2021 Homecoming Week will be held Oct. 17-23, culminating with the Homecoming parade on Friday, Oct. 22, and the Homecoming football game against Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 23. 

A variety of events are scheduled throughout the week to celebrate Penn State pride and tradition and to engage students, alumni, faculty and staff. More details about the week’s events are available at homecoming.psu.edu

Homecoming Golf Outing — 10 a.m. Oct. 17, Penn State Golf Courses. The second annual Homecoming Golf Outing will kick off Homecoming Week’s festivities. Tee times will be covered for all students who register, students can rent a set of golf clubs, and feature appearances from several athletic coaches and players are scheduled. 

Homecoming x SPA Concert — 7 p.m. Oct. 17, Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. The annual Homecoming x SPA Concert will take place Sunday night in Alumni Hall. Admittance is free for all students and will feature performances by various student groups and a popular headliner performance. 

Allen Street Jam — 1 to 7 p.m. Oct. 18, Allen Street. Stop by Allen Street between Beaver and College avenues for an afternoon full of food, games, live music, performances, a dance competition and more. 

Past to Present — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19, HUB-Robeson Center. Enter the HUB to be greeted by a living history museum. Get to know the history behind some of Penn State and State College’s most prevalent organizations and see performances. 

Best of Penn State Carnival — 2 to 7 p.m. Oct. 20, HUB lawn. There’s a carnival on campus? You heard that right! Homecoming’s Best of Penn State Carnival takes place on the HUB lawn. Come enjoy carnival-themed activities, play games, and have a good time. 

For the Glory Talent Show — 7 p.m. Oct. 20, Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Homecoming will host a talent show in Alumni Hall to showcase organizations and individuals who have great talents. Come out and be a part of it or watch the amazing performers in action. 

PRCC POC Pep Rally — 5:30 p.m. Oct. 21, HUB steps. 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 with students dancing, stepping and cheering for each other. There will be plenty of activities to get you excited for the rest of the week.

Opulence x Homecoming Drag Show — 8 p.m. Oct. 21, 3 Dots Downtown. The inaugural Homecoming x Opulence Drag Show will be a fantastic night of entertainment. Come for the lively fashion, great music and good times. Tickets are $5 and the doors open at 8 p.m. for the 8:30 p.m. show.

Alumni Ice Cream Social — 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 22, Hintz Family Alumni Center. 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. Registration is free but required, and walk-up registrations will be accepted. Register here

Homecoming Parade — 6 p.m. Oct. 22, Across Campus and Downtown State College. See amazing Penn State organizations from across campus and the country show off their Penn State pride and continue one of the longest traditions at Penn State. As one of the largest student-run parades in the nation, the Penn State Homecoming Parade is a key event. 

Guard the Lion Shrine — 7:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 22, Nittany Lion Shrine. Guard the Lion Shrine is one of the longest-lasting Homecoming traditions to Penn State and the Lion Ambassadors. Members from Penn State’s Army ROTC program come to stand guard and protect the symbol of our best. Free food, opportunities for photos with the Nittany Lion, and a variety of games, activities, giveaways and prizes will be available. Live entertainment will include the Blue Band Drumline and guest speaker Sue Paterno.

Tailgate Competition — 8 to 11 a.m. Oct. 23, Tailgate Fields. The Penn State Homecoming Tailgate Competition is held right before the Homecoming football game and is open to any member of the Penn State community, including students and alumni. Tailgates will be judged based off of six categories: Best Food, Most Creative, Most Penn State Spirit, Best Overall, “Nittany Newcomer” and Best Student Organization. Judges will score all tailgates and reward winners with spirited prizes. 

Homecoming Football Game — noon on Oct. 23, Beaver Stadium. The Homecoming football game will take place against the Illinois Fighting Illini. Come witness the black and pink S-Zone, the “Generations of Greatness” uniforms, and the presentation of the Homecoming Courts, Grand Marshalls, and much more.

Download the Penn State Go app from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store to check out the Homecoming event icon for exclusive access to all the events, or visit homecoming.psu.edu.

Last Updated October 19, 2021