Northern Michigan University's 2019 Homecoming week includes a full lineup of activities for alumni and community members Sept. 19-21. A community-wide ice cream social, the annual Homecoming parade and a game-day tailgate party are all on the agenda this year. All events listed below are free of charge unless otherwise indicated.
A dedication and public tours of the newly renovated portion of the Northern Center is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19. A community-wide ice cream social to celebrate NMU's 120th anniversary will follow from 6-8 p.m. on the Northern Center lawn. The family friendly event will feature Jilbert's ice cream; a photo booth, games and musical entertainment by Double Trouble DJs; face painting; balloon animals and singing “Happy Birthday” to Wildcat Willy at 6:45 p.m.
On Friday, Sept. 20, dedications of Kathleen Shingler Weston Hall (formerly the New Science Facility) and the Lucas Atrium inside the building, named for the late physics department head Dave Lucas, are scheduled at noon.
A number of programs are celebrating their 50th anniversaries this year, including nursing, Nordic skiing and NMU's student radio station, WUPX. Nursing will host a celebration for its alumni and faculty with a dinner and program beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 in the Northern Center Ballroom. Registration cost for the event is $50.
The annual Homecoming parade returns to its 5:30 p.m. Friday schedule. The parade will travel down Fair Avenue, turn left on Third Street, turn left on Hewitt and travel back down Front Street.
The NMU Sports Hall of Fame social, program and dinner is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday in the Northern Center Ballroom. Tickets can be purchased at NMU ticket outlets or online for $25 for the general public or $15 for ages 12 and under. This year's inductees are Pentti Joronen, Tim Schultz, Scott Sible, Lisa Tomcheck (Goodman), Julie Wonders (Heldt) and the 2006-07 women's Nordic ski team.
An all-alumni reception will be held from 7-10 p.m. Friday at the Landmark Inn.
Saturday begins with a family friendly open house at 9 a.m. at NMU's Olson Library. There will be a book reading for children about Bigfoot and other activities.
The Alumni Awards Ceremony and Brunch will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 and are available for purchase at any NMU ticket outlet.
A community tailgate party begins at 11 a.m. at the Superior Dome prior to the 1 p.m. NMU-Davenport football game. The party will include food, games and music. A fifth-quarter reception will follow the game at the Holliday Inn.
The weekend will conclude with the Green and Gold Gala on Saturday at 6 p.m. Tickets are $150 for the general public and $100 for NMU faculty and staff. They are available at nmu.edu/gala through Sept. 10.