Homecoming is around the corner, and the calendar is full of favorite community events—along with some new opportunities and unique Halloween twists.
The festivities start off October 20, with the Student Org Kickball Tournament, an old tradition making a comeback thanks to Campus Life. Teams receive bragging rights (and prize money to spend on their student organizations). That night the Homecoming bonfire returns to light up the night.
Events really kick into high-gear on October 24 with GRIT-X talks by UMBC faculty and alumni, now given their own special night to celebrate research and creative achievements. The following Friday brings the carnival preview and Athletics Hall of Fame banquet with new Athletics Director Tiffany Tucker. Saturday, October 26, has the most activities to offer—featuring the famous puppy and pet parade, 5k and family fun run, Greek alumni day party, Taste of Maryland crab feast, men’s soccer game vs. Vermont, and much more.
“We do try to have something for everyone,” says Bobby Lubaszewski ’10, M.P.S. ’23, director of communications and marketing for the Office of Institutional Advancement and one of the event organizers. “This year’s event is close to Halloween, so we’re leaning into the Halloween theme with pumpkin painting for the kids and other activities.”
A chance to celebrate and reconnect
Jess Wyatt, associate director of Alumni Engagement and another of the event organizers, says Homecoming offers Retrievers of all ages and backgrounds and their families a chance to connect. Her own kids enjoy the festivities each year and have made friends with colleagues’ children.
Sara Osman ’09, modern languages and linguistics, and M.A. ’11, TESOL, recently started attending Homecoming as an opportunity to introduce her young kids to the campus where she and her husband, Karim Yergaliyev ’09, business technology administration, met. “We like to show our three-year-old and six-year-old the places around campus from our stories of the early years when we were dating,” Osman says. “It’s also a nice time to meet up with other alumni and their families.”
The Osman-Yergaliyev family not only re-lives old memories at Homecoming, they also create new ones. Last year, they were some of the few people still at the carnival as the rain came down. “We were playing ring toss when Karim won a stuffed unicorn so large we could barely get it home,” Osman says.
Something for everyone
The plethora of events showcase all UMBC has to offer. You can see demos of advanced AI robot technology one night, reconnect with your childhood on a carnival ride the next, and finish the weekend cheering on the UMBC soccer teams.
Homecoming this year also coincides with UMBC’s annual Livewire new music festival, an exploration of new sounds presented in six concerts over the three days from October 24 – 26.
New this year, the Physics Department is offering tours of the UMBC Observatory, including descriptions of telescope operations and the basics of astronomical detection. “Where else can you go to tour an observatory at Homecoming? That’s really cool!” says Wyatt.
Tags: Athletics, homecoming
