- This event has passed.
Homecoming Weekend
October 22 – October 24
Slippery Rock University welcomes students, alumni and community members to campus as fall traditions take center stage for the 2026 Homecoming celebration. Embracing the theme “Foliage and Flannel,” the lineup of events promises a festive blend of campus spirit, alumni gatherings and classic seasonal events.
“There is nothing more quintessential than a crisp fall day on campus—cheering for The Rock, reconnecting with friends, and bundling up in your favorite green and white gear,” said Kelly Bailey, SRU director of alumni engagement. “This year’s Homecoming theme, Foliage and Flannel, pays homage to this timeless tradition. We look forward to welcoming back alumni of all ages to celebrate the enduring legacy of autumn at Slippery Rock.”
SRU will kick off the classic Homecoming festivities from noon to 2 p.m., Oct. 22, on The Quad for the pep rally. The rally will include performances by the SRU Marching Pride, cheerleaders, annual coaches’ speeches and the presentation of the 2026 Rock Royalty.
Oct. 23 will feature multiple alumni and campus events. The full list of alumni events and links for registration can be found on the Rock Alumni website.
The annual Homecoming parade will start at 10 a.m. on Oct. 24 at the intersection of Main Street and Route 108. It will then follow Main Street to Morrow Way and end at the intersection of Morrow Way and Campus Drive.
Later in the day, the SRU football team will host Lock Haven University at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium at 1 p.m. The game will feature the crowning of Homecoming Royalty at halftime, as well as special recognition ceremonies.
The University’s tailgating policy can be found online. Further information about SRU Homecoming sporting events be found on the Rock Athletics website.
Other University Homecoming events include:
- Archives Homecoming Display, Bailey Library, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Oct. 24, 1-3 p.m.
- SRU Communication Media Hall of Fame and Alumni Mixer, Oct. 23, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Alumni and friends of the SRU Strategic Communication and Media Department are invited to a ceremony that will celebrate current and incoming SRU Communication and Media Hall of Fame inductees and award winners. Complete biographies of the inductees are available on the Rock Alumni website. The inductees include:
- Rachel Brecht (née Aul) ’97, chief people officer for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Ben Mitchell ’06, assistant athletic director for creative and digital media at the University of Pittsburgh.
- Michael Cameron ’07, founder and multimedia specialist at Grow Ag Media and Blink Multimedia.
- Susan Canfora ’80, journalist, entrepreneur and newspaper founder, who will receive the Lifetime Acheivement Award.
- Distinguished Alumni Awards Reception, Oct. 23, 7 p.m., in the Alumni House. The Distinguished Alumni Awards were created in 1968 by the SRU Alumni Association to recognize alumni with professional and personal accomplishments. Alumni are nominated by alumni, faculty and staff and submitted to the Office of Alumni Engagement. Biographies and more information is available on the news release. This years honorees are:
- Larry Baxter ’75, retired chief of the Elder Rights Bureau for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs
- Eric Cunningham ’97, CEO and founder of Green Cabbage Inc.
- Monica Lamar ’95, the assistant superintendent for 18 K–5 and K–8 schools in Pittsburgh Public Schools
- Terry Shulsky ’90, attorney at law for Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC.
- Claude AnShin Thomas ’74, author, veteran, Zen Buddhist Monk, and founder of ZALTHO FOUNDATION, Inc.
- Muffins and Mimosas, Oct. 24, 8:30-9:45 a.m. in the Alumni House.
- SRUAA Tailgate Tent, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Scarnati Band Field.
A list of Homecoming events for SRU students is available on CORE, the University’s online platform for student organizations and events.
More information about Homecoming is available on the Alumni Association website, or by contacting the Office of Alumni Engagement at 724.738.2018 or alumni@sru.edu.
