¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ will celebrate Homecoming Oct. 8-14 with a week full of activities that energize all three ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ campuses to come alive in a show of support and university pride. The Tampa Bay community is invited to join students, alumni, faculty and staff at dozens of events, including a concert, carnival, talent show, parade and the ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ football game against Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Raymond James Stadium.
Homecoming is one of ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´'s oldest traditions, dating back to 1964, one year after the first graduating class. It provides an opportunity to celebrate the impact ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ alumni make on the Tampa Bay region and beyond. There are more than 374,000 living ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ alumni; approximately 270,000 of them live in Florida and more than 3,300 work at their alma mater.
Key Homecoming events scheduled include:
Monday, Oct. 9, at 6:30 p.m. – Homecoming Kickoff & Lip Sync battle (Tampa campus)
Held in the Marshall Student Center Ballroom, hang with Rocky, hear the Herd of Thunder band, enjoy free food, grab promotional items, meet the Homecoming Royal Court and be engaged with ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ Homecoming 2023. This event is free for ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ students and the community.
Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. – NPHC Extravaganza Step Show (Tampa campus)
The National Pan-Hellenic Council was chartered in 1996 and has carried out the tradition of stepping in what we now know as the Extravaganza Step Show. Held in the Marshall Student Center Ballroom, this free event offers students and the community a chance to learn about the history of stepping and see the creative skills. This is the first time since 2015 the show will take place.
Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 3 p.m. – Cardboard Boat Race (St. Petersburg campus)
Teams of students and staff are set to build boats out of cardboard, duct tape and trash bags and race them in Bayboro Harbor. This year, the race will be broken into several heats, with more than 20 boats participating. Turn out at the Harborlawn to watch the competition.
Thursday, Oct. 12, at 8 p.m. – Homecoming Concert (Tampa campus)
This event, held at the Yuengling Center, features Lunay and Baby Tate. Tickets are $25 for the public; $10 for students; $15 for a student guest; and $20 for ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ faculty, staff and alumni and can be purchased online from the link on the Homecoming website.
Friday, Oct. 13, at 5 p.m. – Homecoming Carni-Bull (Tampa campus)
Held in ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ Parking Lot #35 (along ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ Genshaft Drive, next to ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ tennis courts), students and the community can enjoy rides, food, and performances by talented ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ students. There will be a variety of family friendly and adult rides, at no cost, for all ages to enjoy. Food will be available for purchase.
Friday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 p.m. – Homecoming Running of the Bulls Parade (Tampa campus)
Take part in a ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ tradition and support your favorite student organizations, local businesses and ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ departments. With watch parties and lots of fun along the route, it's the perfect environment for families and students alike. Watch along Holly Drive, Genshaft Drive and Alumni Drive. This year's Grand Marshall, Joseph Dituri, is an associate professor at ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´. He recently set a world record for living 100 days in an underwater habitat as part of a research project.
Saturday, Oct. 14, at 3:30 p.m. – ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ Football vs. FAU -- Head over to Raymond James Stadium to support the ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ Bulls as they take on the Florida Atlantic University Owls. Tickets are available for purchase
A complete list of events on all campuses can be found on ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊԴ’s Homecoming website.