Orange and Blue, Tried and True: Ideas for Families at University of Illinois Homecoming Festivities
Welcome to Homecoming at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the place where homecoming was actually invented in 1910 (well, several campuses make that claim, but we’ll go with it).
Looking for all things Campustown?
Great places to cat on campus | What to do on campus, all year long | How to plan a campus visit | Enjoy Illini sporting events with your family | Visit the Quad | Fun at the Illini Union Rec Room
First things first
You don’t have to be a University of Illinois alumnus to join in Illini homecoming celebration festivities. If you love the orange and blue, or even if you just love a good parade, you’re in the Illinois Homecoming “club.” The campus makes a concerted effort to incorporate the community as part of homecoming celebrations, regardless of where you went to school.
And second things second
While we definitely love attending Fighting Illini Athletics (see our list of 10 reasons why families love U of I sports), there’s plenty to Homecoming beyond a football game.
How to enjoy Homecoming festivities (most of them are FREE!)
Start off Homecoming celebrations by cheering on the University of Illinois Homecoming 5K runners and stay for FREE Post-Race Fun. Sunday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. Even if not participating in the 5K, bring the family out to enjoy the FREE post-race fun. See the fountain dyed orange, pancake breakfast and more.
Go to the Homecoming Parade. The Marching Illini! Cool Floats! Candy! The parade starts at 6 p.m on Friday, Oct. 2, and begins at Kirby and Fourth, heads west on Gregory and turns south on First. Don’t forget to bring a bag for candy.
Be part of Game Day: Have a tailgate of your own or go to a friend’s. Who doesn’t love Grange Grove? Or the Illini Walk, when the football team walks through Grange Grove and the Marching Illini give a short performance? Grange Grove opens for tailgating at 7 a.m., and activities start three hours before kickoff. The Fighting Illini Walk is two and a half hours before kickoff. Kickoff for the Homecoming football game against Purdue is 3:15 p.m. Don’t forget about the clear bag policy if you are attending the game.
Head to Downtown Champaign Saturday night. We have a summertime tradition called Friday Night Live that many Champaign-Urbana families already love. 40 North brings a hint of it back for one special Saturday night on Homecoming Weekend. Check out the new downtown plaza right outside Big Grove Tavern.
Check out the painted windows in Campustown. Many Campustown businesses will paint their windows to celebrate the Homecoming theme. It’s a long-standing tradition.
Stick around for the Vet Med Open House. Not usually the same weekend as Homecoming, this annual event is a favorite FREE event of Chambanamoms readers and this year, it happens on Sunday, Oct. 4. Want to see the stomach of a fistulated cow? How about witness dog obedience training in action? Snakes, spiders, and other creepy crawlies? What about a walk through a real laboratory? There’s something for everyone, with animals big and small.
Explore a campus building, or two! From the Krannert Center to the Performing Arts, to Spurlock Museum, to Krannert Art Museum, to the Plant Biology Greenhouse, campus has plenty of places to keep kids and families busy and entertained.
And … a bonus way to celebrate any day, anywhere: wear orange. This goes without saying, right?
