UC family comes together to celebrate Homecoming
The University of Cincinnati community will unite for a festive Homecoming weekend on Oct. 7-8 to honor treasured traditions and the ongoing relationship between alumni and students.
The University of Cincinnati’s annual Homecoming activities will take place on the Uptown Campus on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7-8. All the historic pageantry of Homecoming will be on display, highlighted by the Homecoming Kickoff Party on Friday evening, followed by Saturday’s Homecoming parade and the game between the Bearcats and visiting South Florida in historic Nippert Stadium. Kickoff time is 2:30 p.m. Limited tickets are available for purchase.
The Bearcat greeting people before the Homecoming parade. Photo/provided.
As always, the parade will be a Homecoming focal point, traveling down Clifton Avenue beginning at 10:30 a.m. This year’s edition will feature 70 parade entries with generations of onlookers and well-wishers from the UC family lining the route. The parade will highlight the 2022 Homecoming theme “Pump It Up,” reflecting the energy among all Bearcats at Homecoming. The Homecoming Parade’s grand marshals will be Head Cheerleading Coach Tabby Fagan, CAHS ’92, and The Bearcat. At the 2022 College Cheerleading and Dance National Championships at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando earlier this year, the UC cheerleading team won its second national title in Division 1A while The Bearcat won the Division 1A Mascot Competition.
While the UC–USF football game and parade are the cornerstones of Homecoming, a full slate of activities will provide students, alumni and college groups and friends with many opportunities to enjoy the occasion.
On Friday night, Oct. 7, the University of Cincinnati Alumni Association will host its annual Homecoming Kickoff Party 6-8 p.m. This year’s event will take place on Sheakley Lawn in Varsity Village just off Corry Blvd. Voice of the Bearcats Dan Hoard will emcee with special guest Bearcats Head Coach Luke Fickell, Director of Athletics John Cunningham and other UC leaders will be on hand to greet the fans! Music will be provided by JonJon from Kiss 107.1, with special appearances from the Bearcat mascot and UC cheerleaders.
On Saturday, Oct. 8, pregame festivities will occur all around campus and the surrounding neighborhood, including notably at The Grid tailgate area on Campus Green and Sigma Sigma Commons, which will open at 8:30 a.m. The football team’s traditional Catwalk to the stadium will pass through The Grid approximately two and a half hours before kickoff. UC fans are asked to wear red.
“One of UC’s greatest and best-loved traditions is gathering by the thousands for Homecoming each fall,” said Jennifer Heisey ’97, UC’s chief alumni officer. “This is an especially exciting time to be a Bearcat, and Homecoming Weekend is the perfect opportunity to celebrate together, with a full assortment of festivities for our alumni, students and friends.”
Homecoming main events
A full list of more than a dozen events is available on the UC Homecoming website. The schedule includes activities staged by the colleges, affinity groups, the alumni association, student groups and UC Athletics.
Thursday, Oct. 6
Hoopla Greek Charity Basketball Tournament, sponsored by the UC African American Alumni Affiliate
6-9 p.m., Fifth Third Arena
College of Medicine Reunion Weekend Begins
Friday, Oct. 7
CECH Distinguished Alumni Awards
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Annie Laws Room, Teachers-Dyer Complex
State of Black UC Forum
Noon-2 p.m., African American Cultural & Resource Center
Homecoming Kickoff Party
6-8 p.m., Sheakley Lawn, Varsity Village
Alumni Band Homecoming Reunion
Rockwern Band Center & Homecoming Kickoff Party on Sheakley Lawn
Saturday, Oct. 8
Homecoming Parade
10:30 a.m., Parade travels down Clifton Ave. from Calhoun St. to Probasco St.
College of Engineering and Applied Science Homecoming Celebration
11:30 a.m. [3 hours before game], Schneider Quad
Academic Health Center Tailgate
12:30 p.m. [2 hours before game]., Fifth Third Arena
Football Team’s CATWALK
Approximately at noon, starting in Campus Green and traveling through The Grid and Sigma Sigma Commons
UC–USF Homecoming Game
2:30 p.m., Nippert Stadium
Presentation of Homecoming Court
Halftime, Nippert Stadium
UC Homecoming 2022 is presented by the UC Alumni Association in cooperation with sponsors GEICO, College Advantage, Skyline Chili and U Square.
Featured image at top: Nippert Stadium on gameday. Photo/provided.
UC Alumni Association in-person activities will be provided under CDC guidelines and local COVID-19 restrictions, with the well-being of the UC community remaining the top priority. Each experience will follow the venue’s established restrictions and guidelines, and participants are asked to follow posted recommendations.
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