Get ready for cheers, nostalgia and fun as homecoming returns

The Duck will run, parents will cheer and past grads will flock to the nest as the University of Oregon marks homecoming weekend Oct. 21-23.

Festivities will run the gamut from a pep rally to a chance to run with the Duck to a 50th anniversary alumni reunion. Parents will have a chance to sit in on a class with their student, mingle at a reception or take a haunted campus tour as Duck Nation celebrates its students, grads and families.

"We are really excited to have so much activity on campus as we celebrate both homecoming and Fall Family Weekend," said Kris Winter, interim vice president for the Division of Student Life. "There will be lots of fun activities and events for students, families and alumni."

Fall Family Weekend gives parents a chance to jump into campus life. Most events take place Friday, Oct. 21, and are free, but some require advance registration or a fee.

Also on Friday is Run, Walk and Roll With the Duck, a 5K event that has quickly become a homecoming tradition, giving participants get a chance to experience the trails around campus. The race is free for UO students, faculty members, staff, alumni and community members who preregister.

On Oct. 20-22, members of the classes of 1972 and 1973 will mark their 50th anniversary with campus tours, classroom visits, free admission to UO museums and a variety of other events. The Order of the Emerald will hold a cocktail hour, banquet and induction ceremony on Friday, and a reunion tailgater at Autzen Stadium will give grads a chance to socialize before the big game against UCLA on Saturday.

Tickets to the football game are sold out, but women’s soccer and volleyball games are happening over homecoming weekend. Discounted tickets are available.

And even if you can’t get to a game, the homecoming pep rally is the next best thing. Be at the Erb Memorial Union Green at 4 p.m. Friday to join the Duck, the UO Cheer Team and the Oregon Marching Band for a green-and-yellow good time.

And whether it’s your first homecoming or your 50th, don’t forget to Shout!