Campus
Athletics
Homecoming activities will get underway on Monday, Oct. 17, and continue through Saturday, Oct. 22, engaging current students and employees, bringing alumni back to town, and injecting crimson and gold spirit throughout the community.
The schedule includes:
Monday
Door decorating submissions will be judged; be sure to check out campus and surrounding properties for doors featuring the best in PSU spirit!
Royalty voting will open online at noon for PSU students with PSU credentials.
Homecoming Kickoff — an event just for students — will get under way at 6:30 p.m. at Carnie Smith Stadium; inclement weather will move it to the Robert W. Plaster Center with activities that include inflatables, yard games, and live music featuring Quite Frankly.
Complimentary food will be provided by PSU Alumni & Constituent Relations.
Tuesday
A long-held tradition, raft races will be held at 5 p.m. at the University Lake for two-person teams representing student organizations. Inclement weather will move the event to Wednesday.
All are welcome to watch the races, and lawn chairs are encouraged.
Wednesday
Banana Extravaganza is a day of students-only activities featuring free make-and-takes and food from The Blue Spoon.
Thursday
Royalty voting closes at noon, as does the Cutest Pitt State Pet Contest.
Another long-held tradition, student organizations will compete in the Yell Like Hell starting at 7 p.m. at Carnie Smith Stadium (rain site: John Lance Arena in the Garfield Weede Building). The Homecoming Court will be announced.
Homecoming Champion also will be recognized, with organizations competing in multiple aspects of Homecoming eligible to win this trophy.
The event is open to the public and will be livestreamed for those unable to attend.
Friday
Winners of the Dr. Kenneth K. Bateman Outstanding Alumni Award will be recognized at a reception at 4:30 p.m. in the Wilkinson Alumni Center, 401 E. Ford St. It is open to the public.
From 6 to 8 p.m., The Taste of Pittsburg will be held in the Overman Student Center’s Crimson & Gold Ballroom, sponsored by PSU Alumni & Constituent Relations. Restaurants from throughout Pittsburg will provide samples, there will be live music, and the Outstanding Alumni winners will be recognized again.
Tickets: 620-235-4758 or pittstate.edu/tasteofpittsburg
Saturday
Perhaps the oldest of Homecoming traditions, the Homecoming Parade will be held in Downtown Pittsburg starting at 9 a.m.
It will feature bands, floats, and other parade entries from Pittsburg and surrounding towns. Leading the way will be the PSU Pride of the Plains Marching Band. To register to be in the parade, complete the online registration form at pittstate.campuslabs.com/engage/ before midnight on Sunday, Oct. 16.
The parade route extends along Broadway from 11th and Broadway to Second Street. Parking is available in free public lots and on side streets surrounding the area.
GorillaFest will open at 11 a.m. in Gorilla Village east of Carnie Smith Stadium with a variety of food trucks, bounce houses, entertainment by Dan Duling and Stone Country, the Pride of the Plains Marching Band and the Pitt State cheer and dance teams.
From 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., alumni authors Gene Bicknell and Miles Schnaer will hold a book signing next to the Alumni Tent in Gorilla Village for their recently published titles, “Hermit: A Novel,” and “Take the Crown: 18 Core Principles to Grow Your Business and Improve Your Life.”
The football game will kick off at 2 p.m., with the Gorillas hosting Missouri Western. Tickets: Free to PSU employees and students with ID in person at the PSU Ticket Office in the Weede Building. The public may purchase them in person, or by calling 620-235-4796, or online.
