Homecoming at Iowa State is a time when students and faculty start preparing for a week filled with engaging events and activities.
“ISU is a strong university with great students and alumni that impact the world around us each and every day,” Manager of Student Programs/SALC Advisor Clarissa Boyd said. “Homecoming is a great way to celebrate the traditions that make Iowa State special, unique and set apart.”
According to Iowa State, homecoming has been an annual tradition at Iowa State since 1912. The idea for homecoming originated from Samuel Beyer, known as the “patron saint” of athletics at Iowa State, who suggested the idea. Many of the original traditions are still used today.
For this year’s homecoming, the committee added a new activity: Junior Court.
“Something new this year is Junior Court, a youth activity,” Boyd said. “Each year, the homecoming committee, in collaboration with the Alumni Association, plans a Cardinal Court to honor seniors graduating either in the fall or coming spring.”
The homecoming committee decided on having a Junior Court to get a younger audience involved in the festivities that homecoming has to offer.
“They had the idea to create an event for young cyclones to bring the Ames and Iowa State community closer together, providing more opportunities for cyclones of all ages to have involvement in Homecoming festivities,” Boyd said. “The Junior Court will be featured alongside the college-age Cardinal Court at the Homecoming Pep Rally on Friday night.”
The events for homecoming start Sunday and continue through Oct. 25.
According to the Iowa State Alumni website, this is the schedule of events:
Sunday:
Painting Victory Lane
- Location: Under Pedestrian Bridge at Stadium Entrance Gate 2
- Time: 9 to 11 a.m.
Kickoff Celebration
- Location: Alumni Center
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Homecoming/LSI 5k
- Location: Registration at Kickoff Celebration; route TBD
- Time: 1 p.m.
Cardinal Tournaments (Greek)
- Location: Lied Rec Center
- Time: 3:30 p.m.
Monday:
Food on Campus
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Faculty/Staff line open 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Menu: Clayton Farm Salads (wraps)
Yell like Hell 1st Cuts
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 4.30 p.m.
Tuesday:
Food on Campus
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Faculty/Staff line open 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Menu: ISU Meat Lab (burgers)
Cardinal Tournaments (Greek)
- Location: Lied Recreation Center
- Time: 7 p.m.
Wednesday:
Food on Campus
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Faculty – Staff line open 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Menu: Noodles & Company (pasta)
Yell like Hell 2nd Cuts (painted)
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
Thursday:
Food Campus
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Faculty/Staff line open 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Menu: Chick-fil-A sandwiches
Cardinal Tournaments Championships (Greek)
- Location: Lied Recreation Center
- Time: 7 p.m.
Friday:
Special Collections and University Archives Exhibit
- Location: Room 405, Parks Library
- Time: Noon to 2 p.m.
- Pop-up exhibit by Special Collections and University Archives, showcasing rare books, manuscripts, and highlights from the university’s archives collections. Free and open to everyone.
Honors & Awards
- Location: Stephens Auditorium
- Time: 1:30 p.m.
Homecoming Celebration/Pep Rally/YLH Finals
- Location: Alumni Center
- Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
- Papa John’s pizza served from 6 to 7 p.m. ($5 or free with 2025 homecoming button)
Greek Alumni Reunion
- Location: Alumni Center
- Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Alumni Band Reunion
- Location: Off-Site TBD
- Time: runs through Oct. 25
ExCytement in the Streets
- Location: Greek Triangle (walking distance from the Alumni Center)
- Time: 8 to 10 p.m.
CyFest
- Location: Central Campus (YLH stage)
- Time: 10 p.m. to midnight
- Music, student acts, homecoming awards and food
Fireworks/Mass Campaniling
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: midnight
To make homecoming an engaging experience, it takes many individuals to prepare. “The homecoming planning process is the real teamwork experience,” Boyd said.