Central homecoming activities announced

Central College will welcome alumni, family and friends to campus for Homecoming 2026, beginning Friday, Oct. 2.

At 8 a.m. Friday the Dutch Masters Golf Tournament will be held at the Bos Landen Golf Course. Register at: central.edu/alumni/events/dutch-masters-golf-tournament-2026/

The Welcome Center opens at 1 p.m. in Dave '61 and Ardie Sutphen '64 Common Room, Graham Annex, where guests can register for free meals and activities. Happy Hour will be held on the patio of Fred's, outside the Maytag Student Center. The annual Lemming Race will be at 6 p.m. on the Peace Mall, followed by a street party and pep rally on Broadway Street. A free meal will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. Back in Vinyl, a local band with three Central alumni, will perform at the street party.

The Athletics Hall of Honor Banquet begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Harry and Bernice Vermeer Banquet Hall, Graham Conference Center. The event is open to the public, but reservations are required.

Central's theatre program will perform "Trouble in Tahiti" in the Linda K. Glendening Recital Hall, Cox Snow Music Center. Performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3. Tickets are available at central.universitytickets.com/.

Saturday's activities begin with the free Kids Zone from 10:30 a.m. to noon, on the east side of A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex parking lot. Enjoy music with the 95th A Cappella Choir and Alumni Mini-Concert at 11 a.m. inside the Kuyper Athletics Complex Pacha Family Lobby. Tailgate in "The Red Zone" is free, running 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Mills Gallery will be open with an exhibit by the Cedar River Artisan Group. Alumni can stock up on Central gear and products in the Central Spirit Shoppe, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Dutch football team will face the University of Dubuque at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in its Homecoming matchup at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.

Following the game, athletic training alumni will gather for a celebration to honor John Roslien, associate professor emeritus of kinesiology, and Frank Neu '91, former head athletic trainer and clinical instructor of kinesiology, who retired this past year.

The Class of 1976 will celebrate its 50th Reunion with dinner in the Maytag Student Center.

On Sunday, Oct. 4, a free brunch will be served in Central Market at 11 a.m. and the Flying Pans Alumni Steel Band will perform in Douwstra Auditorium beginning at 1 p.m. The band and alumni will present their 20th anniversary concert, DESPANADO, a tropical tribute to the Eagles. All Flying Pans alumni are invited to return to campus and perform at the concert. Email Stan Dahl at dahls@central.edu if you are interested in performing.

The full schedule and registration link are available at central.edu/alumni/homecoming. Many events are free, thanks to our major sponsor, ATI Group.