UB ramps up for Homecoming & Family Weekend

As another bright summer in Buffalo ends, the UB community prepares to dive headlong into the fall term. For some students, this will mean swinging a sledgehammer at a van, rock-wall climbing outside the Student Union and celebrating with Kool & the Gang.

These activities may not sound typical, but for UB students, these annual festivities mark UB’s Homecoming & Family Weekend, scheduled to take place Oct. 4-6 on the North Campus.

Each year, homecoming brings together students, alumni, family and friends—all decked out in blue and white—to celebrate UB spirit. And the UB Alumni Association, UB Athletics, Student Life and the undergraduate Student Association are taking this year’s event to another level.

“The campus is going to be alive that weekend and we want to show it off. We want to give UB alumni the opportunity to share their UB pride with others,” says Erin Zack, associate director for affiliate programs in the Office of Alumni Relations. Among those opportunities Zack cites include a window-painting contest in the Student Union, pregame radio show, homecoming carnival, fireworks and a giant bonfire.

Perhaps the most anticipated event will take place on Saturday in UB Stadium, where fans will gather to cheer on their UB Bulls as they face Eastern Michigan at noon. Prior to the game, Stampede Square—located in the in the Stadium Parking Lot between the stadium and Millersport Highway—will come alive with family-friendly entertainment, interactive activities, live music, giveaways and true blue spirit, all facets of UB Athletics’ new initiative to improve the fan experience at the home football games this year.

UB will welcome two-time Grammy-Award winner Kool & the Gang to the UB Tailgate Concert Series for homecoming weekend. The funk/pop group, known for the hit “Get Down on It,” will perform a free concert on Saturday in Stampede Square before the Bulls take the field. Following the concert, fans can listen to the football pregame radio show on 1270 AM The Fan, which will be broadcast live from Stampede Square.

Homecoming & Family Weekend highlights also include a comedy show featuring Ben Bailey, winner of two Daytime Emmy Awards and host of NBC’s “Who’s Still Standing?” and the Discovery Channel’s “Cash Cab,” who will perform at 7 p.m. Friday in Alumni Arena, as well as the Student Association’s homecoming carnival, pep rally and bonfire. SA’s events will run from 5-10 p.m. Friday on the shores of Lake LaSalle.

Family weekend has become an anticipated tradition for students and their parents as they reunite and experience the best that UB has to offer. Family members are invited to take part in the various activities taking place around campus.

For a complete listing of events or for more information about homecoming weekend, visit the Homecoming & Family Weekend website.