ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine’s largest and most activity-filled event of the year — Homecoming — returns Oct. 24–26.

The three-day gathering features three sporting events — football, ice and field hockey games — as well as tailgating, class reunions, a concert, tours and lectures. Several events require registration. Pre-registration, a full schedule of events and more information is available at umainehomecoming.com.

A weekend packed with Black Bear spirit

Black Bear pride will be on display on Friday with a “Welcome Home” reception for alumni and their guests at 4:30 p.m. at the Buchanan Alumni House and a drone light show above the Mall at 5:50 p.m.

Friday highlights include:

• Women’s field hockey vs. UMass Lowell at 3 p.m. in the Field Hockey Complex.

• Men’s hockey vs. Colgate at 7 p.m. in the Alfond Arena.

• “The Courage to Right a Women’s Wrongs” at 7:30 p.m. in the Hauck Auditorium.

Explore campus through exclusive tours

Tours of the following facilities will be available to those who register:

• UMaine athletic facilities.

• Advanced Structures and Composites Center.

• Hudson Museum.

• Fogler Library Special Collections.

• VEMI Lab. 

• Ferland Engineering and Education Design Center.

• Simulation Lab in the Wes Jordan Athletic Training Education Complex.

Saturday tailgates and big game vs. Elon

On Saturday, a full day of activities starts with multiple receptions and class gatherings across campus.

Saturday highlights include:

• Pregame tailgating, which opens at 9 a.m. in the parking lots near Alfond Stadium.

• UMaine vs. Elon University football game, which kicks off at 1 p.m.

• Reunion Row, a large catered pregame party for alumni and guests that runs from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Corbett lot.

• Several alumni classes’ tailgating tents hosted in conjunction with the UMaine Alumni Association’s reunion programming.

Evening celebrations and encore performances

Saturday night brings even more energy and school spirit with:

• A drone light show at 5:50 p.m., visible above the football grandstands and Morse Field.

• Men’s hockey vs. Colgate at 7 p.m., Alfond Arena.

• “The Courage to Right a Women’s Wrongs” encore performance at 7:30 p.m., Hauck Auditorium.

About the University of Maine: As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe — from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an environment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts/ and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts/.