By 1808Delaware
Ohio Wesleyan University’s Homecoming and Family Weekend will bring alumni back to campus while inviting Delaware residents into several of the celebration’s most visible traditions. The two-day gathering is scheduled for Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3. Its public events range from an alumni concert and downtown activities to a campus parade, tailgates, and three home athletic contests.
Some alumni gatherings require advance registration, but the university has identified several programs specifically intended for broader community participation. Explore the complete Homecoming and Family Weekend information.
Friday Connects Campus And Downtown
Friday’s schedule begins with campus tours and a Team OWU golf outing at Mill Creek Golf Course in Ostrander. That evening, faculty members will meet alumni and families during Pints with Profs at the Mowry Alumni Center. The university also will mark the tenth anniversary of Women of Ohio Wesleyan with a celebration in the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center.
One of the principal public events begins at 8:00 PM in Jemison Auditorium inside Sanborn Hall, 23 Elizabeth Steet. “A Celebration of Sanborn” will feature performances by five Ohio Wesleyan music graduates. The participants are vocalist Ann Johnson, Class of 2004; pianists Annie Moosa and Lauren Spavelko, both Class of 2011; vocalist Rachel Fitzgerald, Class of 2018; and trombonist Gavin Abrams, Class of 2023. Admission to the concert is free.
A separate program begins at 8:00 PM at Perkins Observatory, 3199 Columbus Pike. Observatory programs may include stargazing, tours, and other activities depending on the weather and evening conditions.
Homecoming guests also are encouraged to visit Downtown Delaware during First Friday. The Strand Theatre will offer special weekend pricing, extending the celebration beyond the campus itself.
Saturday Begins With Recognition
Saturday’s schedule opens with women’s lacrosse at Selby Field at 9:00 AM. At 9:30 AM, Ohio Wesleyan will hold its “W” Association Hall of Fame ceremony in the Benes Rooms of Hamilton-Williams Campus Center. The 2026 honorees are Evan Lee, Claude Gray III, Terry Mee, Emily Thorton, David Spring, Sarah Bechtel, Kale Booher, Luke Tennis, and the late Beredine Krill.
The university also will recognize the 1971 football team and 1999 women’s soccer team as Teams of Distinction. Vanderbilt University baseball coach Tim Corbin, an Ohio Wesleyan graduate, will receive the Robert Strimer Award.
A family mixer and information fair follows from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM in the Schimmel-Conrades Science Center.
The Bishop Walk Heads Toward Selby
At 12:00 PM, the football team, Marching Bishops, cheerleaders, dance team, families, and other supporters will gather at the JAYwalk fountain outside Hamilton-Williams Campus Center. From there, the Bishop Walk will travel across campus to Selby Stadium. The short parade is one of the weekend’s most visible opportunities for community participation. A football tailgate will run outside the stadium from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, with food available for purchase from visiting trucks.
Ohio Wesleyan then hosts the College of Wooster at 2:00 PM. The halftime program will recognize this year’s Hall of Fame inductees. Football tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and non-Ohio Wesleyan students. Children younger than 10 and OWU students with university identification are admitted free. Review Ohio Wesleyan’s October event announcement.
The Celebration Continues Across Campus
Several open houses and reunions begin after the football game starts.
The university’s esports arena in Welch Hall will hold an open house from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The 1842 student gathering space will offer an open house and pennant decorating from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Fraternity and sorority open houses, receptions, and reunions are scheduled at several campus locations. Some are intended for members and registered guests, so visitors should consult the official schedule before attending.
The focus shifts to the Jay Martin Soccer Complex later Saturday. A combined soccer tailgate will run from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with food available for purchase from The Backstretch food truck. The women’s team hosts the College of Wooster at 4:00 PM, followed by the men’s team against Adrian College at 7:00 PM. Soccer admission is $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and students. Children younger than 10 and Ohio Wesleyan students with identification are admitted free.
The full two-day schedule includes campus tours, reunions, receptions, open houses, and family programs. Registration requirements vary, so alumni and families should review individual listings before arriving.
For Delaware, Homecoming is more than a university reunion. It places campus music, traditions, athletic facilities, and gathering spaces within reach of the community while sending returning alumni into downtown businesses and cultural attractions.
