The fall semester at Quincy University is more than underway by this point as classes are fully in session again with athletes and athletic programs competing for their shot at a GLVC conference championship, it can only mean the infamous homecoming weekend is on the horizon. 

Provided will be a breakdown of the main events alongside of the calendar with dates and times for all the other numerous events that the university will host throughout homecoming weekend.

First, the main details, homecoming weekend kicks off on Thursday, Sept 22, 2022. The inaugural event to jumpstart the weekend will be the homecoming balloon glow festivities, followed by the parade and ending with the balloon glow event itself that will take place in Friars Field at QU. 

“I remember my freshman year when there wasn’t much coverage of homecoming weekend due to COVID-19 so walking back across campus one evening and seeing the entire Friars Field lit up with hot air balloons was certainly a unique and one of a kind experience,” Jordan Ernst said. 

The festivities and parade begin at 6 p.m. with the main anticipated balloon glow event starting around 7:15 – 7:30 p.m. All the festivities and activities will end around 9 p.m. to conclude night one of an action packed weekend.

The day begins early on Friday as there is a balloon launch that will get underway at 6:30 a.m. Then there is the Chuck French Memorial golf tournament and the QU Men’s Baseball program’s golf outing at Quincy Country Club starting at 11 a.m. 

Following an afternoon of on campus events, there will be tours for potential future Hawks and the QU Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams host McKendree University at Legend Stadium.

Initial kickoff for the women’s game is at 5 p.m. as well as the welcome back tailgate at the same location. The men’s game kickoff time is 7:30 p.m.

The highlight of Saturday will be the well attended annual homecoming football game, where the QU Hawks will take on Ashland University with the game kicking off at 1 p.m. Tailgate parties for the game begin at 9 a.m. in the parking lot on the north side of the baseball and football stadiums. 

“Usually this is the game to go to whether you are a fan of football or even Quincy for that matter, it is always an exciting one and the atmosphere at the stadium for the game is unbeatable,” Grayson Kuan, student, said. 

Sunday’s concluding events to the weekend begin with an alumni memorial mass in the QU chapel at 10 a.m. followed by a farewell brunch at 11 a.m.

The Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams have another duo of games Sunday as well, both hosting Maryville University. Initial kickoff for the women’s game is at 12:30 p.m. and the men’s game at 2:30 p.m. 

“There aren’t too many weekends at school that are exciting event wise in what the university puts on and whatnot, but homecoming weekend is an exception to that as some of the more memorable times that I have from going to these school events have come from all the activities that happen through this (homecoming) weekend,” Jayme Brain said.

Here is the full event schedule for homecoming weekend.