Ship Homecoming 2026

University Bookstore Hours
Open Friday, October 16 & Saturday, October 17
Hours released soon
(Coupon is for 2025, 2026 coupon released soon)
Digital or printed coupon required for 10% off one item alumni discount.

Athletic Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon
12:30PM, Tuscarora Room, Reisner Dining

The Hall of Fame recognizes former student-athletes who were the epitome of athletic excellence and who continue to exemplify the Raider spirit as proud alumni. We’ll be recognizing Eric Bologa ’15 (track & field), Megan Fogle Briggs ’08 (basketball), Caitlin Stuetz Brimmer ’13 (track & field), Trevor Harman ’14 (football), Erica Hess-Gross ’11 (track & field), Missy Pierce Huffman ’07 (volleyball), and Jamie Thomas ’06 (wrestling). Advanced tickets required. Purchase tickets by calling the Office of Athletics at 717-477-1711.

Divine Nine Fraternity & Sorority Alumni Chat with the President
4:00PM; Susquehanna Room, Reisner Dining Hall
Alumni from the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities are invited to a chat with President Patterson.

Alumni Awards of Distinction Reception & Dinner
5:00PM reception, 5:45PM dinner; Tuscarora Room, Reisner Dining Hall
With over 70,000 alumni living across the country and living internationally, one can imagine the successes achieved and the impacts being made by graduates of Shippensburg University every day in their professional fields, in their lives, and in their communities. The Shippensburg University Alumni Awards of Distinction are presented annually to alumni in the categories of Distinguished Alumni, Outstanding Young Alumni, Lifetime Achievement, Cultural Impact and Exceptional Service. The 2026 Alumni Awards of Distinction will be presented to: (to be released soon)

• Recipients of the Jesse S. Heiges Distinguished Alumni Award:
• Outstanding Young Alumni: 
• Cultural Impact: 
• Lifetime Achievement: 
• Exceptional Service: 

Please join us in celebrating our 2026 award recipients. Purchase tickets on-line or call the Office of Alumni Relations at 717-477-1218. Please register to attend on or before October 5.

MSA Alumni Kickback in the AM
9PM - 11PM, Gilbert Hall
Just for alumni, stop by Gilbert Hall beginning at 9PM to catch up with MSA director Danielle Martin and friends.

Raider Sports Team in Action
Baseball (scrimmage) vs Frederick C.C., 2:00PM
Swimming vs Fairmont State and California U of PA, 5:00PM
Volleyball vs Millersville, 6:00PM

University Bookstore Hours
Open Friday, October 16 & Saturday, October 17
Hours released soon
(Coupon is for 2025, 2026 coupon posted soon)
Digital or printed coupon required for 10% off one item alumni discount.

Homecoming Parade
10:00AM, on-campus approximately 10:30AM

The parade steps off in town at 10:00AM on King Street (Intersection of King & Earl by University Grille) and enters campus from Prince Street at approximately 10:30AM. The parade will travel on Adams Drive to Cumberland Drive and disband after passing the Ceddia Union Building (CUB). Bring a blanket or chair and grab a seat to watch the parade. The Alumni Association Board of Directors will be handing out items along the parade route so be sure to arrive early and line King and Prince Street, as well as Adams and Cumberland Drives!

SEEKING parade entries! Alumni, students, and departments are encouraged to enter! Get your friend group together, clubs and organizations too! Enter a walking unit or decorate a vehicle. Don’t miss the fun and prizes! Complete the parade entry registration form. (entry form coming soon)

Raider Fan Zone- SU Tailgate
Tailgate lots open at 10:00AM | Behind Seth Grove Stadium

The Ship Experience is more than four years – it lasts a lifetime! Attend Homecoming 2026 and enjoy the Ship Experience with alumni, family, and friends.

Pick up your Ship alumni giveaways, register for door prizes, and enjoy lite snacks and refreshments at the Alumni Tent including hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, cotton candy, and popcorn (while supplies lasts). In the pedestrian tailgate lot, reconnect with academic departments, faculty, and student organizations in this tent only tailgate area.  Be prepared - Review the tailgate guidelines. Tailgating must conclude and lots vacated two hours after the football game ends.

Complimentary!

• Face painting 11AM - 1PM
• Arcade-style Photo Booth with commemorative photo strips 11AM - 2PM
• Inflatable Obstacle Course 11AM - 2PM
• Interactive Games 11AM - 1PM

Donate for a cause!

• Dunk Tank 11AM - 2PM
  • Donate for a cause and purchase your ball to try to dunk the brothers of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Dunk Tank located in the pedestrian tailgate lot. Near the end goal post closest to Route 696.

And the Antietam Dairy Ice Cream Truck will be back with lots of flavors to choose from! Visit them outside the stadium along the fence, cash sales. Your ice cream purchase supports the alumni association with a portion of the sales given to support programming for the alumni association.

**Register your academic dept or student/alumni organization for the pedestrian tailgate lot, click on Tailgate Information below to get all the info. 

Multicultural Alumni Memorial Service
11:00AM - 11:30AM, CUB Room 119
Join in honoring our multicultural alumni who have passed away. Service hosted by the Divine Nine Alumni Committee.

Football Game 1:00PM vs. East Stroudsburg
Purchase tickets at the gate; $10/adults; $5/students; Cash only.

Half-time Programming

• SU Marching Band Performance
• Homecoming royalty crowning
• Raiders Club Tuition Raffle

Post-Game Programming
Stay immediately after the game to catch the full postgame SU Marching Band Performance.

SUMB Alumni Fifth-Quarter Social
Calling all marching band alumni – make plans to attend the SUMB Alumni Social under the hockey rink pavilion. After the post-game programming, walk or drive over to the hockey rink pavilion. The Centennial Time Capsule will be sealed at the Social. Please visit the homecoming website to register and pay (coming soon). SUMB is happy to have alumni band members participate in the band’s performance for pre-game and in the stands. Those that want to participate in performances with the band should register at SUMB100.com. Check online and watch your email inbox for details including registration information

The My Generation Tour
7:30PM, Luhrs Performing Arts Center
The MY GENERATION TOUR stars the bands whose sounds swept across the airwaves at homes in our rooms and on the beach with our transistor radios. The music drove us into the record stores to grasp the singles we loved and play them until the grooves wore out. Between The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Hollies, and Gary Lewis and The Playboys, the charts exploded every week with a new tune that captivated our rock and roll souls. Nearly 30 hits will explode throughout this two-hour celebration: “Daydream,” “Do You Believe in Magic,” “This Diamond Ring,” “Carrie Anne,” “Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress), “Count Me In,” “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” “Summer in the City,” “She’s Just My Style,” “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice,” “On a Carousel,” “Sure Gonna Miss Her” and “The Air that I Breathe.”  Purchase your tickets at luhrscenter.com or call the box office at 717-477-7469.

Homecoming Step Show 
Memorial Auditorium. Doors open at 7:00PM. Show at 8:00PM
Watch stepping groups take the stage to demonstrate their tradition and pride within each fraternity and sorority. Stepping is an expression of African American and Multicultural Greeks culture. It is synchronized movements and chants reminiscent of drill teams. Hosted by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

Harmonic Voices of Truth Worship Service - 11:00AM
Old Main Chapel, Shippensburg University

Directions

Homecoming is held on Ship's campus, located at:

Shippensburg University
1871 Old Main Dr., 
Shippensburg, PA 17257

Driving Directions (Google Maps)

Parking

Campus parking map

Getting Here (Items to note)

Saturday - King Street (starting at Earl St. thru Prince St.) and Prince Street to campus will be closed shortly before 10AM for the Homecoming parade. The parade turns onto King St at Earl St. and travels along King Street turning left onto Prince Street, right onto Adams Drive, and left onto Cumberland Dr. making its way to the Ceddia Union Building (CUB). Adams Drive and Cumberland Drive will close while the parade passes starting at approximately 10:20AM. The parade will disband after passing the CUB. King and Prince Streets will reopen as the parade passes thru. Parade arrives on campus at approximately 10:30AM

PLEASE NOTE!! Tailgate parking directions: Due to road closures on campus, if you are arriving to tailgate from your vehicle behind Seth Grove Stadium, PLEASE enter campus using Britton Road to Fogelsanger Road to Burd Run Dr. and turn right on Adams Dr. to reach the tailgate lot. (See campus map above.)

When you arrive on campus, vehicles arriving via Adams Dr. (instructions above), will be lined up in the Storage Parking lot (Lot L-1). At 10AM, those lined up in this lot will then be permitted to enter the tailgate lot behind Seth Grove Stadium. **Do not use the Courtyard Marriott entrance to access tailgate parking. Access to the tailgate lot via the Marriott entrance will not be permitted until those lined up in advance for entrance have all been released.

Parking Lot Rules for behind Seth Grove Stadium

• One parking space per vehicle
• No saving of parking spaces. Wish to tailgate together? - Arrive together.
• Parking behind Seth Grove is for cars only - no trailers or pull behinds. Refer to the tailgate guidelines for RV parking information.
• Lot opens to vehicles at 10AM. Access to the Raider Zone for tailgating is via the Baseball Access Road. Prior to 10AM, vehicles arriving will be directed/stage in the storage parking lot (Lot L-1). At 10AM, vehicles staged in Lot L-1 will be directed into the Raider Zone for parking- this includes Raider Club parking.
• Only lawful consumption of alcohol is permitted.
• Tailgating ends two hours after the game.
  
  

Parade Viewing

View the parade starting at the intersection of King Street and Earl Street. Then along King Street to Prince Street, and Prince Street to campus (Adams Dr.) up to the Ceddia Union Building (CUB). 

Lodging

For your convenience, area-lodging options may be found at ship.edu/visit/lodging, including the Courtyard by Marriott Shippensburg, which is adjacent to campus. For answers to your questions, contact us at alumni@ship.edu or 717-477-1218 to speak to an alumni representative.

Review the Tailgate Guidelines

The Alumni Relations Office is hosting their annual tailgate in the Raider Fan Zone with hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, cotton candy, popcorn, and soft beverages (all while supplies last). Stop by to pick up your Shippensburg University alumni giveaways, register for door prizes, and update your alumni information. All-ages fun - complimentary face painting, a complimentary arcade-style photo booth with free commemorative photo strips, inflatable obstacle course for all-ages, games, and a dunk tank all behind Seth Grove Stadium in our Alumni Tailgate Raider Fan Zone. Be sure to stop by and fit your friends in the photo booth and print out your keepsake photo strip. 

Register your Academic Dept or Student Club (registration form coming soon). Pedestrian only tailgate spots may be requested by university departments, student clubs, and alumni clubs/organizations. These spots are located behind Seth Grove Stadium in the Raider Fan Zone. This is a pedestrian lot. You are requesting a reserved space suitable for you to bring your own pop-up tent. One table is provided per group. Large groups and/or two or more groups that combine will be given two or more reserved spaces.

Registered Tailgate Groups: Check out the clubs, organizations, and departments that will be hosting tailgate spots behind Seth Grove Stadium. Locate them behind the stadium to say Hi!

PLEASE NOTE!! Tailgate parking directions: Due to road closures on campus, if you are arriving to tailgate from your vehicle in one of the approved tailgate lots, you PLEASE enter campus using Britton Road to Fogelsanger Road to Burd Run Dr. and turn right on Adams Dr. to reach the tailgate lot. (See campus map link below.)

When you arrive on campus, vehicles arriving via Adams Dr. (instructions above), will be lined up in the Storage Parking lot (Lot L-1). At 10AM, those lined up in this lot will then be permitted to enter the tailgate lot behind Seth Grove Stadium. **Do not use the Courtyard Marriott entrance to access tailgate parking. Access to the tailgate lot via the Marriott entrance will not be permitted until those lined up in advance for entrance have all been released.

Parking Lot Rules for behind Seth Grove Stadium

Campus parking map

• One parking space per vehicle
• No saving of parking spaces. Wish to tailgate together? - Arrive together.
• Parking behind Seth Grove is for cars only - no trailers or pull behinds. Refer to the tailgate guidelines for RV parking information.
• Lot opens to vehicles at 10AM. Access to the Raider Zone for tailgating is via the Baseball Access Road. Prior to 10AM, vehicles arriving will be directed/stage in the storage parking lot (Lot L-1). At 10AM, vehicles staged in Lot L-1 will be directed into the Raider Zone for parking- this includes Raider Club parking.
• Only lawful consumption of alcohol is permitted.
• Tailgating ends two hours after the game.