Homecoming 2019 is Sept. 30-Oct. 5
"Land of 120,000 Mavericks" is this year's theme.
UPDATE, 7:40 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5: Minnesota State University, Mankato's 2019 Homecoming Parade has been cancelled because of rain, high winds and cold temperatures. Other events are currently on as scheduled.
Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State University, Mankato will hold its annual Homecoming week from Monday, Sept. 30-Saturday, Oct. 5, with “Land of 120,000 Mavericks” being the 2019 theme.
University and student activities throughout the week are open to the public. A partial list of events occurring throughout the week includes:
Monday
On Monday from 9-10:20 a.m. in the Performing Arts Building’s Room 126, Minnesota State Mankato’s Dance Program invites the public to attend a free master’s class on Nepalese Classical and Folk Dance taught by Parisha Rajbhandari.
On Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Centennial Student Union Mall is a “Meet Your Royalty Candidates,” as well as a dunk tank and interactive art exhibit.
Monday evening events, free and open to the public, begin at 8 p.m. behind Blakeslee Stadium with a 25-foot bonfire. A 15-minute fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m. There will also be free food, a photo booth, games and more.
Public parking for Monday evening events will be available in Lot 20, located on the corner of Stadium Road and Warren Street. No outside food or beverage is permitted, and Minnesota State Mankato is an alcohol-free, drug-free and tobacco-free campus.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, there will be a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom, and at 7:30 p.m., the Minnesota Storytellers Series will welcome indie pop-singer-songwriter Jeremy Messersmith to an event in the Elias J. Halling Recital Hall. Call 507-389-5549 for ticket information.
Wednesday
Wednesday’s featured events include “Stomp Your Chomp” food-eating contest from 12-1 p.m. in Centennial Student Union’s Hearth Lounge, with participants consuming tater tot hot dish in the first round and trifle (as in the TV show “Friends”) in the final round.
Thursday
Thursday’s featured events feature a lip sync at 7 p.m. in Bresnan Arena, followed by royalty coronation, and the Department of Theatre and Dance will perform “Newsies” from Thursday-Sunday in the Ted Paul Theatre. Tickets are available at MSUTheatre.com.
Friday
University events Friday include a 4 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony at Wiecking Center that will celebrate 70 years of the Department of Family Consumer Science and honor department alumni. A 4-7 p.m. Open House in Wiecking Center will include tours of the department’s new food science lab, textile lab and classrooms, a wall mural and displays. Refreshments will be served. Contact Jennifer Brady at 507-389-2421 or Heather Von Bank at 507-389-5915 for more information.
Friday at 7 p.m. there will be a Homecoming concert by hip-hop artist Kyle in Myers Field House. Public tickets are still available for sale. Details are available online.
Saturday
Saturday, Oct. 5 events – all open to the public – include the President’s free community pancake breakfast from 9-11 a.m. behind Blakeslee Stadium.
The 85th annual Homecoming Parade, expected to attract more than 3,000 spectators, will be held from 12-1 p.m. on Warren Street, and the Maverick football game against Minnesota Duluth will begin at 2 p.m. at Blakeslee Stadium. Dates and times of other athletic events throughout the weekend are available online at msumavericks.com.
Minnesota State Mankato’s School of Nursing will be holding an event, “Advancing Family and Community Health and Healing,” Saturday, Oct. 5 from 5-8 p.m. in Centennial Student Union, Room 253. The public may reserve dinner tickets for $25 online here. The dinner program will feature talks from former faculty who have become published authors, tours, displays and more.
Other Saturday evening events include a Homecoming block party at 7 p.m. that will feature a petting zoo, laser tag and cosmic mini golf on the University Dining Center lawn.
More information
For more information on Homecoming events, contact Nicholas Schulze, Student Events Team partnerships and homecoming promotions chair, by email at nicholas.schulze@mnsu.edu or by phone at 507-389-6076.
Minnesota State Mankato’s Homecoming has been in existence since 1928. Homecoming week offers students and alumni a way to display their pride and school spirit. Homecoming also allows the greater Mankato community a chance to learn about the university and take part in the celebrations. A complete list of Homecoming events is available online.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 14,227 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities.
