Celebrate 125 years of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette this Homecoming Week

Homecoming Week 2023 is right around the corner, and we’re ready to celebrate with our alumni and friends! Starting Monday, Oct. 16, the Alumni Association will begin hosting tons of events and activities leading up to when the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns face off against the Georgia State Panthers at Cajun Field on Saturday, Oct. 21.

The festivities kick off with our Food Truck Round-Up from 4-7 p.m. at the Alumni Center on Monday, Oct. 16. The entire community is invited to grab a bite to eat from local food trucks while also enjoying live music from the band Three Thirty Seven starting at 5 p.m. 

On Tuesday, Oct. 17, our two-day Paint the Town Red contest will begin. Businesses and schools throughout Acadiana can participate by decorating their interiors and exteriors in vermilion and white. A virtual option is available for both contests so anyone can participate worldwide.

The Alumni Association is excited to bring a new Homecoming initiative to the mix on Thursday, Oct. 19. For the first time, our Alumni Chapters will be partnering with each college for special networking receptions on Thursday night. Join your dean and fellow alumni for these receptions held across campus from 4-6 p.m. Thursday also is the start of our Engineering Alumni Reunion. Engineering alumni can celebrate Homecoming Week with additional activities, such as a social at Rock N’ Bowl and an Engineering Open House in Madison Hall. 

Friday, Oct. 20, will begin bright and early with our Homecoming Tennis Tournament held at Red Lerille’s Health and Racquet Club starting at 8 a.m. Later that evening, the Sigma Nu Alumni Chapter Burgers & Brew Social will occur at the Alumni Hospitality Tent in the Soccer/Track facility parking lot at Cajun Field beginning at 5:30 p.m. The evening will wrap up with the Golden Ambassador Society Dinner at 5:30 p.m. at the Petroleum Club of Lafayette. Alumni who have celebrated at least their 50th anniversary milestone are invited to attend this dinner, which will also include music and dancing.

Finally, the week of festivities will conclude with the Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 21. The parade will roll at noon from Blackham Coliseum before making its way to Cajun Field and eventually to the Alumni Association tailgating area. Our Alumni Hospitality Tent opens three hours before kickoff and is the perfect place to watch the parade before the afternoon football game. 

That evening, our Christiana Smith African American Alumni Chapter will hold its annual Sweet Sounds of Sharing program at 7:30 p.m. in the Bayou Bijou Theater, with a reception following at the Alumni Center. All proceeds from the event will go toward the chapter’s scholarships and programming efforts. 

We can’t wait to celebrate 125 years of Ragin’ Cajuns cheer with all of our alumni and friends during Homecoming 2023. View the full schedule here, and register for your favorite events. Click here to purchase your tickets for the Homecoming Football Game as well.

The Presenting Sponsor, Home Bank, proudly supports Homecoming Week. We’d also like to thank our other sponsors for their support.

• Homecoming T-Shirt Sponsor — Ace Specialties
• Homecoming Parade Sponsor ­­— Lowry’s Printing & Signs
• Paint the Town Red Sponsor — Awardmaster
• Homecoming Court Reception Sponsor — Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry
• Homecoming Parade Floats Sponsor — Krewe of Bonaparte

(Graphic Credit: University of Louisiana at Lafayette)