Homecoming 2026: Block party, tailgate, parade and a big game

A beautiful campus. Cool fall weather. And for the first time, a nationally ranked football team joins the festivities.

Homecoming 2026 at Campbell University is set for Oct. 15-17, culminating with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff between the Fighting Camels - ranked 18th in the nation in the Stats Perform FCS Top-25 Poll - and the Towson University Tigers.

Below are just some of the big events that will mark this year's Homecoming. To learn more, visit alumni.campbell.edu/homecoming.

Homecoming Hoopla

7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15
Gore Arena

The annual "tip off" to the men's and women's basketball season begins with a season ticket-holder event at 6 p.m. and the main event at 7. Attendees can meet the teams, participate in on-court contests with the players and win prizes.

The event will also be a chance for the Campbell community to meet the two new coaches running the basketball programs.

Jimmie Williams takes over the men's program after spending the past four seasons as head coach at Anderson University, where he led the Trojans to a school-record 29 wins and a top seed in the Division II NCAA Tournament. Ali Jaques spent the past two seasons as associate head coach at Rhode Island, where the Rams won 28 games last season and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Prior, she was head coach for nine seasons at Siena College.

Golden Club Induction Luncheon
Distinguished Alumni Banquet

Friday, Oct. 16
Oscar N. Harris Student Union

The annual Golden Club Induction Luncheon is for Golden Club members (Class of 1976 and earlier) and their guests. That Class of '76 will officially join the club as guests share memories of their time at Campbell.

The Distinguished Alumni Banquet that evening will honor Stan Cole ('87), Dr. Stephanie C. Holmes ('94) and W. Brooks Matthews ('76, M.Ed. '80). The evening will begin with a reception at 5 p.m., followed by dinner and the award ceremony at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person.

Register for both events at alumni.campbell.edu/homecoming.

Alumni Block Party

11 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17
Cornelia Campbell Alumni House

Homecoming Parade

Noon, Saturday, Oct. 17
Main Street, Buies Creek

Pepsi Tailgate Town

12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.m Saturday, Oct. 17
Barker Lane Stadium

The annual Homecoming Parade will make its way down Main Street beginning at noon, featuring floats designed by student groups. The parade will run concurrent to the nearby Alumni Block Party (at the Cornelia Campbell Alumni House), which will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Director of Alumni Engagement and 2020 Campbell graduate Shelby Howard said the alumni team is excited to share special swag, offer giveaways from individual schools and start Saturday's daylong party off right.

"Homecoming Weekend is a meaningful opportunity for alumni of all ages to return to our alma mater with their loved ones, remember the things that make Campbell home, and reunite with fellow camels," she said. "As an alumna, I am excited to see friends, students and professors at our Alumni Block Party."

The Block Party will feature live music and food trucks, including Curbside Cravins, Redneck BBQ, Sunset Slush and Mr. Puebla Tacos.

Pepsi Tailgate Town, which debuted in 2023, will set up just outside of Barker-Lane Stadium for the three hours leading up to kickoff. Food trucks, family games, music and displays hosted by local businesses and student groups will lead up to the pre-game Pepsi Camel Walk.

Campbell vs. Towson

3:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17
Barker Lane Stadium

After officially joining the FCS top-25 last week for the first time in program history, Campbell Football is now nationally-ranked in both major polls, climbing into the AFCA Coaches Poll for the first time at No. 24.

The Fighting Camels also moved up to No. 18 in the Stats Perform FCS Top-25 Poll from their debut at No. 22.

Campbell is currently 4-1 on the season (they have a game this weekend and a bye the following weekend), following last Saturday's 44-20 road win at Hampton. The Fighting Camels are unbeaten against FCS opponents. Towson is winless through five games, with losses to tough teams like Navy and South Carolina and close losses to Maine, Delaware State and Morgan State.

The Camels are led by quarterback Kamden Sixkiller, ranks near the top of nearly every major quarterback statistic and has already earned FCS and CAA Player of the Week honors (three times in the first five weeks) this season.

Tickets: https://gocamels.universitytickets.com/w/