Minnesota State Mankato 2026 Homecoming Week Begins Sept. 28
Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State University, Mankato’s annual Homecoming week begins Monday, Sept. 28 and continues through Saturday, Oct. 3 with a weeklong schedule of events that are free and open to the public.
The media is welcome to cover the Homecoming events throughout the week.
The week begins Monday, Sept. 28 with a kickoff event from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Centennial Student Union mall. The kickoff event, free and open to the public, will include live music, games and a prize raffle.
On Thursday, Oct. 1, the MSU Office of Alumni Relations will host “An Evening with Patty Wetterling ’71: A Conversation on Hope and Resilience” from 6-7:30 p.m. in Ostrander Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required at: https://www.mnsu.edu/alumni/alumni-events-calendar/alumnipatty/. Free parking will be available in the visitors pay lot (lot 4) across from Centennial Student Union.
During Homecoming week, Minnesota State Mankato’s Department of Theatre and Dance will perform Tina Fey’s musical “Mean Girls,” from Thursday, Oct. 1-Saturday, Oct. 3 in the Ted Paul Theatre at the Earley Center for Performing Arts. Tickets and showtimes are available at MSUTheatre.com.
On Friday, Oct. 2, the annual Homecoming bonfire (free to the public), featuring a 25-foot tall bonfire behind Blakeslee Stadium, begins at 8 p.m., with fireworks following at approximately 8:20 p.m. behind the Maverick Midway. NOTE: The bonfire and fireworks events are subject to cancellation depending on weather conditions.
Back for the second year is a Friday-Saturday Homecoming carnival sponsored by the Student Events Team. It will be held in parking lot 20 (located on Warren Street next to Blakeslee Stadium and across from University Square). The carnival runs from 5-10 p.m. Friday and from 3:30-8 p.m. Saturday and will feature live music, rides and concessions. Saturday’s music lineup includes live performances from Sylvia May & The Maydays, K-One and the Blue Dirt Road Band. Carnival admission tickets are $15 for the general public, $10 for alumni, faculty and staff and $5 for children (ferris wheel and slide only). Tickets may be purchased online at https://mnsueventtickets.universitytickets.com/. Free parking is available beginning at 4:30 p.m. Friday in all gold and dark green lots on campus.
Saturday, Oct. 3 events begin with the Homecoming parade from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Maywood Avenue, Warren Street and Stadium Road. The parade, which has been scheduled for more than 89 years, will feature floats from the community and University. “Level Up, Mavericks!” is the 2026 parade theme.
The parade will be followed by Mavericks on the Mall and Pancakes with the President from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on the campus mall (next to the fountain). The pancakes are free, and Mavericks on the Mall is a free community family-friendly event that includes games, music, caricature artists, a petting zoo and more. Food will also be available for purchase in the Centennial Student Union.
Maverick home athletic events during Homecoming week include: swimming & diving against South Dakota on Friday at 5 p.m. (Highland Pool); volleyball on Friday at 6:15 p.m. against Minnesota-Crookston/Saturday at noon vs. MSU-Moorhead (Taylor Center); men’s hockey exhibition against Manitoba on Friday at 11:30 a.m. (Mayo Clinic Health System Events Center); women’s hockey against St. Cloud State on Friday at 6 p.m./Saturday at 3 p.m. (Mayo Clinic Health Systems Event Center); and football against Concordia St. Paul on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Blakeslee Stadium. Ticket information for all Maverick athletic events is available online at msumavericks.com.
More information on Homecoming is available online or by calling the Minnesota State Mankato Alumni Association at 507-389-1515 or Student Activities 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.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 15,721 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 26 colleges and seven universities.
