BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois Wesleyan University will continue to build momentum during the 2026 homecoming celebration Oct. 2-4. Highlights of the weekend include:
- A special America 250 concert, “We Declare,” will be held from 7:30-8:30 p.m. on Friday,
Oct. 2, in Westbrook Auditorium. The event will highlight various American composers,
including the world premiere of a new work by Native American composer Dawn Avery
and Illinois Poet Laureate Mark Turcotte. For those unable to attend the performance,
a pre-concert talk will be held in the newly opened Petrick Idea Center from 11:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- The President’s Celebration Banquet and Campaign Premiere will also take place Friday
evening in Memorial Center, beginning at 5 p.m. The signature weekend kickoff event
will honor Golden Titans and alumni award winners, followed by a historic announcement.
- Tailgating events will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in the
Shirk Center parking lot before the football game versus Carthage College at 1 p.m.
in Tucci Stadium. The Ames family will also be honored during the game for a previous
legacy gift to the university.
- The fourth annual 1850 Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday on the Eckley Quad, featuring over 30 vendors and a family fan zone with bounce houses, inflatable slides and face painting.
See the full schedule of events and register here.