With a mix of past favourites and engaging new offerings, Brock University’s Homecoming celebration is making a big return next week with a variety of in-person events and online sessions.

After two years of virtual-only programming, more than 550 alumni and their guests will return to campus between Sept. 22 and Sept. 25 to participate in Homecoming activities. Registrations continue to climb steadily as Badgers ready to gather in person for the largest alumni event of the year.

“Homecoming is the perfect time for our graduates to gather with each other and to reconnect with the University’s vibrant campus community, faculty and staff,” says Terry Cockerline, Director, Alumni Relations. “It’s a precious opportunity to celebrate the many ways Brock has enriched their lives and to share that joy with their peers and families.”

The extended weekend celebration will include opportunities for Badgers of all ages to celebrate their connection to their alma mater, reconnect with friends, meet recent graduates and make new memories.

This year’s schedule welcomes the highly anticipated return of alumni favourites, including the Grape Stomp, Steel Blade Classic, Alumni Recognition Reception, and Brock Night at the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival.

Alumni VIP tickets to the Steel Blade Classic grant registered graduates, faculty and staff access to the club level of the Meridian Centre, swag, light refreshments and some of the best seats in the arena for the much-anticipated hockey game.

Tickets to Brock Night at the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival will give attendees a fast pass into Montebello Park, a commemorative festival glass and drink token, and all-night access to The Grove and its upgraded amenities. Attendees will have the opportunity to savour local wine by alumni winemakers and old-fashioned barbecue away from the crowds.

In honour of the return to in-person activities, a variety of new offerings have been added to the Homecoming events roster, including an engaging and educational coffee tasting experience hosted by Brock alumnus and 416 Coffee Co-founder Chris Battagli (BBA ’18), guided yoga sessions hosted by Brock alumna Sonia Reynolds (BA ’13), and a free skate in the state-of-the-art Canada Games Park co-sponsored by the Brock University Alumni Association and Goodman Alumni Network.

Enhanced tour opportunities will also allow alumni to explore Brock’s evolving main campus, as well as its underground tunnels, the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Canada Games Park and some of the most interesting pieces in the Brock University Library’s Archives and Special Collections.

Brock’s Homecoming celebration will also serve as a conduit for some significant milestone reunions, including the 40th anniversary of the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department and the Nursing Department’s 20th anniversary reunion.

“Alumni continue to be involved and engaged with Brock year-round,” says Cockerline. “They are a valued and integral part of the Brock community. We’re ecstatic to welcome our graduates back to campus for in-person Homecoming activities to honour and celebrate their ongoing relationship with the institution.”

Brock University alumni, faculty and staff are encouraged to register online to participate in this year’s Homecoming activities.

A full list of Homecoming events, including registration details, is available at brocku.ca/homecoming