AMHERST — As alumni return to the University of Massachusetts for this weekend’s Homecoming events, including football and hockey games on campus, activities are also scheduled at sites in downtown Amherst.
Being called “Flagship Fall: Homecoming 2025,” the celebration, put on by UMass and the UMass Amherst Foundation, is aiming to honor the bond between the campus and its host community.
“UMass Amherst is at its best when the campus and community come together,” Chancellor Javier Reyes says. “This year starts a new tradition that celebrates and honors our community with events that can appeal to everyone — from students to residents of all ages — and foster connectedness and a welcoming environment.”
On Friday at Kendrick Park, at the north end of Amherst center, Community Spirit Central will be set up, featuring performances by the UMass cheer and dance teams, student groups and the Minuteman Marching Band.
Starting at 5 p.m., families are invited to glow-in-the-dark swings, lawn games, face painting and T-shirt decorating, while local businesses will be on hand, with wine tastings by Aster + Pine Market and a bracelet-making demonstration by Julie Nolan Jewelry.
UMass Downtown, the university’s welcome center, retail store and conference space, located at 108 North Pleasant St., will be having a meet-and-greet with members of the UMass men’s basketball team.
The Amherst Business Improvement District is supporting the Homecoming initiative, with Executive Director John Page observing that “thriving communities are built through intention, effort and collective support.”
“Homecoming at UMass gives us the chance to celebrate that valued partnership and look ahead to all we can continue to build together,” Page said.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman also praised the university’s effort to encourage those returning to campus to drop by downtown Amherst for a time.
On Saturday, the activities will be campus focused, with community members invited to explore the university with a UMass Pass, a self-guided adventure to six campus landmarks. As they move through the campus, there will be candy apple decorating, treats from award-winning UMass Dining, face painting, and giveaways such as UMass playing cards, hats and crossbody bags.
Sports fans can gather at the Cheer Garden at McGuirk Alumni Stadium for games, a la carte food and drink offerings, music provided by radio station WMUA, inflatables and giveaways.
At noon, men’s soccer hosts Denver at Rudd Field, followed by the Homecoming football game at McGuirk at 2:30 p.m. against Western Michigan, the team’s first home Mid-American Conference matchup. The day wraps up with a UMass hockey game against Northern Michigan at 7:30 p.m. at the Mullins Center, where new parking fees will be in place throughout the season for hockey and men’s basketball games.
“Homecoming at the flagship is always special, but this year marks a milestone as our football team plays its first MAC game since returning to the league as a full member,” says Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford. “From home games in field hockey, men’s soccer, football and hockey to the new ‘Cheer Garden’ outside McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Homecoming offers an incredible moment to celebrate our program, and we’re thrilled to share that with fans across the commonwealth.”
A full schedule of community events for “Flagship Fall: Homecoming 2025” is at umassalumni.com/flagshipfall.