No Place Like Home: UM Set to Welcome Griz Family Back for Homecoming

Mark your calendars: The University of Montana Homecoming celebration returns Tuesday, Sept. 29, through Saturday, Oct. 3, culminating in the Grizzlies football matchup against Northern Colorado.

This year’s Homecoming theme is “No Place Like Home,” a celebration of traditions and memories, as well as a reminder that UM is always a second home for alumni, students and the community.

Homecoming highlights include:

• Hello Walk: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, outside Turner Hall. Join students, faculty, staff and alumni in creatively painting “hello” on the campus sidewalk. Paint and brushes will be provided. Greetings need not be in English – with roughly 2,800 languages to choose from, The UM Alumni Association encourages participants to get creative.
  
• Griz on Tap: 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 Sept. 29, Red’s Bar, 217 S. Ryman Street. Reconnect with old friends, meet new UM folks and mingle with the Alumni team and Board of Directors. No tickets, no fees – just come raise a glass to all things Griz.
  
• Behind-the-Scenes Athletics Tour: 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, beginning at the Adams Center. Join UMAA and Grizzly Athletics for a special tour featuring an update from Deputy Athletic Director Greg Sundberg in the ’95 Team Room, plus visits to the new locker rooms and equipment room.
  
• Distinguished Alumni Awards: 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, in Brantly Hall. UMAA honor outstanding alumni who distinguished themselves in a particular field and brought honor to the University, state or nation. Space is limited for a newly redefined ceremony, and attendees must RSVP in advance.
  
• Yell Night Pep Rally and Bonfire: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, in front of Main Hall. Join the Homecoming festivities for a night of Griz celebration and spirit, including a UM Fire Club bonfire, head football coach Bobby Kennedy, all Griz Athletics teams, lighting of the M, the Grizzly Marching Band, spirit squads, Monte the mascot and fireworks.
  
• Homecoming Parade: 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, from downtown Missoula to the UM campus. The parade follows its historic route south on Higgins Avenue, across the Beartracks Bridge and east on University Avenue. Parade entries are limited to 100, and registration is now closed.
  
• Alumni Tailgate: noon Saturday, Oct. 3, at the River Bowl along the Kim Williams Trail. Food and drinks will be provided to the first 150 attendees. ID required.

For more information, visit the UM Homecoming website.

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Contact: LeAnn Layton, UM associate vice president for alumni and community relations, 406-243-5258, leann.layton@umontana.edu; Dave Kuntz, UM vice president of marketing and communications office, 406-243-5659, dave.kuntz@umontana.edu.