Homecoming 2026 is just days away at Campbell University, and the festivities will begin on Monday with the start of Spirit Week and culminate with the 3:30 p.m. kickoff between the nationally ranked Fighting Camels and the Towson University Tigers on Saturday, Oct. 17.
A complete schedule of the Homecoming festivities is below. To learn more, visit alumni.campbell.edu/homecoming.
Spirit Week
Oct. 12-Oct. 16
Campbell University Main Campus
Attire plays a big role in Homecoming at Campbell next week. Students, faculty and staff are invited to take part in Spirit Week, which commences with “Cozy Camel Monday” — an invite for the Campbell community to wear their “comfy lounge attire” to class or work, followed by “Hawaiian Luau” day on Tuesday.
Wednesday is “Paint the Creek Orange,” with the community encouraged to wear orange from head to toe and gather for a flyover photo in the Academic Circle at 12:30 p.m.
Thursday is “Throw Back Thursday,” with attire representing decades past, and Friday is “Fan Friday,” with the community asked tot wear their favorite Fighting Camel gear.
This year’s Homecoming shirt, featuring a vintage Camel running with a pennant, will be available for sale at Saturday morning’s Alumni Block Party for $30. Those who pre-ordered shirts will be able to pick them up that day as well.
Campus Worship
6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 12
Butler Chapel
Monday’s Campus Worship (6-7 p.m. at Butler Chapel) will be the first of a three-part series on “Practicing Pilgrimage.” The first in the series will focus on “Risk” (followed by “Trust” and “Walking” in subsequent weeks), and the sermon will be delivered by Morgan Pajak, minister for Student Ministry and Spiritual Well-Being.
Campbell’s Office for Spiritual Life announced in August the return of weekly student-led worship services. Campus Minister Rev. Louisa Ward called the return “a major step forward” for Campbell University’s Strategic Plan and its commitment to strengthening its reputation as a Christ-centered institution and gathering place for “people from all backgrounds who wish to live, learn and grow in a thriving Christian community.”
Disc Golf and Cross Country Trail Reopening
3-5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 13
Trail located near Belk Track, Johnson Aquatic Center
Campus Recreation will reopen its disc golf and cross country trails after recent renovations on Tuesday. The reopening event will allow students and faculty/staff to explore the space and experience stations along the trails from departments such as Fraternity and Sorority Life, Spiritual Life, Counseling Services, Campus Recreation, Aramark, Environmental Science, and more.
There will also be yard games, music and prizes. Prizes will be drawn at the conclusion of the event and will include bookstore gift cards, Owala water bottles, a disc golf disc set, Carhartt lunch box and more.
Learn more about the course at the Campus Recreation website.
Homecoming Hoopla
7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15
Gore Arena
The annual “tip off” to the men’s and women’s basketball season begins with a season ticket-holder event at 6 p.m. and the main event at 7. Attendees can meet the teams, participate in on-court contests with the players and win prizes.
The event will also be a chance for the Campbell community to meet the two new coaches running the basketball programs.
Jimmie Williams takes over the men’s program after spending the past four seasons as head coach at Anderson University, where he led the Trojans to a school-record 29 wins and a top seed in the Division II NCAA Tournament. Ali Jaques spent the past two seasons as associate head coach at Rhode Island, where the Rams won 28 games last season and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Prior, she was head coach for nine seasons at Siena College.
Golden Club Induction Luncheon
Distinguished Alumni Banquet
Friday, Oct. 16
Oscar N. Harris Student Union
The annual Golden Club Induction Luncheon is for Golden Club members (Class of 1976 and earlier) and their guests. That Class of ’76 will officially join the club as guests share memories of their time at Campbell.
The Distinguished Alumni Banquet that evening will honor Stan Cole (’87), Dr. Stephanie C. Holmes (’94) and W. Brooks Matthews (’76, M.Ed. ’80). The evening will begin with a reception at 5 p.m., followed by dinner and the award ceremony at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person.
Register for both events at alumni.campbell.edu/homecoming.
Alumni Block Party
11 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17
Cornelia Campbell Alumni House
Homecoming Parade
Noon, Saturday, Oct. 17
Main Street, Buies Creek
Pepsi Tailgate Town
12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.m Saturday, Oct. 17
Barker Lane Stadium
The annual Homecoming Parade will make its way down Main Street beginning at noon, featuring floats designed by student groups. The parade will run concurrent to the nearby Alumni Block Party (at the Cornelia Campbell Alumni House), which will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Director of Alumni Engagement and 2020 Campbell graduate Shelby Howard said the alumni team is excited to share special swag, offer giveaways from individual schools and start Saturday’s daylong party off right.
“Homecoming Weekend is a meaningful opportunity for alumni of all ages to return to our alma mater with their loved ones, remember the things that make Campbell home, and reunite with fellow camels,” she said. “As an alumna, I am excited to see friends, students and professors at our Alumni Block Party.”
The Block Party will feature live music and food trucks, including Curbside Cravins, Redneck BBQ, Sunset Slush and Mr. Puebla Tacos.
Pepsi Tailgate Town, which debuted in 2023, will set up just outside of Barker-Lane Stadium for the three hours leading up to kickoff. Food trucks, family games, music and displays hosted by local businesses and student groups will lead up to the pre-game Pepsi Camel Walk.
Campbell vs. Towson
3:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17
Barker Lane Stadium
After officially joining the FCS top-25 last week for the first time in program history, Campbell Football is now nationally-ranked in both major polls, climbing into the AFCA Coaches Poll for the first time at No. 24.
The Fighting Camels also moved up to No. 18 in the Stats Perform FCS Top-25 Poll from their debut at No. 22.
Campbell is currently 4-1 on the season (they have a game this weekend and a bye the following weekend), following last Saturday’s 44-20 road win at Hampton. The Fighting Camels are unbeaten against FCS opponents. Towson is winless through five games, with losses to tough teams like Navy and South Carolina and close losses to Maine, Delaware State and Morgan State.
The Camels are led by quarterback Kamden Sixkiller, ranks near the top of nearly every major quarterback statistic and has already earned FCS and CAA Player of the Week honors (three times in the first five weeks) this season.