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By Jonah Grinkewitz

�Թϱ��� will celebrate its 2025 homecoming October 20-26 with more than a dozen events including the Alumni Honors, the Monarchs Give Back service initiative, fireworks on Whitehurst Beach and a football game against Appalachian State. 

The homecoming concert will feature artists Rob49 and Hunxho with special guest Kee Nola at 8 p.m. on October 22 at Chartway Arena. Tickets are available on Chartway Arena’s and �Թϱ��� students can access tickets through their student accounts. 

The 16^th annual Alumni Honors begin at 6 p.m. on October 23 at Chartway Arena where the University will recognize �Թϱ��� alumni who have excelled in their professions and impacted their communities. These include six distinguished alumni and the 40 Under 40 Class of 2025. The event will feature a cocktail reception, dinner, live music and dancing. Purchase tickets and register on the Alumni Association’s . Proceeds will benefit student scholarships. 

The Monarchs Give Back service initiative is a campus and community-wide food drive to benefit Norfolk Public School children experiencing food insecurity and the Monarch Pantry which supports �Թϱ��� students. In the past three years, the annual food drive has provided nearly 125,000 food items to the community, and this year’s goal is to collect 100,000 nonperishable items or equivalent monetary donations. The campaign concludes at 2 p.m. on October 24 at the Student Recreation & Wellbeing Center where the �Թϱ��� community will gather to pack the items for donation. or . 

Later that night from 6-8 p.m. on October 24, “Big Blue’s Boardwalk” on Whitehurst Beach will feature carnival rides, food trucks and fireworks. Entry is $15 and open to the public. . 

The �Թϱ��� football game vs. Appalachian State will have a noon kickoff on October 25 and be televised on ESPNU. The �Թϱ��� Alumni Association offers exclusive tailgating and ticket packages to alumni on . General public tickets are available .  

Due to the earlier game time, the University will forego the annual parade and instead will gather floats on Kaufman Mall during tailgating from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on October 25. �Թϱ��� homecoming royalty will be recognized at this time, and participants will be invited to join the “Monarch March” at 9:30 a.m. as the football team makes its way to S.B. Ballard Stadium.

Wrapping up the festivities is the annual “Clean the Stream” event from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on October 26 on Colley Bay behind WHRO Public Media with �Թϱ���’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Chapter. Cleanup gear and complimentary coffee and donuts will be provided. by October 23. 

For a full list of �Թϱ��� homecoming events, visit the Homecoming 2025 website.