Homecoming season is here, with The Ultimate Homecoming Experience returning to North Carolina Central University from Friday, Oct. 2 through Saturday, Oct. 10. 

Homecoming at NCCU is a weeklong celebration of Eagle pride for thousands of students, alumni and fans. Festivities include the homecoming countdown, the royal court coronation, alumni events, concerts and tailgates. 

The Eagles will end the week-long festivities with their annual homecoming game against William & Mary at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, at O’Kelly–Riddick Stadium. The game is NCCU’s final non-conference challenge of the season and the first-ever matchup between the Eagles and Tribe. 

Thousands of alumni make their way back to Durham for Homecoming each year. The week gives them a chance to reunite with classmates and meet current students. 

“It’s a time to come home, to give back, to reignite our passion and our service to the university,” Nikki Davis-Green, the president of NCCU’s National Alumni Association, said. “It’s a time to get back and reconnect.” 

For students, it can also be a time to network with alumni. Tai Wade, a junior on the cheerleading team, ran into an NCCU Cheerleading alumna while she was wearing a team shirt during her first year. She happened to be walking around campus with a real estate broker, and Wade has a concentration in real estate. 

“I thought that was so cool, and it just taught me kind of like, what homecoming is about: yes, we’re having fun and partying, but it’s also about them,” Wade said. “Them coming back, getting back to school, and then networking and meeting new people.” 

On Monday, the arena will host the Coronation of Miss and Mister NCCU from 6 to 8 p.m. This year, NCCU will crown Mykenzi Davis-Cowart and Malachi Griddine as the 84th and 27th Miss and Mister NCCU. Davis-Cowart and Griddine campaigned for three weeks during the spring semester before the Royal Court elections.  

For music fans in Durham, there will be the gospel concert and the hip-hop and R&B concert. 

On Sunday, Oct. 4, The Walls Group, Jonathan McReynolds and Pastor Mike Jr. will perform at 5 p.m. in McDougald-McLendon Arena.  

The gospel concert is one of the highlights of Wade’s week. 

“That’s very different for us as a school to do,” Wade said. “Because yeah, homecoming is coming, but we’re also worshipping the Lord on Sundays.” 

She and other Eagles are also looking forward to the hip-hop concert on Thursday, Oct. 8. While Wade did not attend last year, she said she is excited for the artists scheduled this year, including NoCap, Bunna B and BabyChiefDoit. 

On Saturday, the Eagles will wrap the week up with a parade and tailgating before the football game. Tailgating spans most of campus, typically drawing over 20,000 fans between the practice fields, the Greek Bowl and Vendor Village. Alumni, students and other attendees will have the opportunity to socialize, share food and listen to music. 

“It’s just a great time. It’s like one big family reunion, one big party,” Davis-Green said. 

As for the game itself, NCCU enters homecoming weekend with a 2-4 record. William & Mary also holds a 2-4 record. But no matter the outcome of the game, Homecoming is an exciting week for alumni and students alike. 

“It doesn’t matter who’s on the other side of the field,” Davis-Green said. “All that matters is that we are coming home to support our university, to give back and to keep our Eagle pride alive.” 

For the full schedule of events, as well as transportation and parking information, visit https://www.nccu.edu/the-ultimate-homecoming-experience.