Northern Michigan University’s Homecoming parade is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The route will begin in front of the Berry Events Center, travel up Third Street, turn left on Hewitt Avenue and continue down Front Street to the Superior Dome. Shown is a past Homecoming parade. (Photo courtesy of NMU)

By Journal Staff

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University’s 2022 Homecoming, set for Friday and Saturday, features several events for alumni and area residents.

All activities are free unless otherwise indicated. For more information and links to register for some events, visit nmu.edu/homecoming.

A virtual Wildcat Fun Run five-kilometer race take place through Oct. 1. A portion of the proceeds will be used to support the NMU Food Pantry. Registration is required and includes Wildcat shoelaces. The cost is $25 for NMU alumni, parents, friends and area residents and $15 for students.

Friday activities are:

≤ From 8 to 10 a.m., Innovate Marquette and Invent@NMU will host an open house at their new location at 101 W. Washington St., Suite 11. Coffee and light bites will be served while attendees tour the space, meet the team and learn about support available for starting a technology- or product-based business. Advance registration is requested.

≤ NMU Alumni Relations in the Northern Center will offer a Wildcat Welcome for attendees from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in 1102 Northern Center. The office will offer light refreshments, Homecoming information, a memento and more. Academic departments campuswide will also host open houses.

≤ A one-hour campus walking tour will commence at 10 a.m. outside the Barnes & Noble Bookstore. Participants will see how the campus has changed as they pass through the Northern Center, Jamrich Hall, the academic mall, residence halls and other parts of campus. All ages are welcome.

≤ A historic walking tour led by NMU alumnus and Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center Director Daniel Truckey will begin at 1 p.m. at the Carillon Towers outside the Northern Center.

≤ At 5:30 p.m., the annual Homecoming parade will take place on Third Street in Marquette.

The route begins on Fair Avenue in front of the Berry Events Center, then travels down Third Street, turns left on Hewitt, Avenue then continues up Front Street back to the Superior Dome.

≤ The Homecoming Awards Show will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Forest Roberts Theatre. It features NMU Sports Hall of Fame inductees and this year’s alumni award recipients.

A limited number of tickets are available for admission at tickets.nmu.edu. The event will be streamed virtually as well.

≤ An All-Alumni Reception will be held from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at the Northern Center, where there will also be tours of the new cosmetology and hospitality management labs. Groups are encouraged to reserve a table by calling Alumni Relations at 906-227-2610.

Saturday activities are:

≤ Lydia M. Olson Library, located in Harden Hall, will host a “Create at the Library” event. It includes “Bagels and Books” for all ages from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; “Crafting with Suzanna” for ages 5-12 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; and “Paper Art Projects” led by the Student Art Gallery for ages 5-12 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Homecoming football game against Post University kicks off at 2 p.m. at the Superior Dome. Tickets are available at tickets.nmu.edu.

An NMU and Marquette Music Social will be from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Marquette Commons, giving students, alumni and area residents an opportunity to socialize while listening and dancing to music from across the decades. Music will be provided by NMU’s Radio X student DJs with lights and sound provided by Steady Stone Production. The event will be canceled if there is rain.

Over both Friday and Saturday, the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center and the DeVos Art Museum will have open hours to view their current exhibits. Admission to both is free.