3-day party planned for Missouri State's 2024 homecoming. Here's the schedule

A three-day party is planned to celebrate Missouri State University's Homecoming this year. Alumni, students, staff and supporters are invited to join the on-campus events.

“Some of our alumni haven’t been back since they graduated. It's fun to have them come back to campus and see the growth and progress,” said Michaela Bennett, assistant director of college and constituency engagement at Missouri State, in a Tuesday news release.

The celebration will start at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, with the inauguration of Richard "Biff" Williams , the 12th president of the institution.

This is the first time Missouri State has staged an inauguration in more than 30 years. It has been touted as the start of a new era.

The Friday event are primarily for alumni and include the Class of 1974 50-Year Reunion. The events starts at 11:30 a.m. in the Kentwood Hall Crystal Ballroom.

Tickets are $40 per person. Register by Oct. 11.

“Homecoming is for everybody — alumni, all friends of the university and our entire community,” Bennett said, in the release. “It’s a ready-made venue to plug in and connect with others.”

The bulk of the events have been reserved for Saturday, Oct. 19 and include:

• 9 a.m. − Band of Bears Homecoming Parade starting along John Q. Hammons Parkway. This includes bands, floats and other parade entries as they make their way through campus.
• 10 a.m. − Breakfast with Boomer in the Foster Recreations Center. Bring the kids to meet Boomer and enjoy a kid-friendly buffet breakfast and a free family photo with Boomer. The cost is $10 for adults, $7 for kids ages 3-13 and free for kids age 2 and under. Register online in advance.
• 10 a.m. − Bears and Lady Bears Basketball Sneak Preview , at the Great Southern Bank Arena.
• 10:30 a.m. − Golden Bears Reunion , in the Plaster Student Reunion Ballroom. This free, exclusive Homecoming celebration honors Bears who graduated from or last attended Missouri State 50 or more years ago. The Class of 1974 will be inducted into Golden Bears. Reserve by Oct. 11.
• 11 a.m. − Hill Hall 100th Year Anniversary Celebration , at the John Goodman Amphitheatre.
• 11 a.m. − Alumni Tailgate at BearFest Village, north of Plaster Stadium.
• 2 p.m. − Bears Football vs. Indiana State , Plaster Stadium. This is the Bears’ last game in the Missouri Valley Conference . Tickets range from $16-31 each.
• 7 p.m. − BeAR Crawl , Eyrie Rooftop Bar and Kitchen, Rooftop of Moxy Hotel. Tickets are $10 a person.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 3-day party planned for Missouri State's 2024 homecoming. Here's the schedule