Murray State University to celebrate Homecoming Oct. 12-15

By Shawn Touney | Oct 9, 2023

MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State University is preparing to welcome alumni back to campus Oct. 12-15 for Homecoming 2023.

A detailed schedule of events along with important information regarding Murray State’s Homecoming activities can be found at murraystate.edu/homecoming. 

Highlights include:

A Taste of the Arts - The College of Humanities and Fine Arts will host its annual fundraising gala on Thursday, Oct. 12 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in historic Lovett Auditorium. The event is sponsored by FNB Bank. A Taste of the Arts showcases the many talents of Murray State students in the Art & Design, Music and Theatre Arts while providing fine dining and a live auction for attendees. 

50th Anniversary Golden Class Reunion - Each year, Murray State University celebrates the Golden Anniversary class, which is the graduating class of 50 years ago. This year, the University will host the class of 1973 with a reception on Friday, Oct. 13 beginning at 5 p.m. in the Sid Easley Alumni Center. Golden Reunion participants are also treated to a campus tour and VIP seating for the Homecoming Parade. 

Black Alumni Homecoming Reunion Weekend - Sponsored by the Murray State University Alumni Association Black Alumni Network, Homecoming 2023 will offer events both Friday and Saturday night. A Black alumni Meet and Greet will take place Friday, Oct. 13 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Springhill Suites large ballroom, featuring networking, food, music, dancing, vendors and a recognition of the Nancy Tyler Demartra legacy. Demartra, ‘61 & ‘63, who passed away earlier this year, was Murray State’s first Black graduate. 

The Black Alumni Network Homecoming Soiree will take place Saturday, Oct. 14 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., also in the Springhill Suites large ballroom, and will include networking, food, music and dancing. Tickets are available now at a discounted rate of $20 for Friday night and $25 for both events can be purchased in advance at murraystate.edu/homecoming. Deadline to purchase tickets for one or both of these events at a discounted rate is midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Tickets purchased in advance of that deadline will be $20 for Friday night and $25 for Saturday night. Tickets purchased after the deadline will be $25 for Friday and $30 for Saturday. 

Homecoming Parade - The parade will begin Saturday, Oct. 14 at 9:30 a.m., traveling along Main Street from downtown to campus. This year’s grand marshal is 1973 graduate Charles Edward Hall. Hall spent 36 seasons playing the role of Santa Claus in the annual Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular in New York. For those unable to attend in person, the parade will be live streamed at murraystate.edu/streaming.

MSUAA Tent City - Tent City starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 inside the walls of Roy Stewart Stadium on the east side of the track. A beloved Homecoming tradition since 1989, Tent City provides the University’s Greek organizations, student clubs, academic departments and residential colleges the opportunity to welcome alumni home and to give the public a snapshot look at all they have to offer. Again this year,  Tent City will feature a live band. The student-led Murray State University Commercial Music Ensemble, under the direction of College of Humanities and Fine Arts instructor Brent Webster, will perform under the scoreboard.

Homecoming King and Queen Coronation, Football Game - The Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned at Roy Stewart Stadium in conjunction with the 2 p.m. football game against Southern Illinois University on Saturday, Oct. 14.

This year’s Homecoming Court is:

Cole Wells -  Murray, Kentucky

Bradley Dawson - Almo, Kentucky

Jaylon Taggart - Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Luke Wyatt - Benton, Kentucky

Tiler Ware - Cadiz, Kentucky

Hannah Erikson - Crestwood, Kentucky

Claudia Sweeney - Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Mallory White - Sturgis, Kentucky

Anjel Echols - Memphis, Tennessee

Callie Hart - Paris, Tennessee

Tickets for the Homecoming game are available at goracers.com or by calling 270-809-3000. 

“We hope all Racer alumni are able to join us at the ‘Finest Place We Know’ for what we believe is the most wonderful weekend of the year,” said Director of Alumni Relations Carrie McGinnis. 

For questions, please contact the Murray State University Office of Alumni Relations at 270-809-5600.