Homecoming Week 2026 celebrates Clemson traditions through "Flight 1889" theme
By Elsie Lukens '27
Miss Homecoming 2025 Lulu Hottinger is crowned at last year's Tigerama by Miss Homecoming 2024 Marae Lewis (Clemson University photo)
Clemson’s annual Homecoming Week festivities will run from Friday, October 16 to Saturday, October 24, featuring longstanding traditions for students, staff, alumni, and community members to enjoy. The festivities will culminate with a football game against the Hokies of Virginia Tech in Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 24.
The week features classic events including the float builds on Bowman Field, the Miss Homecoming Pageant, and Tigerama.
The theme of this year’s event is “Flight 1889,” paying homage to classes of the past and the traditions that connect generations of Tigers.
Central Spirit Float Build
Presented by Founders Federal Credit Union and coordinated by Central Spirit, Clemson’s century-old tradition will return again to Bowman Field starting Sunday, October 17 and culminating on Friday, October 23.
This year’s build will host around 40 different organizations across 12 build sites with the “people’s float”— open to all students — being coordinated for a second straight year by Clemson Undergraduate Student Government and Student Alumni Council.
Construction hours will be open from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day of the build, leading up to the official judgment from a panel on Friday at 3 p.m.
Learn more about the tradition here.
Students begin work on the Habitat for Humanity House following Fall Break. (Clemson University photo)
Habitat for Humanity House
Also on Bowman Field, the Clemson chapter of Habitat for Humanity will be hosting their annual home-build for a local family in need. They are expecting first walls to go up on Thursday, October 15 with intentions to be finished with the house by Friday, October 23. Students from Virginia Tech’s Habitat for Humanity chapter will also be stopping by to help out on Friday. The project is coordinated by junior Charlotte Beth Burns and construction is headed by senior Max Digrigoli.
Sign up for a time to volunteer.
Tigerama
Scheduled for Friday, October 23 at 8 p.m. in Memorial Stadium, Clemson will host its 70th annual Tigerama pep rally. There will be a pre-event block party taking place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. under the North Upper Deck.
Taking place rain or shine, the actual event will start by showcasing different student organizations and crowning the Homecoming Queen. Following that will be a musical performance by indie rock band West 22nd.
Senior nursing major and Tigerama Director Catherine Taylor describes the event as “the catalyst of Homecoming Week.”
Tickets can be purchased here.
Miss Homecoming, Fall Fest, and Alumni Gatherings
Prior to the queen being crowned at Tigerama, the Miss Homecoming Pageant will be taking place on Tuesday, October 20 in the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the pageant starting promptly at 7 p.m. This year’s pageant has 25 contestants across various organizations with the top 10 moving on to Tigerama. There, the three runners-up will be recognized alongside Miss Homecoming.
Sarah Legaré Smith, the Secretary of Activities for Clemson Undergraduate Student Government, commends the candidates, saying, “It takes a lot of courage to insert yourself into a mainstream Clemson tradition.” She also suggests to the public that “if you are looking for an event that inspires you as you watch it, this is one for you to go to.”
Tickets can be bought on the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts website up until an hour before the doors open to the event.
Additionally, the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) will be hosting its annual Fall Fest Step Show at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts. The event will take place on Friday, October 16 and will begin at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “All Roads Lead to Tiger Town”, and each participating chapter will bring its own unique movement in sound while highlighting various selected cities. Tickets for the show can be purchased here.
The Alumni Association is currently planning a Homecoming tailgate alongside other events. More information can be found on the Alumni Association website.
Homecoming Week culminates in Memorial Stadium with a home game against Virginia Tech. The game will kick off at night under the lights, with kickoff time determined by Sunday, October 18.
Homecoming leads in to the three-part Fall Ring Ceremony on Sunday, October 25, with ceremonies at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. respectively.
Published in The Pickens County Chronicle on Thursday, October 15, 2026