HOMECOMING 2026
October 9-10, 2026
We are excited about UMHB’s Homecoming 2026 and encourage you to take advantage of a full schedule of events packed with opportunities for you to reconnect! Will you join us?
Registration for Homecoming is free, as are many events.
You can also purchase add-ons for events that require tickets or even extra t-shirts.
If you are an alum, you can choose from one of our UMHB Homecoming t-shirts as our gift to you for registering by September 30. A discount will be applied at checkout. If you have any questions about registration, contact the Alumni Engagement team at alumni@umhb.edu or 254-295-4599.
Stay tuned as we update this website with more details and reunions.
We are thrilled to welcome you back to campus for Homecoming 2026! We look forward to connecting with you and having a lot of fun. We hope you join us in person, but if not, feel free to connect online.
Rose Morales '00
Alumni Board President
Rose Morales '00
Alumni Board President
Open House & Registration
October 9-10, 2026
Musick Alumni Center and Museum at the Parker House
Visit the alumni center and museum and pick up everything you need for an exciting Homecoming! While you’re there, check out our updated traditions display, explore the Picture This exhibit, and learn about our history.
Friday Hours: 12 - 7 p.m.
Saturday Hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Stunt Night
October 9, 2026 | 7 p.m.
W.W. Walton Chapel
Since 1909, classes have competed in the long-standing tradition of Stunt Night. The theme for Stunt Night will be revealed soon! Alumni can receive a FREE TICKET, but you must pre-register online.
Homecoming Pep Rally
October 9, 2026 | 9 p.m.
Luther Memorial
Join us for our annual Homecoming Pep Rally featuring the Cru Spirit Band, UMHB Dance Team, and Cru Cheer. Enjoy the phenomenal lighting of the letters and fireworks!
David Castles '21
Young Alumni Board President
Homecoming is a great time to return to campus and reconnect with a place we love. We have several opportunities for Young Alumni to network this year! I hope you will join us.
David Castles '21
Young Alumni Board President
Homecoming Hub
October 10, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Musick Alumni Center and Museum at the Parker House
Stop by Homecoming Hub to check in, say hi, and pick up your registration packet! Looking for a place to meet up with your friends and classmates? Look no further. This is a great meeting spot. Don't forget to check out the updated tradition displays in the museum, and our rotating exhibit Picture This, featuring pages from the Bluebonnet yearbook from 1904 to today, alongside 30 photo submissions from alumni and students. While you are here, make sure you sign our decade wall to let everyone know who is here!
Carnival on King Street
October 10, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
King Street
Join us for our annual Carnival on King Street at Homecoming. This is a FREE event, with activities for your entire family to enjoy. There will be inflatables, photo ops, a climbing wall, balloon artists, a petting zoo, a Villa Golf Simulator from Bryan Villalobos ’19, axe throwing, and more. The center of King Street will have FREE water and soda, activities, student organization tables, Ms. Vicky’s cookies, and a place to enjoy fellowship with friends. We will also have Sweet N’ Salty Popcorn from Audrey Hale ’13 available for purchase, but the first 50 people will get FREE treats.
Design a UMHB Sticker Contest
October 10, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
King Street
Stop by the sticker tables on King Street and design a new UMHB sticker. We will have a variety of templates to choose from. Submit your design, and we will host a competition on social media to select one sticker, which will be produced and available for the last home football game on November 14.
Crusader Car Show
October 10, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
King Street
Check out our Crusader Car Show on King Street. We will have some cars on display, and you can vote for your favorite; the winner will receive a prize.
Do you have a car that you would like to enter into the competition? Fill out your information here and submit a photo of your car to be considered. Participation is reserved for alumni only.
Sign up to Show a Car
Homecoming Hymn Sing
October 10, 2026 | 9:45 -10:30 a.m.
Hughes Recital Hall, Presser Hall
Start your morning off right with a devotional from Daniel McAfee, Baptist Student Ministry Director, followed by a Hymn Sing led by Bobby Johnson ’76, Tim Kemp ’87, Chris Barnes ’98, and Josh Stewart ’04, with Beth Norvell '03 sharing some special stories from our history. Heritage Club will host a reception in the lobby following the event.
Coffee with the Cru - Networking Hour
October 10, 2026 | 10 -11 a.m.
Bawcom Student Union, 2nd Floor Lobby
UMHB’s Young Alumni Board invites current students and alumni from the past 10 years for FREE coffee, networking, door-prize signups, and a visit with Career Services! We will have FREE coffee from Summer Moon, Sly Fox, and Buckles and Beans, so don’t miss out on this amazing experience. Alumni will have the goal to meet one student and share one career lesson!
Spirit Stop
October 10, 2026 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
King Street
Check out the Spirit Stop hosted by First Year Collective and let them share their Cru Spirit before the Homecoming game. They will offer temporary tattoos, spirit paint, and hair color to help everyone get decked out in purple, gold, and white. You do not want to miss this!
Alumni Tailgate
October 10, 2026 | 11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Musick Alumni Center and Museum at the Parker House
Kick off game day with your UMHB family at our Alumni Tailgate before the Crusaders take on Howard Payne! Bring the whole family and enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the fixings for just $15 per person before cheering on Cru together. Be sure to stop by Game Day Scoop afterward for a FREE scoop of Crunilla ice cream.
If you're planning a class reunion, let us know so we can reserve a space for your group. Spots are limited, so register today!
Cru Kids Day
October 10, 2026 | 11 - 11:15 a.m.
Crusader Stadium Tunnel
Our Cru Kids are invited to spend time on the field with Crunk, the UMHB Dance Team, Cru Cheer, and members of the Cru Football team. Our middle schoolers and high schoolers will have the option to meet with one of our admissions counselors and talk through what it is like to look for a college, and even go on a tour of the campus. This event is for registered Cru Kids only; they must wear their new shirt or ID. To register your child, visit alumni.umhb.edu/crukids; the registration deadline is August 31.
Learn More
Game Day Scoop
October 10, 2026 | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Musick Alumni Center and Museum at the Parker House
Bring the family for some FREE Crunilla ice cream at Game Day Scoop.
CRUise
October 10, 2026 | 11:30 a.m.
Bawcom Student Union
Be part of our exciting pregame tradition of welcoming the team to Crusader Stadium!
UMHB Football vs. Howard Payne University
October 10, 2026 | 1 p.m.
Crusader Stadium
Come cheer on the Cru as they take on the Yellow Jackets in an exciting Homecoming matchup. General admission tickets can be purchased with registration at the alumni discount of $7 each. All alumni are encouraged to visit the alumni check-in table on the south concourse to pick up some alumni swag.
Homecoming Box - For the Fans
We have a limited amount, so order yours today!
Cheer on the Cru from wherever you call home with our For the Fans Homecoming Spirit Box! Whether you're packing the stands in Belton or watching from afar, this limited-edition box is filled with UMHB spirit to help you celebrate Homecoming in style. Even better, a portion of every Homecoming Box purchase will be donated by the Alumni Association to the Young Alumni Board Missions Fund, helping provide students with opportunities to serve on the mission field. Each Spirit Box includes: a pennant flag, a football stress ball, kettle corn, stadium cups, a rally towel, a game-day giveaway, game-day buttons, and more!
Order through the registration link. Boxes can be picked up at Homecoming or mailed to you.
HOMECOMING REUNIONS
Homecoming is a great time to reconnect, and we have several opportunities for the following groups to meet on campus. If you have a group that would like to have a reunion, contact the Alumni Engagement office today, alumni@umhb.edu.
Sign Up Today!
We would love to have you join us, and we cannot wait to experience UMHB together.
Full Schedule Register NowHomecoming POV
We want to see Homecoming from your point of view! Throughout the weekend, you'll find QR codes posted around campus that let you share your favorite Homecoming moments.
Simply scan a QR code, take up to 25 photos, and help create a community photo album filled with memories from Homecoming 2026. From reunions and traditions to UMHB vs. HPU and everything in between, we want to experience Homecoming through your eyes.
The full photo gallery will be available 24 hours after Homecoming, giving you a chance to relive the weekend and see Homecoming from every perspective.
Need a place to stay?
Hilton Garden Inn Temple
1749 Scott Blvd.
Temple, TX 76504
254-773-0200
Distance to UMHB: 8.9 miles
Holiday Inn Temple-Belton
5247 S General Bruce Dr
Temple, TX 76503
(254) 778-5511
Distance to UMHB: 4.4 miles
Residence Inn Temple
4301 S General Bruce Dr
Temple, TX 76502
(254) 773-8400
Distance to UMHB: 4.8 miles
Summers Mill
7441 FM 1123
Belton, TX 76513
(254) 939-6194
Distance to UMHB: 7.5 miles
Fairfield Inn Temple
1402 SW H K Dodgen Loop
Temple, TX 76504
(254) 771-3030
Distance to UMHB: 8.5 miles
Holiday Inn Express and Suites- Temple Medical Center
2609 S 39th Street
Temple, TX 76504
(254) 773-5500
Distance to UMHB: 7.4 miles