With homecoming weekend approaching, Cornell students, alumni and visitors can enjoy a packed lineup of events across campus alongside Saturday’s football game against Lehigh.
From hot air balloon rides and free bowling to tailgates and a slate of fall sports, here’s what to look out for during Homecoming weekend.
Hot Air Balloon Tour
A hot-air balloon flies above Indian Creek Farm.
Interested in catching the beautiful views of Cornell from above? Sign up for a 45 to 70 minute hot air balloon tour over the Finger Lakes which will cover scenic spots across Ithaca, namely, Cayuga Lake, local waterfalls, Cornell and the Finger Lakes countryside, according to the Cornell homecoming events schedule.
There are a variety of times and dates available with a general Ithaca flight option priced at $380 for ages 11 and up and a private flight option at $1,000 per person.
Free Bowling at Helen Newman
Want to check out the newly renovated Helen Newman bowling alley? Cornell’s Alumni Affairs and Development is sponsoring free bowling from 7 to 11 p.m. at Helen Newman on Friday.
Registration is available at this link and there is a one-hour cap for groups.
Rappel off Schoellkopf Stadium
Cornell Outdoor Education is offering the opportunity to rappel — or climb down with a rope — from the top of Schoellkopf stadium. No previous rappelling experience is required and participants will get the chance to go down the field.
No previous rappelling experience is required and instructors will provide guidance and all necessary equipment. The activity costs $20 per person and runs for 30 minutes. Participants must be able to physically climb stairs, a short ladder and be comfortable with heights. Time slots are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Cornell Chorus and Glee Club Homecoming Concert
The Cornell Chorus and Glee Club will host its annual homecoming concert, “Shelter in the Storm,” from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday at Bailey Hall. The concert will feature “an eclectic range of pieces for treble, tenor-bass, and mixed choir ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary works,” according to the event’s website.
Composers span centuries and continents, from groundbreaking American composer Florence Price to contemporary voices such as Latvian composer Laura Jekabsone and Shruthi Rajasekar, alongside choral masters Josef Rheinberger and Pavel Chesnokov.
Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased online and at the event, according to the event’s website.
Tailgating Events
Touchdown the Bear boosts spirit during a previous homecoming game. (Anthony Corrales/Sun File Photo)
Looking to tailgate before the big game? Several organizations are hosting tailgating events, starting at 11 a.m. and slated to run until kickoff at 2 p.m. Tailgates are free to attend and will be hosted at Crescent Lot and Kite Hill Lot.
A full list of those organizations can be found on the Cornell homecoming schedule website.
Homecoming Beyond the Gridiron
Several other sports will compete in Ithaca during homecoming weekend. To kickoff, field hockey will face No. 10 Princeton at 5 p.m. on Friday at Marsha Dodson Field. Women’s hockey will open its season on Friday at 3 p.m. with the University of Vermont at Lynah Rink.
On Saturday, Lynah Rink will host a double header, starting with women’s hockey facing University of Vermont again at 3 p.m. and men’s hockey playing its season opener against the University of Waterloo at 7 p.m.
Women’s soccer will host Princeton at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Berman Field and field hockey will go head-to-head with No. 7 University of Connecticut at 2 p.m. at Dodson field.
Tickets to the soccer and field hockey games are free. Sales for the women’s ice hockey matches and men’s ice hockey season opener will open at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
And of course, don’t miss football go up against Lehigh at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Schoellkopf Field. Tickets are free for students.
Zeinab Faraj is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a senior editor for the 144th Editorial Board. She was a features editor and an assistant sports editor on the 143rd Editorial Board and can be reached at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
