Bolivar, MO. - Southwest Baptist University’s annual Homecoming event will be Friday, October 2nd through Saturday, October 3rd, with the theme: “HIS GLORY, OUR JOY!”
Featured Events:
This year’s festivities feature traditions new and old alike. Following the Alumni Banquet on Friday evening, the 4th Annual Southwest Baptist Celebration in particular promises to be a spectacular night of reminiscing and excitement. This event will also honor the four inductees to the SBU Athletics Hall of Fame. Included among this year's inductees is former SBU President Charles “CPat” Taylor, an honor of special note due to his record for the longest tenure as SBU president over 22 years.
The annual homecoming parade is set to have 8 marching bands from the Ozarks competing for a panel of judges as they also play for the fans, alumni, and friends in attendance. The parade will follow the same route as prior years, floats will start on Locust Street near First Baptist Church, move south on Main Avenue, go west on Maupin Street, then south on Pike Avenue, before ending at Plaster Stadium just in time for the Bearcat Bash.
The Bearcat Bash will take place at the heart of campus on the Burnidge Forum. Attendees can expect a premium picnic-style meal with activities for kids of all ages. After the Bearcat Bash, attendees are invited to join us at Plaster Stadium to watch the SBU Bearcat football team take on Lincoln University, this will also include the crowning of the 2026 Homecoming King and Queen at halftime, along with the Homecoming week winner of the dorm competition. We hope to see you there: Roll Cats!
Schedule of Events
Friday, October 2nd
- 11:30am - 50-Year Club Luncheon at the McClelland Dining Facility*
- All Alumni who graduated in 1976 and earlier are invited to attend.
- 1:00pm - Class of ’76 reunion at the McClelland Dining Facility
- 4:00pm – Student Bed Races in the Burnidge Forum
- 4:00pm – Reunion Classes Social at the Student Union
- This event invites the classes of ’56, ’66, ’76, ’86, ’96, ’06, and ’16 to catch up and reminisce; class photos will be taken at this time.
- 5:30pm - Alumni Banquet at the Marketplace (formerly Meller’s Dining Commons)*
- This year’s Alumni Association Award recipients (Lauren (Epps) Mertz ’92 (Posthumously) & Mary (Barrett) Little ’50) will be honored during this event, learn more about this year's recipients here.
- 7:00pm – The 4th Annual Southwest Baptist Celebration at Meyer Recital Hall
- Join us to celebrate each reunion class with a retrospective video. This event will also feature an Alumni Choir, and four 2026 SBU Bearcats Hall of Fame inductees: former SBU President Charles “CPat” Taylor, Fred “Superfly” Towns 1974-76 (posthumously), Christina Zentai ’16, and the original 1983-86 SBU Football Team.
Saturday, October 3rd
- 8:30am - Alumni Breakfast in the Marketplace
- 10:00am Homecoming Parade
- 11:00am-1:00pm – Bearcat Bash in the Burnidge Forum*
- 1:00pm – Bearcat Football Game + King & Queen Coronation at Plaster Stadium*
Events marked with an “*” require a ticket to attend. Please visit advance.SBUniv.edu/homecoming if you would like to purchase your ticket in advance.
Homecoming Parade Route
