Every Fall, the University of Southern Maine gathers in a collaborative effort to host an experience like no other! Homecoming & Family Weekend is our chance to bring together alumni, students, friends, and families together to celebrate our Husky Pride and enjoy a variety of fun events across campus.

This year, we are extending Homecoming and Family Weekend by a day and kicking off the weekend of festivities on Thursday, October 12th with the President’s Inauguration and our Annual Las Vegas Royal Casino Night! 

Below is a detailed list of everything that is happening during Homecoming & Family Weekend.

Quick Links to List of Events with Details:

Additional Resources:

Homecoming and Family Weekend

October 12 – 15, 2023

Thursday, October 12, 2023

3:00pm: President’s Inauguration 

Location: Hannaford Hall, Abromson; Portland Campus

  • The University of Southern Maine cordially invites you to attend the Inauguration of Jacqueline Edmondson, PH.D. as the Fourteenth President of the University.
  • RSVP by September 6, 2023
  • Reception to Follow
  • Registration Closed

6:00pm: Embodying Softness/Excavating Delight Exhibition Opening Reception

Location: USM Art Gallery, Gorham Campus

  • Featuring artists Jackie Milad and Libby Paloma, this reception opens the new USM Art 

Gallery exhibit

8:00pm – 11:00pm: USM’s Las Vegas Royal Casino Night

Location: Brooks Student Center; Gorham Campus

  • Come join Family, Friends, and Alumni in playing your favorite casino games of Craps, Roulette, Blackjack and Poker and enjoy a fun night of entertainment!

Friday, October 13, 2023

4:00pm – 5:30pm: Athletics: Mocktail Social & Professional Networking 

Location: USM Ice Arena; Gorham Campus

  • A networking event, beginning with a mocktail social where participating students will be served by coaches from the USM Athletic Department and will practice the art of networking as then engage with USM alumni representing businesses from the greater Portland area. 

6:00pm-9:00pm: An Evening with Cidny Bullens: Singer, Songwriter and Author of “TransElectric: My Life as a Cosmic Rock Star
Location:USM Portland Campus, McGoldrick Center, 2nd Floor Mezzanine and Salons

  • The University of Southern Maine is proud to host a special evening of song and stories with performer, musician, and activist Cidny Bullens. This event will celebrate the release of Bullen’s new memoir TransElectric: My Life as a Cosmic Rock Star and cover his life as a recording artist, touring performer, and trans icon with stories and intimate performances of original music. This event will also celebrate LGBTQ+ heroes in Maine as well as the LGBTQ+ Collection at the Jean Byers Sampson Collection—the largest collection of archives from Maine’s rich LGBTQ+ history in the state – housed at USM.
  • Register Here

6:30pm:  USM Athletics Zombie Run

Hosted by the USM Women’s Cross Country Team and Gorham Recreation Department

Location: Shaw Cherry Hills Farm; Gorham, ME 04038

Cost: $10 per ticket with pre-registration or register on-site 

  • A two mile run with “terrifying” distractions along the way!  Creative costumes and top performances awarded!  A kids fun run will kick things off at 6:30 pm!
  • Registration Link: Register Here
    • Kids Race: 6:30pm – Free
    • Zombie Run: 7:00pm

Saturday, October 14, 2023

9:00am: Men’s Soccer Alumni cs. Alumni Game

Location: Hannaford Field; Gorham Campus

  • Come celebrate Homecoming and cheer on past and present Men’s soccer players!  

11:00am: William B. Wise Naming – USM Athletics Learning Center 

Location: Costello Sports Complex; Gorham Campus

  • The William B. Wise naming will honor William B. Wise, a retired University of Southern Maine administrator, special friend and strong supporter of Athletics.  The naming will take place in or at the USM Athletics Learning Center. There will be comments from University leadership with family, friends and alumni present. Wise served the University of Southern Maine in a variety of roles including Dean of the College of Education, Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Executive Assistant to the President, and Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs. 

12:00pm: Women’s Volleyball vs Rhode Island College 

Location: Hill Gym, Costello Sports Complex; Gorham Campus

  • USM Women’s Volleyball will meet Rhode Island College in a Little East Conference match-up

12:00pm: Men’s Baseball vs UMASS Dartmouth 

Location: Flaherty Field; Gorham Campus

  • USM Men’s Baseball will meet UMASS Dartmouth in a non-traditional double header.

1:00pm: Men’s Soccer vs Keene State

Location: Hannaford Field; Gorham Campus

  • USM Men’s Soccer will meet Keene State in a Little East Conference match-up

2:00pm: Dr. Alfred & D. Suzi Osher School of Music Visiting Artist Series

Location: Corthell Hall; Gorham Campus

  • Composition Masterclass with Bridget Convey, Piano and Lynn Vartan, Percussion
    • Two experts in new music perform and present a masterclass featuring compositions of Osher School of Music students.

3:00pm: Softball Alumni vs Alumni Game

Location: USM Softball Stadium; Gorham Campus

  • Come celebrate Homecoming and cheer on past and present Women’s Softball players!  

4:00pm: Women’s Lacrosse vs. Alumni Game

Location: Location: Hannaford Field; Gorham Campus

  • Come celebrate Homecoming and cheer on past and present Women’s Lacrosse players!  

4:00pm: Women’s Volleyball vs Maine Maritime Academy

Location: Hill Gym, Costello Sports Complex; Gorham Campus

  • USM Women’s Volleyball will meet Maine Maritime Academy in a non-conference match-up

6:00pm – 9:00pm: WMPG’s 50th Birthday Celebration

Location: McGoldrick Center, Multipurpose Room; Portland Campus

  • Join the WMPG, USM’s Community Radio Station as they celebrate 50 years on the air with a party at USM. The celebration will feature music from WMPG past and present DJs, including a live broadcast, food and drinks, a film presentation, and the launching of a dedicated WMPG past 50 years web page.

6:00pm: Annual Blue/White Men’s Ice Hockey Scrimmage

Location: USM Ice Arena, Costello Sports Complex; Gorham Campus

  • Annual intra-squad scrimmage for the USM Huskies Men’s Hockey team

7:30pm: Dr. Alfred & D. Suzi Osher School of Music Faculty Concert

Location: Corthell Hall; Gorham Campus

  • Details: Join us for a concert by Bridget Convey, Piano and Lynn Vartan, Percussion
  • Cost:  $15 for general admission; $10 for students/seniors

Sunday, October 15, 2023

10:00am – 12:00pm: Champs Harvest Brunch

Location: Brooks Dining Hall; Gorham Campus

  • Come join us for brunch to celebrate Homecoming and Family Weekend.  Meet President Jackie Edmondson as she enjoys Homecoming and Family Weekend here at USM as our new President.

10:00am: Residential Life Brunch

Location: Brooks Dining Hall Patio; Gorham Campus 

  • Are you a Residential Life Staff Alum?  Did you live in the residence halls when you attended USM? Were you an RA, AM, or RD while here at USM?   You are all invited to a brunch to reconnect and meet our Residential Life staff.

12:00pm – 3:00pm: USM’s Annual Octoberfest

Location: G8 Parking Lot (Behind Russell Hall); Gorham Campus

  • Come celebrate Homecoming & Family Weekend at USM’s Annual Octoberfest!  There will be Food Trucks, a Miniature Golf Course, Pumpkin Painting, Petting Zoo, Exotic Animals, Yard Games, Caricatures & much more!

1:00pm: USM Osher School of Music Outdoor Concert

Location: Corthell Lawn; Gorham Campus

  • Welcome back to Corthell Hall for the traditional ‘Olde Fashioned Outdoor Band Concert’.  Featuring the Osher School of Music Concert band under the direction of Dr. Will Kinne.  Come enjoy the music with a hotdog and some cold lemonade right on the Corthell Hall steps.

5:00pm: 37th Annual Husky Hall of Fame Banquet & Induction Ceremony

Location: Italian Heritage Center; 40 Westland Ave, Portland, ME 04102

  • Join USM Athletics in welcoming in the 2023 Athletics Hall of Fame Class 
  • $50 Tickets – To purchase tickets, please call 207-780-5430 or email kaitlin.bouchard@maine.edu