Homecoming ’24: Cheer on new DI Lakers, celebrate with memorable activities

Always a popular draw of Homecoming & Family Weekend are athletic contests and, this year, for the first time, alumni, families, and friends will get to see the new DI Mercyhurst Lakers in action. 

Homecoming takes place Oct. 4-6. As new members of the NCAA Division I Northeast Conference, Laker football, and men’s soccer have home games that weekend, as does men’s hockey, which continues its DI affiliation with the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

A complete schedule of games and Homecoming events can be found by visiting https://www.mercyhurst.edu/alumni/homecoming-2024

Events for Family Weekend, including a free magic show and carnival, can be found at https://www.mercyhurst.edu/campus-life/family-weekend

The weekend blends traditional festivities such as the alumni tailgate, bonfire, and various department and team gatherings with unique events like the North East Wine Tour, Carpe Diem Lecture Series, and Campus Green Tour. The celebrations wrap up with Sunday Mass at Christ the King Chapel and the Homecoming Brunch at Grotto Commons.

Ushering in the weekend is a special event on Thursday, Oct. 3, when Mercyhurst welcomes the return of Jim Kaveney ’96, an Erie native and author of “Unlimited Heart: How To Transform Your Pain Into Purpose.” Kaveney will share insights from his memoir at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, with a book signing to follow (See separate story titled “Carpe Diem: Jim Kaveney brings his heartfelt message to Mercyhurst”). https://www.mercyhurst.edu/news/carpe-diem-jim-kaveney-brings-his-heartfelt-message-mercyhurst