10:00 PMStudent
Homecoming Kickoff Countdown
Irwin Belk Complex
The countdown clock runs out at Irwin Belk and the week officially starts.
The Week
Schedule of Events
October 10–17, 2026. Game day is locked in and the rest of the week is filling in as the committee confirms it.
The Week
Schedule of Events
October 10–17, 2026. Game day is locked in — the rest of the week is being released as the committee confirms it.
Counting It Down
Saturday, October 10Rodeo on the Old Practice Field
Sunday, October 11- 4:00 PMStudent
Homecoming Rodeo
Old Practice Field
The week opens outside on the Old Practice Field, in the afternoon.
The Block Is Hot
Monday, October 12- 12:00 PMStudent
The Block Is Hot
The Block
Midday on The Block to open the week.
- 6:30 PMStudent
SGA Inauguration
Jane M. Smith Memorial Chapel
Student Government is sworn in at the Chapel before the week gets loud.
- 9:30 PMStudent
Drive-In Movie
Location to be announced
An outdoor screening to close out Monday night.
Fashion Show & Concert
Tuesday, October 13- 11:30 AM – 2:00 PMStudent
Café Takeover
Millennium Dining Hall
Lunch gets taken over. Millennium runs it from 11:30 to 2.
- 7:00 PMStudent
Homecoming Fashion Show & Concert
Brayboy Gym
The runway and the stage in one night. Brayboy fills up early for this one.
Bury the Lion
Wednesday, October 14- 4:00 PMStudent
Bury the Lion Funeral
Biddle Memorial Hall
The rivalry tradition. Lincoln's Lion gets a full funeral in Biddle — eulogy, processional and all — before the Bulls bury them for real on Saturday.
- 10:00 PMStudent
Silent Headphone Party
Brayboy Gymnasium
Three channels, one gym, and everybody dancing to something different.
- 7:00 PMAlumni
Homecoming Comedy Show — La'Trez Anderson
The Comedy Zone, Charlotte
Lex Bibbs presents La'Trez Anderson live. A portion of proceeds supports the Alpha Epsilon Sigma Scholarship Endowment of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. at JCSU.
Presented by Lex Bibbs
Coronation Night
Thursday, October 15- 8:00 PMStudent★ 100th Miss JCSU
Coronation of the 100th Miss Johnson C. Smith University
Brayboy Gym
A century of queens. The 100th Miss Johnson C. Smith University is crowned alongside the 16th Mister Johnson C. Smith University.
Festi-BULL, Pep Rally & Step Show
Friday, October 16- 12:00 PMFestival
Festi-BULL Part I
The Block
Vendors, food and sound on The Block, straight through to the pep rally. Part II runs all day Saturday.
- 4:00 PMStudent
Pep Rally
The Block
The band, the team and the whole yard on The Block the day before kickoff.
- 7:00 PMStudent
Homecoming Step Show
Brayboy Gym
Greeks take Brayboy. The loudest night of the week before game day.
- Time TBAAlumni
Sit Lux en Bleu: A JCSU Affair
Venue to be announced
Last year set the table, this year sets the tone. Bigger, bolder, brighter in bleu. Ticket sales drop soon — last year's attendees get first access.
JCSU National Alumni Association
Game Day on the Golden Road
Saturday, October 17- 7:00 AMTailgate
Homecoming Tailgatin'
Tailgate Lot
Grills on at sunrise. Tents, tables and Golden Bull blue take over the lot before a single whistle blows.
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PMParade
Homecoming Parade
Lineup begins at House of Prayer
Floats, bands, Greeks and the whole West End out on Beatties Ford Road. Find a curb early.
- 11:00 AM – 7:00 PMFestival
Festi-BULL Part II
The Block
Eight hours of vendors, food and live sound on The Block. Part II goes bigger.
- 2:00 PMFootball
JCSU vs. Lincoln Lions
Irwin Belk Complex
Kickoff. The Golden Bulls host Lincoln (Pa.) with the whole house on its feet.
- 3:00 PM – 10:00 PMYardfest
Yardfest on the Ville
Humanities Lawn & Plots
The yard runs until ten. Strolls, sets and the reunion you actually came for.
- 7:00 PM – 10:00 PMAlumni
Spades Tournament
Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel
The first-ever Homecoming spades tournament. Bring your partner, know your book count, and play for a purpose — proceeds support JCSU students.
JCSU National Alumni Association
- 7:00 PM – 10:00 PMAlumni
Bingo Homecoming Social
Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel
Three hours of bingo, laughing and catching up with people you haven't seen since the last one. Supporting JCSU NAA programs and initiatives.
JCSU National Alumni Association
- Doors 8:30 PM · Dance 9:00 PMAlumni
Sneaker Ball
Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel
The big one. Formal wear from the ankles up, your best kicks from the ankles down, and U-Neek Flavur Band on the stage all night.
JCSU National Alumni Association
Don’t Miss It
Put the Whole Week
On Your Calendar
All 23 events, one click. Subscribe instead of downloading and anything we add or move updates on your phone by itself — no coming back here to check.
Subscribe · stays up to date
Or download a snapshot
Outlook or something else? Add a calendar from the web and paste jcsu-homecoming.pages.dev/homecoming-2026.ics
The Route
Down Beatties Ford
Saturday, October 17, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. 1.5 miles from the House of Prayer to Cemetery Street, straight through the Historic West End and past campus. Assembly is 8:00 AM. Find a curb early.
8:00 AM · Assembly
Dr. Webber Avenue — House of Prayer lot
Entries assemble in the United House of Prayer For All parking lot at 2321 Beatties Ford Road. Two hours before step-off, so allow for it.
Open in Maps10:00 AM · Step-off
Beatties Ford Road at Dr. Webber Avenue
The parade starts at the House of Prayer, on Beatties Ford Road at Dr. Webber Avenue.
Open in MapsTurn 1 · North
North on Dr. Webber Avenue
The procession moves north along Dr. Webber Avenue out of the assembly area.
Open in MapsTurn 2 · Right
Right onto Beatties Ford Road
Right turn onto Beatties Ford Road — this is where the crowd starts and where the route runs the length of the Historic West End.
Open in MapsThe stretch
Beatties Ford Road through the West End
A mile and a half of Beatties Ford Road, past campus and the clock tower. Thickest crowds are along this stretch — find a curb early.
Open in Maps12:00 PM · Dispersal
Beatties Ford Road at Cemetery Street
The parade ends and disperses at Cemetery Street by noon.
Open in Maps2:00 PM · Then kickoff
Irwin Belk Complex
Gates open ahead of the 2:00 PM kickoff against Lincoln (Pa.). Two hours between dispersal and the whistle.
Open in Maps
See the route on a map
1.5 miles from the House of Prayer to Cemetery Street. The map loads from Google, so we don’t load it until you ask.
Street closures come later. The route runs the same corridor every year, but the 2026 closure times and detours are issued closer to the date — get on the list and we’ll send them out, or call 704.378.1000.
Stay Connected
Join the Stampede
The rest of the week drops soon. Be first to get the full schedule, ticket drops and parade details — and get a text the moment anything moves on game day.
#NoPlaceLikeSmith · #GoldenRoad · #JCSUHomecoming