Penn State Berks to host Family and Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 18–20

This year’s theme is “Let’s Level Up – Powered by Pixels, Fueled by Fun”
Graphic reading "Let's Level Up at the 2024 Penn State Berks Family & Homecoming Weekend"

Penn State Berks will host its 2024 Family & Homecoming Weekend from Friday, October 18, through Sunday, October 20.

Credit: Jaine DelVecchio

WYOMISSING, Pa. — Penn State Berks alumni and family members of students are invited to the college’s 2024 Family and Homecoming Weekend, set for Friday, Oct. 18, to Sunday, Oct. 20. This year’s theme is "Let’s Level Up – Powered by Pixels, Fueled by Fun."

The weekend will include activities for the entire family, as well as events specifically for students and families and for alumni. Most events are free and open to all attendees unless otherwise noted, but many require advance registration by Oct. 11. 

Prospective students are also invited to register for Penn State Day, Berks' largest admissions event of the year, on Saturday, Oct. 19, and then they are invited to stay after the program for the Family and Homecoming Weekend festivities. (Prospective students and families will be asked to confirm their attendance for lunch after registering for the event and receive meal tickets the morning of Penn State Day.)

FRIDAY, OCT. 18 

Pixels Outdoor Family-Friendly Movie Night 
7– 9 p.m., Perkins Lawn (rain location – Perkins Student Center Auditorium) 
Open to all groups. Advance registration required.
Attendees will enjoy an evening under the stars at the Pixels Outdoor Movie Night, which will be projected on a giant inflatable screen. Attendees are encouraged to grab their favorite blanket or lawn chair and settle in for a night of family-friendly fun. Popcorn, drinks and candy wil be provided. Movie synopsis: When aliens intercept video feeds of classic arcade games and misinterpret them as a declaration of war, they attack Earth, using the games as models. 

Black Light Mini Golf 
7-9:30 p.m.
Perkins Lawn 
Open to all groups
A nine-hole black light mini golf course combines traditional mini golf with a glowing, high-energy environment, offering a night of fun for the whole family.

SATURDAY, OCT. 19 

Penn State Day
9-11:30 a.m.
Perkins Student Center
Admissions program for prospective students and their families.

Legacy Breakfast 
9 – 10 a.m. 
Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building, Room 246
Open to alumni parents of students currently attending Penn State Berks. Advance registration required
Celebrate your Penn State legacy together while enjoying a buffet breakfast. 

Homecoming Check-In 
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
G1 Parking Lot
Attendees will check in at the registration tents to receive a copy of the schedule, a picnic lunch ticket (picnic registration required by Oct. 11), and a free Homecoming favor, available while supplies last. 

Parent & Family Chat 
10-11 a.m. 
Perkins Student Center, Room 3 
Open to parents and families of current students.
Parents and families of new and returning students will have an opportunity to meet with college staff and discuss any questions or concerns they may have. Attendees will also hear about campus updates and other Penn State Berks news. 

Free Attractions 
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Perkins Lawn and Perkins Plaza 
Open to all groups 
The campus will feature inflatables, various games and other attractions such as laser tag, Wii Sports, a photo booth, airbrush tattoos and more that will provide fun for the entire family. 

Picnic 
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 
Perkins Lawn Tent 
Open to all groups. Advance registration required.
Penn State Berks students, alumni, employees and their families are invited to attend a free picnic under the tent. Due to space limitations, the maximum number of guests per party is five. (Current Berks students should be included in the party total when registering.) This is an opportunity for parents, students, faculty, staff and alumni to come together, enjoy good food, and connect in a casual and fun setting. The picnic is free and donations are requested for the Nittany Corner, the college’s food pantry (suggested items can be found on the bottom of the registration page). 

Alumni Welcome Tent 
12:30-2 p.m.
Perkins Lawn 
Open to alumni. Advance registration required.
Penn State alumni are invited to our Retro Gaming Tent to play a variety of iconic games and arcade classics from the ’80s and ’90s. Alumni who are not gamers will enjoy mingling with faculty, staff and fellow alumni, sharing favorite memories, taking a family photo with the Nittany Lion in our bubble house and customizing their own Penn State friendship bracelet. 

The Ultimate Saturday Sundae 
12:30-2 p.m.
Perkins Lawn 
Open to all groups
Attendees will enjoy free Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream with a variety of toppings under the alumni tent. All are invited to indulge their sweet tooth and unleash their creativity at the sundae bar. 

Women’s Volleyball 
1 p.m. 
Beaver Athletic and Wellness Center Gymnasium
Open to all groups
The Penn State Berks women’s volleyball team will take on Penn State Harrisburg.

Crowning of the 2024 Homecoming Royalty 
1:15 p.m.
Perkins Lawn 
Open to all groups 
During this brief ceremony, attendees will cheer on and celebrate the 2024 Penn State Berks Homecoming Court, a Penn State Berks annual tradition.

Mario Gaming Tournament 
1:45-3:45 p.m. 
Location: TBD
Open to all groups
The Student Gaming Club will host a Mario Gaming Tournament with prizes awarded to the winners.

John Cassidy Comedy, Magic and Balloon Sculpting
2-3 p.m.
Perkins Student Center Auditorium
Open to all groups. Advance registration required.
Not your typical comedy magic show, Cassidy presents an original blend of clean comedy, fun magic and amazingly intricate balloon feats for both adults and children. 

Charcuterie Tetris 
Time: TBD 
Location: TBD 
Open to all groups
Attendees are invited to join the Hotel and Restaurant Society, a student organization, in creating charcuterie boards — Tetris style. Just like Tetris, the process starts with an empty canvas and the meats and cheeses fit together like a puzzle.

Berks Benefitting Thon Bingo 
3-5 p.m.
Perkins Student Center Auditorium 
Open to all groups. Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the event
Attendees are invited to play bingo for a chance to win prizes. Proceeds will support Berks Benefitting THON in the fight against pediatric cancer. To purchase your tickets in advance, contact Savannah Bogari at [email protected]

Dinner at Tully's 
Starting at 4:30 p.m., a la carte dining 
Open to all groups
Visit our newly renovated dining facility located in the Perkins Student Center. 

Penn State Alumni Homecoming Social 
6-9 p.m.
Foxskeller in Sly Fox at The Knitting Mills 
Open to alumni and their families. Advance registration required. Cost : $5. 
All Penn State Berks graduates are invited to this alumni event. Attendees can rekindle old friendships, share cherished memories, and enjoy a lively atmosphere filled with games and camaraderie. Foxskeller offers virtual golf, foosball, corn hole, retro games, a cash bar and more.

Casino Night 
7-9 p.m.
Location: TBD 
Open to students and families. Advanced registration required.
Attendees can try their luck at classic casino games like blackjack, roulette, poker and craps while enjoying snacks and drinks. Chips and play money will be provided to keep the night fun and light-hearted, with an opportunity to win prizes.

SUNDAY, OCT. 20 

Drag Brunch with Jacob Kelley 
10 a.m. – Check-in; 10:30 a.m.-Noon – Show 
Perkins Student Center Multipurpose Room 
Open to all groups. Advance registration required. Cost: $5; Free for Penn State Berks students with ID.
Limited seating is available for this entertaining show and a light brunch. Jacob Kelley is a nonbinary queer-inclusive sex educator and an established Drag Queen of North Eastern Pennsylvania who goes by the name of Trixy Valentine. Join Kelley and other talented drag queens and kings as they take the stage with dazzling costumes, high-energy performances and fabulous lip-syncs. 

SAE Club Car Show 
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
G4 Parking Lot 
Open to all groups 
The Society of Automotive Engineers student club’s annual car show supports student who design, build and test off-road vehicles to practice what they learn in the classroom. All vehicles are welcome to enter the show. Prizes will be awarded for various classes such as Best Domestic, Best Import, Best Project and Best Overall. For more information, email [email protected].

For more information regarding Family and Homecoming Weekend events for students and families, contact Dereka Bauscher, assistant director of student programming, at [email protected]. For more information about alumni events, contact Heather Wise, assistant director of alumni relations, at [email protected] or visit the Family and Homecoming website.