Everyone’s invited to participate! Students, alumni, faculty and staff, friends and family, and the community are all welcome to join the festivities and cheer on the Big Red!

Yes. Although there is no cost for admission, registration is required to attend the Friday night Fireworks and Laser Light Show and the Saturday Big Red Fan Festival. Pre-registration allows for quick check-in at the gates. Those who do not register in advance will need to do so when they arrive. Online registration is now open.

Enjoy performances and music at the bandstand, games for all ages, showcases featuring activities and giveaways from colleges, and campus partners, and FREE food and non-alcoholic beverages. The Cornell Store will also be onsite for swag sales.

Alumni and friends will check in at the designated gates with their registration confirmation to receive a wristband, which grants full access to the Crescent Lot and free food and non-alcoholic beverages served by Cornell Dining (while supplies last). Beer and wine will be available for purchase in the Beer Garden (credit card only).

Yes! Once you’ve checked in and received a wristband, you’re welcome to come and go from the Crescent Lot. Upon return, you’ll show your wristband at the gate for re-entry to the Fan Festival. Bag check may be required upon re-entry.

Yes, all football game attendees must have a ticket to enter Schoellkopf Stadium. Alumni and friends should purchase tickets in advance.

Yes! Both events are free to attend, and Cornell friends and community members are welcome. Registration is required, and pre-registration allows for express check-in. Online registration is now open.

Keep your eye on the Homecoming schedule for the most up-to-date event information. Whether it’s live performances, recreation, family-friendly activities, or informal gatherings, there’s something for everyone. Check back often, as events are added frequently!

During Homecoming, your picture may be taken by a hired photographer and possibly used for future Cornell-related media purposes. If you do not want your image used, you are responsible for notifying the photographer at the time the photo is taken. The photographer will delete the image on the spot.

Ithaca is a great place to be in the fall! Check out additional things to do in Ithaca and build in time to explore community events, outdoor recreation, and other family fun activities.

No! But in order to enter the gates for fireworks and the Fan Festival, students must bring their Cornell student IDs on both days for scanning. Students will receive a wristband when checking in for the Fan Festival, granting them access to the Crescent Lot and FREE food and non-alcoholic beverages (while supplies last). Please see the Student and Campus Life Spirit Week schedule for more information.

For students, admission to the Homecoming football game is included with your Big Red Sports Pass. Cornell students can secure one (1) general admission ticket for the game beginning Sept. 26. Learn more here.

Cornell Catering will provide free food and non-alcoholic beverages for all Fan Festival attendees (as supplies last). Beer and wine will be available for purchase onsite (credit card only) in the Beer and Wine Garden.

Food:

• Cinnamon doughnuts
• Hot dogs and veggie dogs with ketchup, mustard, and relish (GF)
• Nachos with toppings: cheese sauce, jalapeno, sour cream (GF)
• Cornell apple crumble with oatmeal-brown sugar streusel and whipped cream (GF, V)

V = Can be made vegan upon request
GF = Can be made gluten-free upon request

Beverage:

• Lemonade, unsweetened iced tea, water
• For purchase at the Beer and Wine Garden:
  • Canned beers: Ithaca Flower Power IPA, Ithaca Lakeside Lager, Utica Club Pilsner
  • Wines: Black Box Cabernet, Riesling, Rose
  • Assorted High Noons
  • Assorted hard ciders

Cornell has many dining options on North and Central campus, including grab-and-go meals and snacks as well as sit-down dining experiences. Check the website for up-to-date hours at our cafes and eateries as well as dining at the Statler Hotel.

We do not reserve hotel blocks for Homecoming. Book your accommodations early through one of the many local hotels; and check with your hotel for shuttle service to and from campus.

Dorms are not available to guests during Homecoming weekend.

Consult our parking map (pdf)! Parking on campus is free after 5:00 p.m. on Friday, but some areas around Schoellkopf Stadium will be limited due to road closures and fireworks. See below for accessible parking accommodations.

Consult our parking map (pdf)! Parking for Saturday’s Homecoming events will be $20 in Hoy Garage (tailgating prohibited) and $25 for Kite Hill Lots, Wing Drive & Alumni Lot (tailgating permitted). Free parking is also available in the TRB Lot, B Lot and Oxley Lot (Note: Oxley Lot has a lot of stairs). See below for accessible parking accommodations.

Tailgating permits will be available for purchase first-come, first-served starting at 11:00 a.m. on game day. Tailgating is available in Kite Hill, Kite Hill Extension, Wing Drive & Alumni Lot. Tailgating permits cost $25; cash is accepted at all entrances. Credit cards are also accepted at the intersection of Wing Drive and Campus Road when entering west-bound from Judd Falls.

View a parking map and access a full list of tailgating policies.

No, these events will not be available via livestream.

Yes! A link to the ESPN+ page can be found here.
(When you click “Watch Live”, you’ll be redirected to this page.)

In the event of severe weather, the Friday night fireworks show will be canceled. All guests will be notified via the email provided during registration, as well as on the Homecoming website. The Saturday Fan Festival and football game will continue rain or shine. In the case of severe weather, all guests will be notified via the email provided during registration.

To uphold health and safety protocols, minimize contact and ensure a swift entry process, a clear bag policy will be followed at all Cornell Athletics ticketed events.

Cornell Athletics strongly discourage guests from bringing bags, but if a bag is necessary, all bags are subject to inspection. Permissible bags include clear totes (not exceeding 12”x6”x12”), 1-gallon clear storage bags, strapless/handheld clutches (not exceeding 6.5" x 4.5") and diaper bags (must be accompanied by a child). One bag per guest is permitted.

Fans who bring unauthorized bags to the game will be asked to return the bags to their vehicle. No secure storage options will be available for personal belongings.
Students who arrive at Schoellkopf Stadium for the fireworks and laser light show without any bags will enter the stadium through an express line.

Students will enter through gates 1-5.

General admission gates for alumni and friends are gates 6-8.

Cornell is committed to providing a friendly, safe, and welcoming environment for all event attendees. Please review Cornell’s Expectations for our Alumni Community for more details. We're looking forward to welcoming you back to campus.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. If you or your guests have accessibility needs, please indicate that as part of your registration and review the information listed below to learn about the parking plans and infrastructure of Schoellkopf Stadium.

If you have additional questions or want to confirm your specific needs, please email homecoming@cornell.edu with details so that we may determine arrangements with you.

For Friday night’s fireworks and laser light show, guests requiring mobility assistance who have accessible plates, permits, or placards may park in the Bartels metered lot. Guests will need to show their identification to Cornell Police, who are limiting access to this parking lot. Guests without accessibility credentials but requiring mobility assistance may be dropped off at the Bartels metered lot while their drivers park their car in the B Lot (free after 5:00 p.m.). Golf carts will then transport all guests in the party from the Bartels lot to the closest ADA entrance to the fireworks in Schoellkopf Stadium.

For the Saturday Fan Festival and football game, we recommend that all guests park in B Lot (free). In addition, accessible parking for this game will be available in the Bartels metered lot with a special permit that is issued day-of (cash only, $25). An accessible parking placard must be presented for lot access. Golf carts will then transport all guests in the party from the Bartels lot to the closest entrance to the Fan Festival.

For additional information, please contact the Cornell Athletic Ticketing Office at 607-255-4247 or bigredtix@cornell.edu.

For the fireworks show and football game, use entrances EE/EF or EK/EJ to access ADA seating platforms inside the stadium.

Restrooms are located inside the gates on the Crescent Concourse, to the left and right of Concessions.

Please email homecoming@cornell.edu with any additional questions you may have.