NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The annual Stephen F. Austin State University Homecoming celebration begins Friday, Nov. 4, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 6. This year's theme is "Life, Liberty and Lumberjacks."
The weekend festivities start at 11 a.m. Friday with the SFA Alumni Golf Tournament at the Piney Woods Country Club. The entry fee is $150 and includes tournament play, golf cart, refreshments, box lunch and post-tournament hors d'oeuvres.
The fifth annual Homecoming online auction runs through Nov. 6. Visit www.biddingforgood.com/sfahomecoming to view and bid on your favorite items. Some items up for bids include Clint Dempsey signed sports memorabilia, a chair from the 2016 NCAA tournament, a custom SFA Yeti cooler, destination getaways and travel packages, artwork, jewelry, gift cards, unique SFA items, sports tickets, autographed sports memorabilia and more.
The Homecoming Friday evening festivities begin with a Lumberjack basketball exhibition game at 6:30 p.m. against Huston-Tillotson University in Johnson Coliseum. The Torchlight Parade follows at 8:30 p.m. beginning at the SFA statue, "Surfing Steve," and concludes at the intramural fields where the bonfire, pep rally, fireworks and David Nail concert will be held. Representatives from the SFA Alumni Association will be in attendance distributing free 3-D fireworks glasses from the alumni tent.
The fun resumes Saturday morning with the Flap "Jack" Breakfast prepared by members of the Nacogdoches Kiwanis Club from 8 to 10 a.m. in the lobby of Commercial Bank in downtown Nacogdoches.
Children can decorate their flapjacks with special toppings, receive coloring books and have their photo taken with the SFA Lumberjack and Ladyjack mascots and other members of the SFA spirit teams. Flapjacks are free to participants in the Homecoming 5K. The cost is $6 per person for those not participating in the run.
The seventh annual Lumberjack Homecoming Certified 5K begins at 8 a.m. at the Student Recreation Center. Pre-registration is available online at www.active.com.
The Homecoming Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. in downtown Nacogdoches where onlookers will line the streets to watch colorful-themed floats and pageantry, and listen to music.
After the parade, the action moves to Alumni Corner (junction of Hayter and Raguet Streets) beginning at noon for pre-game tailgating. Admission to Alumni Corner is free for Alumni Association members and $15 for non-members. Entry for children ages 10 and under accompanied by an adult is $5 and for children 5 years old and younger is free.
Alumni Corner will again feature the Suddenlink "Bundle U" Viewing Lounge, live entertainment sponsored by Premier Kia, Lumberjack-themed tailgate food, games and the second annual Fall Fest where children can enjoy a bounce house, face stickers, hair painting and other fun festivities for free. The first 100 children to attend the Fall Fest will receive a "Future SFA Alumni" T-shirt. The Fall Fest is sponsored by Nacogdoches Pediatric Dentistry.
Benefit drawing tickets will be sold at Alumni Corner until 2 p.m. for $100. The winner of the benefit ticket drawing will receive $5,000 to apply toward the scholarship of his/her choice. Ticket purchases are tax deductible; however, tickets other than the winning ticket cannot be designated to a specific scholarship.
Hundreds of yellow rubber ducks will race at the Ag Pond at 1 p.m. for more than $1,750 in prizes during the 26th annual Duck Dash. Proceeds from the Duck Dash benefit the SFA Alumni Scholarship Fund administered by the SFA Alumni Association. Ducks may be sponsored for $5 each or six ducks for $25. Ducks may be sponsored until Nov. 4.
The highlight of Homecoming weekend is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. at Homer Bryce Stadium when the SFA Lumberjacks take on the Bears of the University of Central Arkansas. General admission tickets are $12 and available by calling (936) 468-JACK, online at http://www.sfajacks.com/ or at the gate on game day.
For more information about Homecoming events, contact the SFA Alumni Association at (936) 468-3407 or visit www.sfaalumni.com/events. Event and benefit tickets and Duck Dash sponsorships may be purchased online at www.sfaalumni.com/events or in person Monday through Friday at the Pearman Alumni Center on the SFA campus.
The SFA Alumni Association would like to thank the following Homecoming event sponsors: Liberty Mutual, Premier Kia, KTRE, Barnes & Noble Bookstore, University Rental, Suddenlink, Party 'N Things, First Bank & Trust East Texas, XETX Business Solutions, Lettermen's Association, Nacogdoches Pediatric Dentistry, Simpson Real Estate, Olivia King-Realtor; Nacogdoches CVB, Nacogdoches Kiwanis Club and Heritage Texas Properties, Natalee Kelaher.
Axe ’Em, Jacks!