Central College will celebrate Homecoming 2023 this weekend on campus with special anniversaries, family-focused events and traditions.

The Central Dutch football team will take the field against the University of Dubuque at 1 p.m., Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium, which will be broadcast on 92.1 KRLS. The weekend will be filled with athletics events including women’s tennis, women’s soccer, men’s tennis and men’s soccer. Tickets for sports events are $8.

Homecoming 2023 brings the 75th anniversary of Beta Kappa Epsilon, founders of the Lemming Race in 1948. Following the traditional Lemming Race at 6 p.m. Friday, a special reunion of BKEs will gather.

On Saturday, Central alumni and community members are welcome to a special program on estate planning. Effective Tax Planning & Legacy Building with a Q&A panel featuring Central alumni will explain the value and process of planning. The panel discussion will be at 10 a.m., Room 102, Helen Jean Hislop Center. The alumni panel includes Terry Garvin ’72, Katie Hill ’85, Bob Hodges ’03, Tom Johnson (retired Central administrator), Justin Madsen ’10, Tim Meyer ’70, Bill Northrup ’83, Kent Patterson ’05 and John Wagner ’70.

A new tradition launched after the pandemic is the free Tailgate in The Red Zone including the Kids Zone, which opens at 10 a.m. Central’s Tailgate runs 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lots of A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex and Helen Jean Hislop Center. Central will again offer many free events and meals for all alumni and families thanks to the generous support of our local business community and individual donors.

The Post-game Party will be in the Red Zone with free snacks. Watch social media for information about something new that will be part of the Post-game Party.

The Central Class of 1973 will celebrate its 50-year reunion. Classes ending in 3s and 8s will host reunion gatherings on Saturday evening at various locations throughout Pella.

Wrap up the weekend with Sunday Brunch 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, in Central Market. Tickets are free and available with registration.

Register in advance for meals, events, reunions and hotels at Central.edu/Homecoming and see who’s attending Homecoming 2023.