SLU Celebrates 2024 Homecoming and Family Weekend
10/01/2024
It's hard to dampen Saint Louis University鈥檚 spirit. Although steady showers Thursday and Friday got SLU鈥檚 2024 Homecoming and Family Weekend off to a wet start, skies cleared for Saturday and Sunday, and crowds enjoyed more than 30 events, rain or shine.
More than 5,400 Saint Louis University community members registered for 2024 Homecoming and Family Weekend, surpassing last year鈥檚 numbers and once again making it one of the largest events of its kind in recent campus history.
Check out the photo gallery below for highlights from the weekend.
Attendees at 2024 Homecoming and Family Weekend stand on West Pine Mall in SLU gear
pointing at each others' shirts.
Weekend Highlights
Backing the Billikens: More than 3,611 fans packed Hermann Stadium Saturday to cheer the men鈥檚 soccer team on to a win over Loyola Chicago and take in the traditional Homecoming and Family Weekend fireworks show. Saturday鈥檚 game featured a special honor for University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., and First Lady Fran Pestello, Ph.D., in honor of their more than 10 years of supporting Billiken Athletics.
The women鈥檚 soccer team ended Thursday鈥檚 game against Loyola Chicago in a tie. Plus, more than 1,500 people registered to meet this year鈥檚 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams at Chaifetz Arena Friday night during Billikens Basketball Night.
Welcoming Parents and Families: Several events specifically for parents and families sold out in 2024 due to demand, including a Paint-and-Sip Saturday and a Sweet Sendoff donut drive-through Sunday. Additional events included a Friday movie night and the annual Legacy Luncheon, where alumni gathered with their new Billikens and pinned them to signify the continuing of a family鈥檚 tradition of attending SLU. Tours for prospective families also took place on Friday, and alumni and current students caught up on the University鈥檚 opportunities abroad at a Saturday session on SLU-Madrid.
Mixers and Reunions: Several schools and colleges hosted open houses, opportunities to meet with the deans and mixers for current students and alumni. Reunions took place for the Black Alumni Association, the Parks College Class of 1974, previous University ambassadors and admission interns and winners of SLU鈥檚 Spirit of the Billiken Award. The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrated 90 years at its annual Garden to Table Event, while the School of Education launched a year of celebration in honor of SLU鈥檚 100th anniversary of educating educators. The Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing honored its newest students in a White Coat Ceremony.
Celebrating Body, Mind and Soul: Homecoming events Saturday led off with the traditional Cheryl L. Cavallo Hustle for Your Health 5K and Family Fun Walk and a Homecoming Pancake Breakfast with Fresh Gatherings Cafe + Farm. Trolley tours of campus Saturday caught alumni and families up on recent improvements. Java with the Jesuits Friday, Our Lady's Saturday with the Campion Society and Mass Sunday at St. Francis Xavier College Church offered a chance to connect with SLU鈥檚 Catholic, Jesuit tradition.
Dating back to the mid-1920s, SLU's Homecoming and Family Weekend is always held the last weekend in September. Next year鈥檚 event will take place from September 26-28, 2025.
See what alumni events are coming up next at .