The late October event will feature a new parade route and new tailgate festival location, along with the traditional food, football and fun.
As Baldwin Wallace University turns 180, the entire community — students, alumni, faculty, staff, families, neighbors and friends — is invited to BW's 2025 Bold & Gold Homecoming celebration Saturday, October 25.
In a perfect symbol of new leadership embracing cherished traditions while helping guide BW into the future, the University's new President, Lee Fisher, and his wife Peggy Zone Fisher will serve as parade Grand Marshals.
"Peggy and I could not be more delighted to be in the thick of the action at our first Bold & Gold, and we're honored to lead the Marching Yellow Jackets and so many great student organizations in the Homecoming parade," said President Fisher. "We are eager to spend the afternoon connecting with the incredible community that makes BW thrive."
The traditional parade, featuring creative floats, BW's beloved Stinger mascot, candy-tossing student groups and Homecoming royalty, will step off at 11 a.m. and march up East Center Street to Beech Street and across Bagley Road to avoid construction on Front Street.
At noon, a free festival with entertainment and giveaways will get underway in the Finnie Stadium parking lot (another new location) with food trucks providing a variety of tasty treats and tailgate fare, including Off the Griddle, Cleveland Cookie Dough and Pop Culture, for purchase.
From the lot, it'll be easy for everyone to stream into the stadium to cheer on the Yellow Jackets. The kickoff of the Homecoming football game, pitting BW against the Marietta Pioneers, will get underway at 2 p.m. It's not too early to purchase tickets to the football game. Festival tickets are not required, but complimentary registration is encouraged.
"Homecoming is the ultimate reunion and a time for our extended campus family to come together, no matter how the event details might change through the years," said Tony Peebles, MBA '98, BW director of alumni engagement. "The infectious energy of students and returning alumni creates an unforgettable atmosphere and school spirit."
For more information on Bold & Gold, you may contact the BW Center for Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement at bwalumni@bw.edu, (440) 826-2104 or visit bw.edu/boldgold.
