Wartburg College will celebrate Homecoming & Family Weekend Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 12-15. This year’s theme is “Fly Our W.”

“This theme is all about Wartburg pride,” said Ellen Engh, director of alumni and parent engagement. “We’re excited to welcome alumni and friends back to see recent changes on campus and find more opportunities to be involved with the college.”

This year’s event will feature the dedication of the Ubuntu Center, which includes the updated Vollmer and Slife halls, at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in the McCoy Courtyard outside the residence hall. The Ubuntu Center comprises three residence halls with a new addition that includes a demonstration kitchen and accessibility improvements, such as an elevator.

The college’s new Esports Arena on the second floor of the Rada-Aleff Classroom Technology Center will be open for self-guided tours from 10:30 to noon Saturday.

Author and Wartburg alumna Mary Bleckwehl will sign copies of her book, “Knight in Training,” in The Wartburg Store from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday. The book was written and illustrated by Wartburg alumni.

The public also is invited to attend traditional Homecoming events including Kastle Kapers, the student variety show; the parade; the Renaissance Faire, featuring student organizations, off-campus vendors and family-friendly activities; the football game; Oktoberfest on the campus mall; and music ensemble performances.

Kastle Kapers kicks off the traditional festivities at 8:30 p.m. Friday in Neumann Auditorium.

Children ages 3-12 are invited to take part in the annual Wartburg Track & Field Children’s Track Meet at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the Hoover Fieldhouse & Track in the Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center. Cost is $30 to participate.

The Homecoming Parade, which follows Fifth Street Northwest and First Avenue Northwest, begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. The grand marshal is Durwood “Bud” Buchheim, one of Wartburg’s oldest living graduates, a former Board of Regents member, and a recipient of the Wartburg Medal. The parade will also feature special guest Katja Wolf, the lord mayor of Eisenach, Waverly’s sister city and home of the Wartburg Castle.

The Renaissance Faire on the campus mall begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, featuring a variety of student groups and off-campus organizations selling food and other items.

The Wartburg Knights football team will take on the University of Dubuque Spartans at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Walston-Hoover Stadium, followed by Oktoberfest on the campus mall from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Admission to the game is $6 for adults and $4 for students ages 5 to college; admission to Oktoberfest is $30 at the door, or $25 by registering in advance at www.wartburg.edu/homecoming.

The Wartburg-Waverly Sports and Wellness Center will offer one-day $15 family passes to the public Friday and Saturday.

The public also is invited to:
• The “Thomas Payne: Photographs” art exhibit, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Waldemar A. Schmidt Gallery, Bachman Fine Arts Center. Thomas Payne, professor emeritus of art, will give a gallery talk at 11 a.m. Saturday.
• A Bach’s Lunch hymn festival featuring Karen Black, noon Friday, Wartburg Chapel Commons.
• Volleyball games versus St. Olaf and Bethel, 5 and 7 p.m. respectively, Friday, Levick Arena.
• The Knight Run/Walk, 8 a.m. Saturday, Walston-Hoover Stadium. The registration fee is $15.
• A Kammerstreicher concert, 7 p.m. Saturday, Wartburg Chapel.
• A Castle Singers concert, 8 p.m. Saturday, Wartburg Chapel.
• Homecoming & Family Weekend worship, 10 a.m. Sunday, Neumann Auditorium.
• A Wind Ensemble concert, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Neumann Auditorium.
• A Wartburg Choir concert, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, Wartburg Chapel.
• Men’s soccer vs. St. John’s, 5 p.m. Sunday, Salzwedel Field.

The full schedule of events and online registration are available at www.wartburg.edu/homecoming.