College Engagement, Office of Advancement
2 East South Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
We are excited to welcome parents and families to campus for our combined Homecoming and Family & Friends Weekend (HFFW). You will have the opportunity to meet faculty, cheer on the Prairie Fire teams, and most importantly—enjoy time with your student, their friends, and parents.
Schedule highlights for parents and families are below. You can also visit the Homecoming page for the complete schedule of events.
The app for Homecoming and Family & Friends Weekend 2024, powered by Guidebook, is now available. Download Guidebook, then use Find Guide to search and download the “Homecoming and Family & Friends 2024” guide. Already have Guidebook? Just find and download the guide.
6:00 p.m., Volleyball vs. Eureka
Memorial Gymnasium, T. Fleming Fieldhouse
Prairie Fire Women's Volleyball battle Eureka College. Join us in cheering them on!
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Cherry St. Jazz Combo
Galesburg Community Arts Center, 349 East Main Street, Galesburg
The Cherry Street Jazz Combo is joined by Matt Wilson, a former featured artist at Rootabaga Jazz Fest and Mirza Jazz Residency. Matt will hold a masterclass at 6:00 p.m., and then perform with the Combo beginning at 7:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Seymour Library Programming
Library Exhibit: The Cartographer's Choice: Rare Maps from the Knox College Collection
Library Student Exhibit: Arm and Arm on the Eve of War: International Students at Knox in the 1930s-40s
Library Pop-Up Exhibit: Mapping the Ephemeral - Knox College Scrapbooks through the Years
8:00 a.m. to 3:50 p.m., Return to Classroom
You are invited to attend a Knox class! View the full list of classes open to alumni and families. Please note that space is limited in some classes.
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Homecoming Hub and Check-in
Ferris Lounge, Seymour Union
A place to gather and connect with friends and family. Pick up your name tag, grab a snack, and let us welcome you to campus!
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Career Center Information Session
Bastian Family Center for Career Success, Alumni Hall
Learn about all the Career Center offers our students and how they can continue to support you as alumni. Come for resume building, job searching, and learn about the "power of first impressions." (Parents, are your students interested in getting a professional LinkedIn headshot? Visit Wallenburg Conference Room, Alumni Hall 117, between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.).
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Parent and Family Gathering with Division of Student Development Staff
Taproom, The Vault at Reserve Artisan Ales, 185 South Kellogg Street, Galesburg
Parents and families, meet staff from the Division of Student Development and join us for a casual get-together before Celebrate Knox kicks off.
Registration required.
5:30 p.m., Knox-Lombard Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
Lincoln/Skylight Rooms, Seymour Union
A celebration of new Hall of Fame inductees.
Registration required.
2024 Inductees
Paul Bennett '08
Ted Boecker '70
Jim Fennema '73
Mike Hendrick '13
The 1987-88 Women's Basketball Team
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Celebrate Knox Reception
The Vault at Reserve Artisan Ales, 185 South Kellogg Street, Galesburg
Celebrate all things Knox at this casual gathering for all! Come meet with your classmates, other Knox parents and families, and President McGadney. Areas will be designated for Reunion years. Food trucks available on-site.
Registration required.
6:00 p.m., Alumni Art Exhibition: Gabe Moreno '14
Borzello Art Gallery, The Ford Center for the Fine Arts
7:30 p.m., Women's Basketball Scrimmage
Memorial Gym, T. Fleming Fieldhouse
7:30 p.m., Student-Directed Theatre Production: 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane
Studio Theatre, Ford Center for the Fine Arts
8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Knox Observatory Night Sky Viewing
Rooftop, Umbeck Science–Mathematics Center
View the night sky from the Knox observatory with Knox Associate Professor Nathalie Haurberg '06. Please note, there are several flights of stairs required to reach the observatory. Rain date: Saturday, October 26. This event is weather dependent and will be canceled in the event of excessive clouds or rain.
8:30 p.m., Campus Fireworks
South Lawn, Old Main
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Knox Today
HOPE Center, 305 South Cherry Street, Galesburg
We welcome alumni, parents, and friends of the College to meet the leadership team to learn more about Knox today and have the opportunity to ask questions.
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Homecoming Hub and Check-in
Ferris Lounge, Seymour Union
A place to gather and connect with friends and family. Pick up your name tag, grab a snack, and let us welcome you to campus!
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Family Coffee Meet & Greet with Senior Staff
HOPE Center, 305 South Cherry Street, Galesburg
Parents have the opportunity to continue conversations with Senior Staff after Knox Today.
10:30 a.m. Men's Soccer vs. Lawrence
Jorge Prats Field
Men's soccer takes on Lawrence University in this Midwest Conference game. Join us in cheering them on!
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Food Trucks
West Knox Street, across from Knosher Bowl and Jorge Prats Field
Enjoy food from a variety of local food trucks.
Hy-Vee Catering
Jalisco’s
Minis On The Go
Pop Of The Morning
Shaw Daddy’s
Smokin’ Willies
TMRW’s Brew
12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Knox Farm & Edible Forest Garden Tour
Knox Farm, 422 South Academy Street, Galesburg
Learn about ongoing Knox Farm projects and research in the high tunnels, with a student-led tour from the Knox Farm Crew.
12:30 p.m. Women's Soccer vs. Lawrence
Jorge Prats Field
Women's soccer takes on Lawrence University in this Midwest Conference game. Join us in cheering them on!
1:00 p.m. Football vs. Grinnell (and swag shop)
Knosher Bowl
Cheer on the Prairie Fire in one of the last games of the season against Cornell! Recognition of the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees at halftime. Knox swag will be available for purchase in the pavilion.
1:00 p.m. Volleyball vs. Ripon
Memorial Gymnasium, T. Fleming Fieldhouse
Women's volleyball takes on Ripon in this Midwest Conference game. Join us and show your Knox pride!
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Faculty Coffee Chats
Room 115, Lincoln-Douglas Seminar Room, Alumni Hall
Sami Seybold, Visiting Instructor of Philosophy
Ryan Tracy, Visiting Assistant Professor of English: Let's Read a Poem Together
Alyssa Mathias, Visiting Assistant Professor of Music: Ethnomusicology
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Knox is Lit
Whitcomb Art Center
Enjoy alumni readings, as well as an opportunity for open mic. Read more about the featured authors.
2:00 p.m., Green Oaks Tour
Green Oaks Biological Field Station, 1797 Truro Turn Road, Victoria, Illinois 61485
Check www.knox.edu/greenoaksdirections or use the address above for GPS directions.
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Our Knox College People Remembered at Hope Cemetery
Hope Cemetery, South Academy Street
Meet at the front gates of Hope Cemetery for a guided tour with Rex Cherrington '73.
Registration required.
2:00 p.m., English and Art History Alumni Talk: "Liberal Arts Forever: My Career in Museum Publishing"
Ruth Evans Lane '04, Senior Editor, J. Paul Getty Trust
Room 213, Whitcomb Art Center
4:30 p.m., Music Department Showcase
Kresge Recital Hall, Ford Center for Fine Arts
A sampling of music from some of our choral and instrumental ensembles.
5:15 p.m., Havdalah Ceremony
HOPE Center, 305 South Cherry Street, Galesburg
Join us for a beautiful and brief Havdalah ceremony marking the end of Shabbat, led by Rabbi Jennie. She will share a few words about the significance of Havdalah before guiding us through this weekly ceremony. We welcome you to bring friends and family to share in this meaningful moment. Light refreshments will be served.
6:00 p.m., Homecoming Dinner
Lincoln/Oak/Skylight Rooms, Seymour Union
Cash bar at 6:00 p.m., dinner served at 6:30 p.m. All alumni, parents, faculty and staff are invited. Areas will be designated for Reunion years.
Registration required.
7:30 p.m., Student-Directed Theatre Production: 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane
Studio Theatre, Ford Center for the Fine Arts
8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Union Board Event
The Gizmo, Seymour Union
Union Board brings comedia Evan Wecksell to campus for a night of fun and laughter!
9:00 a.m., Slow Flow Yoga
Mirror Room, E. & L. Andrew Fitness Center, T. Fleming Fieldhouse
Unwind after the weekend with a relaxing yoga session—all are invited! Please enter at the main Fieldhouse entrance.
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Brunch in the Hard Knox Café
Hard Knox Café, Seymour Union
The Hard Knox Café welcomes all visitors to enjoy brunch on campus! Prices are $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. Credit or debit cards accepted at the door.
Registration requested.
Wrap up the weekend.
Visit the bookstore, grab a meal with your student (or coffee with parents while they sleep in).
Galesburg hotels and accommodations will reach capacity before the weekend.
Make your room reservations now at a local hotel or airbnb.
We are excited to welcome all of our parents and families at the Homecoming Hub when you arrive.
Please register by October 11.
We want to make sure you have a wonderful experience throughout the weekend. Please reach out with any questions.
Contact the Office of College Engagement at engage@knox.edu or 309-341-7238.
To make sure you don’t miss anything, update your email and home address. Update your info online or send updates to records@knox.edu.