September 8, 2025
NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University will celebrate Homecoming Oct. 3-4 with programs to honor alumni and students. This year’s Homecoming festivities will take place in tandem with the 2025 Natchitoches Classic Car Show, affecting changes with the Homecoming parade and pep rally.
Events will begin Friday, Oct. 3 with the Demon Brothers Booster Club’s Homecoming Golf Scramble beginning at 8 a.m. at Northwestern Hills. Registration and information on sponsorships are available at demonbrothers.org.
NSU will honor distinguished alumni at the Long Purple Line luncheon and induction program beginning at noon Friday, Oct. 3 at the Natchitoches Events Center. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. This year’s honorees are Keith Bergeron, Jacque and the late Robert Crew, Dr. Marcus Jones, Angela Lasyone, Lee Posey and Chris Weaver. Induction into the Long Purple Line is the highest honor the university bestows on alumni. Ticket information is available at https://northwesternstatealumni.com/event/lpl-luncheon-2025/.
The Alumni Association will host “Return of the Cove – One Night Only at Mariner’s” starting at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. Information on ticket packages is available at https://homecoming-cove.eventbrite.com.
Saturday morning, the Demon Brothers will begin tailgating at 9 a.m. at the tailgate field.
This year’s inductees into the Northwestern Athletics N-Club Hall of Fame will be honored at 10 a.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Inductees of the 13-member class are Amanda Bennett, Mike Crow, Cody Fillinich, Amanda Glenn, Josh Hancock, Derrick Johnese, Gay McNutt, Tyrone Mitchell, Heather Penico, David Reynolds, Jermaine Wallace, Toby Zeigler and Distinguished Service Award honoree Layne Miller. Information on honorees is available at https://nsu.la/NClub2025 .
The Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development will host a reception and induction program for the Hall of Distinguished Educators. The reception will start at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 in the Teacher Education Center Commons. The induction will be at 11 a.m. in the NSU Middle Lab Auditorium.
NSU’s Homecoming parade will take a different route this year due to the car show downtown. The parade will start at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 lining up at the NSU Elementary Lab School and turning left onto Central Drive, right onto Sam Sibley Drive in front of the WRAC, left onto Caspari Street in front of the Student Services Building and proceeding along the west side of Turpin Stadium to the tailgate field where a pep rally will take place at 3:30 p.m. The parade will feature colorful floats with spirit groups, registered student organizations, Greeks, the Homecoming Honor Court and campus dignitaries.
The NSU Alumni Association will host a tailgate party from 3-5:30 p.m. at Collins Pavilion. Tickets are $10 for members of the Alumni Association and $15 for non-members.
NSU’s 76th Demon Battalion/NSU Demon Regiment Tailgate will host a tailgate at Noe Armory from 4-6 p.m.
Pregame featuring the Spirit of Northwestern Demon Marching Band is at 5:30 p.m. Kick-off for the gridiron matchup between NSU and East Texas A&M will be at 6 p.m. with the presentation of the Honor Court at halftime.
Demon Brothers will host a post-game party with music by Deep Water Horizon.
Several other alumni groups will host gatherings during the weekend. Alumni are advised to check www.northwesternstatealumni.com for updates as some event times and locations are subject to change.
Natchitoches Central High School will also celebrate Homecoming on Oct. 3 with a Friday night football game in Turpin Stadium, which will create additional traffic on campus. Some Natchitoches restaurants will offer extended hours during Homecoming weekend. Check with each business before making plans. Information on the Natchitoches Classic Car Show is available at https://natchitochescarshow.com/
