Homecoming & Family Weekend 2026: Red Hawk Pride and Community on Display

Montclair State University welcomed alumni, students, families, faculty and staff back to campus for Homecoming & Family Weekend 2026. From Friday’s festivities at Bloomfield College to Saturday’s celebrations on the Montclair campus, the weekend offered opportunities to reconnect with classmates, celebrate alumni milestones and enjoy the traditions that bring the University community together.

View the Video Recap

View the Homecoming Photo Album

Bloomfield College Campus: Reconnecting and Celebrating

Homecoming festivities kicked off on Friday, October 2, at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University. Alumni returned to campus to revisit familiar places, catch up with classmates and celebrate the experiences that continue to connect the Bloomfield community.

Alumni basketball games brought former teammates back to the court, while fans cheered from the stands. The evening continued with an all-alumni reception sponsored by the Bloomfield College Alumni Network. Over food, music and conversation, alumni had the opportunity to reconnect and reflect on the friendships and memories that have stayed with them long after graduation.

For Maurice A. Lyle '10,  chair of the Bloomfield College Alumni Network, the strong turnout showed the community’s continued engagement and opportunity for growth. “We were thrilled to see such a great turnout and to bring so many Bloomfield alumni together for Homecoming. The enthusiasm and support from our alumni show just how strong our community is, and we look forward to building on this momentum to create more opportunities for alumni to connect, get involved and strengthen their ties to Bloomfield College.” 

View the Bloomfield College Homecoming Photo Album

Montclair Campus: Bringing Generations of Red Hawks Together

On Saturday, October 3, alumni and their families gathered on the Montclair campus for a full day of activities, entertainment and University traditions. From the Street Fair to Main Stage performances to athletic matches to food and games, the campus offered plenty of opportunities to reconnect, celebrate and enjoy time together.

The Alumni BBQ: A Celebration of Community

A highlight of the day, the Alumni BBQ brought alumni, friends and families together on the historic quad for barbecue, craft beer, music and games. Longtime friends picked up right where they left off, graduates introduced their families to campus, and alumni from different generations shared stories about their time at Montclair.

The BBQ also marked a special milestone: the Black Alumni Advisory Council’s five-year anniversary. The celebration recognized the council’s work to bring alumni together to reconnect with Montclair, build community and create meaningful opportunities to give back. What began with the Council’s inaugural gathering during Homecoming 2021 has grown into a vibrant network of alumni committed to staying connected, sharing their experiences and expertise, supporting students and helping shape the future.

Joanne Bowman '82 shared that, “As President of Black Alumni Advisory Council, I have enjoyed seeing our growth and contribution to the MSU community over the past five years, and I look forward to our collective efforts going forward.” 

The afternoon captured what makes Homecoming special: the chance to return to a familiar place, reconnect with friends and celebrate being part of the Montclair community.

Al-Nesha Jones '06 '13, member of the Black Alumni Advisory Council, shared that, “Coming back to campus is always special. It’s great to see familiar faces, catch up with friends and share a little of the Montclair experience with my family. It reminds you that you’re always part of this community.”

View the Alumni BBQ Photo Album

Homecoming Street Fair: Connecting Alumni and Students

The Homecoming Street Fair brought fun for all ages, with face painting, balloon art, food concessions, inflatables and more. Alumni, students, families and community members enjoyed the festivities, while the University Libraries table gave alumni a chance to have their yearbook photos printed and revisit memories of their time at Montclair.

The fair also provided an opportunity to learn more about the University’s alumni affinity groups. At the affinity group information table, Frank Galindo '20, chair of the Hispanic Latiné Alumni Network, connected with alumni and students, shared information about the network and highlighted ways to stay involved with the University.

For Galindo, the opportunity to represent the network and connect with the Montclair community made Homecoming especially meaningful. "Giving back to the university that gave me so much means a lot to me. The opportunity to support my community by representing the Hispanic Latiné Alumni Network at Homecoming made it even more special.”

The affinity group table helped showcase the many ways alumni and students can build relationships, find community and maintain their connection to Montclair beyond graduation.

Cooking with Koppell: Rob Nelson, NJ PBS Anchor

The College of Communication and Media brought food and conversation together with Cooking with Koppell, featuring special guest Rob Nelson, NJ PBS anchor. The program highlighted the experiences and personal stories that make up Montclair’s diverse community, offering attendees another way to connect through conversation, culture and great food.

Help Bring Red Hawk Pride to the Road: Join the Founding 500

Homecoming also marked the launch of Montclair State University’s specialty New Jersey license plate campaign — a new way for alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, supporters and friends to show their Red Hawk pride wherever they go.

More than 100 members of the Montclair community had already stepped forward to show their support at Homecoming. Now, the University is inviting more Red Hawks to join the Founding 500, the initial group of supporters needed to help make the specialty plate a reality.

Want to be part of the effort? Complete the brief survey to join the Founding 500 and help bring a Montclair State license plate to New Jersey roads.

 Join the Founding 500

A Winning Finish

The day wrapped up with Homecoming football as the Red Hawks faced Kean University. Montclair came away with an impressive 42–14 victory, giving fans plenty to cheer about and providing an exciting finish to the day.

From alumni reunions and milestone celebrations to family activities and new ways to get involved, Homecoming & Family Weekend 2026 highlighted the people and experiences that make Montclair such a connected community.

Thank you to everyone who returned to campus and helped make the weekend memorable. We look forward to welcoming even more alumni, families and friends back to Montclair for Homecoming next year!

To learn more about ways to stay connected, visit https://inside.montclair.edu/alumni