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Lee University is preparing its campus for Homecoming festivities this weekend, a time for alumni to come together, celebrate and remember.

“Homecoming is an event we look forward to all year long because it allows everyone to reconnect and unite their individual experiences at Lee into a common history,” said Patti Cawood, director of Alumni Relations at Lee. “Alumni bring a lot of energy to campus, and we look forward to reminiscing with them, hearing about their lives after Lee, and showing them how Lee has changed and yet stayed the same.”

Homecoming begins this Friday, Nov. 7 at noon, with the Check-In Buffet and will conclude with the Dessert Mixer on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. Throughout the weekend, Lee will host various events to welcome alumni back to campus.

Check-In begins at noon Friday in the Science and Math Complex Great Room and concludes at 6 p.m. Free T-shirts will be provided while supplies last. A free lunch buffet will be offered from noon to 2 p.m., featuring food from campus restaurants.

The Legacy Reunion, a gathering of alumni from classes leading up to the year 1964, will begin at 6 p.m. Friday evening in the Communication Arts Building. The event provides an opportunity for those alumni to mingle during dinner, and there will be a screening of “Decision for Destiny,” a short film captured on Lee’s campus in the ‘60s. Those who wish to attend should RSVP at www.leehomecoming.com.

Lee Theatre will perform “All My Sons” by Arthur Miller Nov. 7-8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the box office located in the lobby of the Communication Arts Building or by phone at (423) 614-8360, Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. Tickets will also be available one hour before curtain time in the Dixon Center. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $7 for children, seniors, and students.

The Alumni Grand Reunion, a highlight of the Homecoming experience, will be held Friday, 8-10 p.m., in the Paul Conn Student Union. This celebratory party featuring music by a disc jockey, free festive food, and the company of alumni and friends promises an evening of fun for all.

Back for a second year, the department breakfasts will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at various locations. It will be a networking opportunity for alumni to connect with professors and former classmates. Nine departments will participate, and each will provide a multitude of hot breakfast items and feature a guest speaker. The department chairs will provide updates about the department, and an award celebrating a distinguished alumnus will be presented at each event. The cost is $5 for alums, and one guest may attend at no additional cost. Those who wish to attend should RSVP at www.leehomecoming.com.

Another event returning for a second year is the Blessing of the Couples, which will be held on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on the steps of the Lee Chapel. A word of encouragement and a prayer will be offered over the couples who choose to attend.

The Student Organization Booths will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Walker Arena parking lot, providing a time for current club members and alumni to mingle. The Homecoming Tailgate Party will follow at noon with free food, including hamburgers, hot dogs, cookies, and sodas for all students and alumni.

The Homecoming basketball games will begin the season Saturday in the Walker Arena. The Lady Flames will play long-standing rival Bryan College at noon, and the men’s team will face Martin Methodist at 2 p.m.

Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m., current students and alum who have a family tradition at Lee are invited to attend Lee 2.0 in the lobby of the Education Building. The event is free and will feature a taco bar.

Lee’s School of Music will present the annual Music Festival Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in the Conn Center. The program will include familiar student ensembles Campus Choir, Chamber Strings, Evangelistic Singers, Jazz Band, Ladies of Lee, Lee Singers, Symphonic Band, and Voices of Lee. The festival will also feature a group new to the event, the Brass Choir, directed by Dr. Nathan Warner, assistant professor of music at Lee. Tickets for the Music Festival are $10 for adults and $5 for students. They can be ordered through the Alumni Relations Office at (423) 614-8316 or purchased in the Conn Center the night of the event.

Saturday night at 6:30, Lee will celebrate its commitment to worship together as a community of believers with a brand new event—a worship service held in Pangle Hall, located in Lee’s Church Street Annex. The service will feature both traditional and contemporary music, and everyone is invited to attend. The event is free, but those who wish to attend are asked to RSVP at www.leehomecoming.com.

The weekend will conclude on Saturday with the Dessert Mixer, a relaxed reception full of sweet treats. The event will be held in the John Nichols Courtyard at 8 p.m. and will feature live music. Current students and alumni are invited to attend.

“We’ve tried to create an event that will appeal to everyone,” said Cawood. “Whether you’ve attended homecoming before or not, we hope to see all alumni around campus this year.”

For more information, to view a complete schedule of events, or to register for Homecoming, visit www.leehomecoming.com or contact (423) 614-8316. Hotel options and rates are available on the website as well, and childcare will be provided at Lee’s Early Learning Center.