Let’s Go, Hawks!
We look forward each year to welcoming our alumni, parents and families to campus for a truly memorable Family Weekend and Homecoming celebration. Save the dates of October 8-11, 2026, and plan to join us.
Ripon College is offering the following room blocks for Family Weekend and Homecoming, Oct. 8-11:
Heidel House, Green Lake
Book online
Cobblestone Inn and Suites, Ripon
Call 920-748-5500
2026 Family Weekend and Homecoming
Schedule of Events
*Ripon Student-Only Event
| Oct. 8-11 | Time | What/Where? *Student Only Functions | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Registration | 2 - 6 p.m. | Registration and Check-In - Messitte Atrium, Willmore Center | Alumni and families, stop by to check in, and pick up a Ripon College swag bag, plus an official name tag. Special opportunity to have official family photos taken. Walk-ins welcome. |
| Saturday Registration | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Registration and Check-In - Messitte Atrium, Willmore Center | Alumni and families, stop by to check in, and pick up a Ripon College swag bag, plus an official name tag. Special opportunity to have official family photos taken. Walk-ins welcome. |
THURSDAY | OCT. 8 | ||
| 2:30 - 4 p.m. | *Alumni Tell All: Grad School Gab & Real Talk on Getting Hired - Career Services, Lower Level Commons | Hosted by the Center for Career and Professional Development and the Alumni Board of Directors, students have the opportunity to connect with alumni about life after Ripon regarding graduate and professional school and standing out in the job market. | |
| 8 - 9 p.m. | *Student Pep Rally - Weiske Gym, Willmore Center | ||
| 9 - 11 p.m. | *Late Night Breakfast - Main Dining Room, Pickard Commons | Fuel up for a big weekend! Students will be served by Faculty, Staff, and members of the Board of Trustees and Alumni Board. Hosted by SAGE Dining Services. | |
FRIDAY | OCT. 9 | ALL DAY: SHOW YOUR RIPON PRIDE TODAY! | Wear your Red Hawks gear today! |
| 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Common Grounds - Lower Level, Pickard Commons | Serving made to order Starbucks beverages and bakery items. | |
| 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Cookie Giveaway - Upper Campus Locations | Students, Faculty and Staff can enjoy cookies between classes. | |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | SOAR Poster Session - Lane Library | Participating students in the 2026 Summer Opportunities for Advanced Research (SOAR) program will share poster presentations highlighting hands-on research completed over the summer with a faculty mentor. | |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Lunch - Main Dining Room, Pickard Commons | Lunch provided by SAGE Dining Services is available to students using swipes and families for purchase with points, cash or credit. | |
| 2 - 6 p.m. | Caestecker Art Gallery Open - Rodman Center for the Arts | There’s something new to see at Ripon! Stop by the C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts and explore the beautifully renovated Whipple-Brewster Atrium before making your way to the Caestecker Gallery. While you’re there, experience Mixed Signals (New Paintings +), featuring new work by artist Derrick Buisch, professor of painting at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The exhibition brings together bold abstract paintings inspired by everything from roadside signs and graffiti to tattoos, imaginary monsters, and fantastic buildings. Admission is complimentary. Visit Art Events for more information. | |
| 5 - 7 p.m. | Family Dinner Night - The Spot, Harwood Memorial Union | Dinner provided by SAGE Dining Services is available to students using swipes and families for purchase with points, cash or credit. | |
| 6 - 6:30 p.m. | Merriman House Progress Tour & Dedication - Merriman House Site, Congress Street, Ripon | Join us for a special first look at the new Merriman House as it begins to take shape. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the construction in progress, hear more about the vision for this important new chapter in the life of the College, and gather for a ceremonial groundbreaking and dedication of the future home. Together, we’ll mark this milestone and celebrate the generosity, partnership, and shared commitment bringing Merriman House to life. | |
| 7 - 9 p.m. | Ghost Walk: Ripon After Dark - Pickard Commons | Take a walk on the spirited side of Ripon! Join Professor of Art Travis Nygard for an entertaining evening stroll filled with campus stories, history, legends - and perhaps a ghost or two. Comfortable shoes and a sense of adventure encouraged! | |
| TBD p.m. | *2027 Senior VIP Party - TBD | More Coming Soon. | |
SATURDAY | OCT. 10 | ALL DAY: SHOW YOUR RIPON PRIDE TODAY! | Saturday is a RED OUT, so come ready to turn campus Ripon red! Stop by the Willmore Center to stock up on Ripon College game-day gear before heading to the stadium. Whether you brought your favorite Ripon sweatshirt or need an excuse for something new, wear your RED, show your Ripon pride, and help us fill Family Weekend & Homecoming with Red Hawks spirit from head to toe! |
| 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Common Grounds - Lower Level, Pickard Commons | Serving made to order Starbucks beverages and bakery items. | |
| 8 - 10 a.m. | Coffee, Cakes & Ceresco Prairie - Messitte Atrium, Willmore Center | Start Saturday with breakfast - and get your steps in before the big games begin! Stop by the Willmore Center for a complimentary continental breakfast served from 8 to 10 a.m. Then join Associate Professor of Biology Ben Grady for a guided walk through beautiful Ceresco Prairie at 9 a.m. Enjoy the fall morning, learn a little about Ripon's own natural landscape, and work up an appetite before heading to Tent City for tailgating, football, soccer, and a full afternoon of Red Hawks fun. |
|
| 9 - 10 a.m. | Walk on the Prairie - Trailhead, West of the Willmore Center | A Ripon tradition, join us for a guided trail walk through the College’s 130-acre conservancy that features native prairie, oak savannah, and wetlands habitat. | |
| 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Alumnae Softball Game - Tracy Field, Union Street, Ripon | Alumni and families are encouraged to join the current team to kick off the 2026-27 season. Softball alumnae are welcome to play with the student athletes or just cheer on the team at Tracy Field. Reserved tailgate and game-time seating locations between Linley Lane and the north parking lot of Hopp Stadium for softball alumni and families |
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| 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Alumni Swim Meet - Kahl Pool, Willmore Center | Alumni and families are encouraged to join the current team to kick off the 2026-27 season. Alumni are welcome to swim with the student athletes or cheer on the team poolside. Reserved tailgate and game-time seating locations between Linley Lane and the north parking lot of Hopp Stadium for swimming alumni and families |
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| 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Red Hawks Homecoming Tailgate - Part 1 - Hopp Stadium, Union/Thorne Streets | This year, Homecoming takes over the north end zone on Hopp Stadium! Grab your Ripon College bag, and make your way through Tent City to collect swag, visit campus groups, catch up with friends, and fuel up for game day. Come hungry! 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. only Choose the SAGE BBQ Tent featuring brisket, smoked pulled chicken, mac and cheese, and more for $15 per person, or build your own game-day meal a la carte from our food truck area (pricing will vary). Looking for the classics? The Ceresco’s food truck will be serving favorites all day at Hopp Stadium like brats, cheeseburgers, cheese curds, popcorn, and more. And save room for a visit from Ripon's own Belle's Ice Cream! Our Beverage Tent will be open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and again from 4-5 p.m., featuring beer, wine, festive game-day mocktails, and a special 175th signature drink. |
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| 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. | Game Day Tent City: Play, Connect & Celebrate! - Hopp Stadium, Union/Thorne Streets | Tent City is where Family Weekend & Homecoming comes together! Enjoy live music, face painting, photo ops with Rally, campus tables, giveaways, and plenty of places to reconnect with old friends - or make some new ones. Alumni, students, parents, families, faculty, and friends are all invited to join the fun and celebrate Ripon across generations. Feeling competitive? Head to the game area for mini golf, cornhole, and more. Each game you play earns you another chance to enter our Family Weekend & Homecoming Raffle, so play a little - or play them all! Then grab some food, find your friends, and get ready to cheer on the Red Hawks. Want to support Red Hawks athletics? For every gift made to the Red Hawk athletics general fund the week of Homecoming you will be entered an opportunity to win a special game day prize with the Packers. First time donor? Even better! You’ll be entered twice! ! *You do not have to be in attendance to win! |
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| 1- 3 p.m. | Red Hawks Women's Tennis v. Lake Forest - Ripon High School Courts, Metomen Street, Ripon | Cheer on the Red Hawks! | |
| 1- 4 p.m. | Red Hawks Football v. Lake Forest - Hopp Stadium, Union/Thorne Streets | Cheer on the Red Hawks! Ceresco’s food truck will be open. | |
| 2 - 6 p.m. | Caestecker Art Gallery Open - Rodman Center for the Arts | There’s something new to see at Ripon! Stop by the C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts and explore the beautifully renovated Whipple-Brewster Atrium before making your way to the Caestecker Gallery. While you’re there, experience Mixed Signals (New Paintings +), featuring new work by artist Derrick Buisch, professor of painting at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The exhibition brings together bold abstract paintings inspired by everything from roadside signs and graffiti to tattoos, imaginary monsters, and fantastic buildings. Admission is complimentary. Visit Art Events for more information. | |
| 4 - 5 p.m. | Red Hawks Homecoming Tailgate - Part 2 - Hopp Stadium, Union/Thorne Streets | And don’t head home after football! Stick around for Red Hawk soccer as we keep the energy going with our Homecoming Virtual DJ, spinning a Ripon-curated playlist of favorite songs across the decades. Have a song that takes you right back to your Ripon days? Listen for some familiar favorites as we create the soundtrack to Family Weekend & Homecoming 2026! The Ceresco’s food truck will be serving favorites all day at Hopp Stadium like brats, cheeseburgers, cheese curds, popcorn, and more. Our Beverage Tent will be open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and again from 4-5 p.m., featuring beer, wine, festive game-day mocktails, and a special 175th signature drink. |
|
| 4 - 6 p.m. | Merriman Alumni and 1996 & 2001 Football Champs Social - Roadhouse Pizza, Downtown Ripon | All Merriman alumni, and members of the 1996 and 2001 championship football teams, plus their families are welcome to gather in downtown Ripon. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. | |
| 5 - 7 p.m. | Red Hawks Men's Soccer v. Luther - Hopp Stadium, Union/Thorne Streets | Cheer on the Red Hawks! Ceresco’s food truck will be open. | |
| 5 - 7 p.m. | Dinner - Main Dining Room, Pickard Commons | Dinner provided by SAGE Dining Services is available to students using swipes and families for purchase with points, cash or credit. | |
| 7:30 - 9 p.m. | Red Hawks Women's Soccer v. Luther - Hopp Stadium, Union/Thorne Streets | Cheer on the Red Hawks! Ceresco’s food truck will be open. | |
SUNDAY | OCT. 11 | ||
| ALL DAY | One More Cup, One More Cheer: Sunday at Ripon | Staying through Sunday? Family Weekend & Homecoming doesn't have to end quite yet! Stop by Starbucks or Pickard Commons for coffee and breakfast before heading out of town, then join us for Senior Day at the Women's Tennis match and give our Red Hawks one more Homecoming cheer. It's a relaxed way to wrap up a full weekend, say those last goodbyes, and enjoy one more morning at Ripon before heading home. | |
| 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Common Grounds - Lower Level, Pickard Commons | Serving made to order Starbucks beverages and bakery items. | |
| 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Brunch - Main Dining Room, Pickard Commons | Enjoy a delicious brunch provided by SAGE Dining Services. Students will swipe, guests may use use points, cash or credit at the door | |
| 12 - 2 p.m. | Red Hawks Women's Tennis v. Lawrence - Ripon High School Courts, Metomen Street, Ripon | Cheer on the Red Hawks, it's Senior Day! | |
| 2 - 6 p.m. | Caestecker Art Gallery Open - Rodman Center for the Arts | There’s something new to see at Ripon! Stop by the C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts and explore the beautifully renovated Whipple-Brewster Atrium before making your way to the Caestecker Gallery. While you’re there, experience Mixed Signals (New Paintings +), featuring new work by artist Derrick Buisch, professor of painting at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The exhibition brings together bold abstract paintings inspired by everything from roadside signs and graffiti to tattoos, imaginary monsters, and fantastic buildings. Admission is complimentary. Visit Art Events for more information. |
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