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5:00 - 8:00 p.m. | ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ at Portillo's

3343 W. Addison St., Chicago, IL 

Get ready for a night of great food, school spirit, and community! Join us at Portillo’s for a special ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Alumni Homecoming 2026 fundraiser - where 20% of proceeds go directly toward supporting ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵAA programs. It’s the perfect chance to connect with fellow Golden Eagles and fuel up before an exciting Chicago Cubs game. 

Bring your friends, your appetite, and your ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ pride. We can’t wait to see you there! 

Must present  at checkout. Online code: PORTILLOS62

6:40 p.m. | ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ at the Chicago Cubs

It's back! Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 16 to cheer on the Chicago Cubs as they play the Atlanta Braves. 

are on sale now! 

Tickets purchased through include an ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ x Cubs crewneck, pictured below. 

To purchase tickets for a group of 15 or more, please contact Lexi Chodash at (773) 269-5270 or lchodash@cubs.com.

11:00 a.m. | Coffee & Crafts: Paint and Sip at El Centro

Join us at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ El Centro for a relaxing morning of creativity and community! Alumni and friends are invited to unwind with a guided paint and sip experience featuring coffee, pastries, and all the art supplies you need to create your own masterpiece. We will be providing glass cups with straws and some inspiration examples to get the ball rolling. No artistic experience required, just bring your enthusiasm and connect with fellow alumni while enjoying a fun, hands-on activity. Space is limited, so be sure to register early! 

1:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Show Your ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Spirit!

Who will have the best of #2016 #vibes? Dig into the closet and dust off that flannel/beanies/festival outfit. 

Stop by Village square to showcase your ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ spirit with some arts and crafts! Student organization participation is encouraged. 

Village Square, Main Campus

5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | The State of the Goodwin College of Education: A Homecoming Reception

Join the Goodwin College of Education community for a special Homecoming reception featuring updates on the college's latest initiatives, accomplishments, and future priorities. Open to GCOE students, faculty, staff, administrators, professors emeriti, alumni, and community partners! 

| 3311 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, IL 60659

A reception with hors d'oeuvres and dinner will be included. and view this flyer. 

6:00 p.m. | Wine Down with Alumni & Friends

Let's gather for a fun night learning about wines, the College, and enjoying each other's company during ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Homecoming 2026!

Thursday, September 17
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Winestyles - 6182 N Northwest Hwy, Chicago, IL 60631

This event is sold out!

7:00 p.m. | Greek Life Alumni Reunion 

Join us as we bring together alumni from all ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Greek Life organizations at in Berwyn, IL. Whether you graduated recently or decades ago, we'd love to see you there!

Admission is FREE! Each guest will cover their own food and drinks. 

New Graduates (December 2025/May 2026): Contact the Office of Student Leadership and Development at sld@neiu.edu for your New Gradate Voucher. Alumni Relations will cover up to $20 toward your food (cash bar for beverages). 

To help the restaurant prepare, please if you plan to attend. Your response will ensure we have an accurate headcount and enough space for everyone.  

Hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations in collaboration with Student Leadership Development (SLD). 

7:00 p.m. | ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ at the Chicago Sky

The College of Arts and Sciences is delighted to invite our alumni, students, staff, and faculty to ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ night at the Chicago Sky game on Thursday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m.

We will have a blast cheering on Chicago’s most-recent championship team and enjoying our ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ community!

Tickets are free and transportation via bus will be available from ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.

For those who are able, we do suggest a donation of $30 (or more!) per ticket to support our  Our CUSP fund supports student research and creative activities in the College of Arts and Sciences, which are instrumental in preparing our students for post-graduate success.

To request tickets, please fill out this

If you have questions, please contact Tim Libretti, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, at t-libretti@neiu.edu.

4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Trivia Night

Put your ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ knowledge to the test! Plus, some trivia questions about the city of Chicago! Join the Alumni Relations team for a fun, interactive evening of brain-teaching trivia questions. Food and beverages will be served.

is required for this event. This event is free to all. 

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Students can also register on .

6:00 p.m. | Golden Eagle Glow Run

Join us for a short run or walk around main campus at dusk with glow lights! We’ll have an inflatable obstacle course to end the run/walk along with lawn games for you to play and hang out! We encourage you to join us at 6pm to decorate your shirts with glow markers before the run/walk starts.

• Location: University Commons
• Registration/Event Start Time and T-Shirt Decorating: 6:00pm - 6:30pm        
• Run/Walk Start: 7:00pm
• Cost: ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Students - free, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Alumni and Community - $15 a person 

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Students can also register on .

*Registration is required by September 2 to guarantee a shirt size. 

Hosted by Campus Recreation in partnership with Student Leadership Development (SLD) and the Office of Alumni Relations. 

9:00 a.m. | La Copa ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ

La Copa Soccer Tournament is a spirited Homecoming event hosted by the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to come together for friendly competition, campus pride, and community-building. Whether you are playing on the field or cheering from the sidelines, La Copa Soccer Tournament is a celebration of teamwork, culture, and Golden Eagle spirit.

Registration is required to participate:  

Hosted by the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs. 

9:30 - 11:30 a.m. | Poetry and Pancakes

LWH Southeast Terrace
Main Campus, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625

Poetry & Pancakes, a storied and syrup-centric event, is offered by the English Department and Creative Writing Minor annually during Homecoming. Readers TBA. Note: This is not an open mic event.

If you have questions, please contact Senior Instructor Larry Dean, English Department, at l-dean@neiu.edu.

10 a.m. | ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Historical Walking Tour

Stage Center Theatre, Main Campus

Explore and rediscover campus landmarks, learn about upcoming building projects and hear about ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s history with an exclusive walking tour designed for the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ community, family, and friends. This event is free to all. Coffee and pastries will be served. 

Please bring walking shoes. Weather dependent, sun screen and hats are encouraged. If you need accessibility accommodations, please email the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@neiu.edu.  

is required for this event. 

11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | CCICS Welcome Back Fun Fair! 

Welcome home! Join the students, faculty, and staff of ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ-CCICS as we bring the community and university together. Experience a day filled with culture, connection, and great programming. You are right where you’re supposed to be! 

Join us for food, fun, games, and community spirit.

Register is required for those who need transportation from the Main Campus. 

Noon - 1:00 p.m. | Greenhouse Tour

The ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ greenhouse is open!  Come for a guided exploration of the spaces where we grow plants to support learning, conservation, and well being.

7:00 - 8:30 p.m. | College of Business and Technology Alumni Reunion

Note: The CBT Alumni Reunion has been cancelled.  

9:30 p.m. | Homecoming Dance Cruise on Lake Michigan

Celebrate Homecoming with an unforgettable evening aboard a boat cruise at Navy Pier! Enjoy music, great views of Chicago, and the opportunity to connect with fellow students while celebrating school spirit. Open to all students. Pickup at the NEST.

Ticket sales and more information will be added to ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Connects.