Join alumni, students, families, and friends to celebrate all we love about the College of Charleston during Homecoming, November 15-17. This festive weekend combines Fall Alumni Weekend with Family Weekend and will feature spirited athletic contests, lively reunions, nostalgic tours, and more. Don’t miss out on the chance to reconnect with friends and faculty, make new memories, and show your Cougar pride. Check out the complete schedule of events below and secure your tickets now to establish this as an annual CofC tradition!

Wednesday, Nov. 13:

4:30-5:15 pm
Homecoming Parade, Hosted by the Division of Student Affairs
George Street and around the block

What is homecoming without a parade? Exactly! Join us for a mid-week celebration with our Homecoming Parade! The Homecoming Parade will feature our athletics teams, our mascot, Clyde the Cougar, student organizations, and other members of the College of Charleston community! The parade kicks off near the heart of campus at the intersection of George Street and Glebe Street, traveling around the block spreading maroon pride along the way and concluding back on George Street. The parade celebrates tradition, community, and maroon pride, and it’s sure to be a highlight of the day!


5:30-8:30 pm
Homecoming Carnival, Hosted by the Division of Student Affairs
Cistern Yard

Homecoming Carnival is an event you will not want to miss! There will be food, novelties, music, and giveaways! Get there early to snag a t-shirt giveaway for the first 500 students. Meet the Office of Student Involvement at Cistern Yard and George Street at 5:30 pm. Bring your Cougar ID to all events!

Thursday, Nov. 14:

Time TBD
Step Show, Hosted by the Division of Student Affairs
Festival Hall, 56 Beaufain Street
Event and ticket info coming soon.

Friday, Nov. 15:

8:30-10 am
Black Alumni Council: Behind the Scenes at the International African American Museum
14 Wharfside Street
Tickets: $50 Early Bird Price through October 14; $65 Regular Price starting October 15. Advance registration only—tickets will not be sold at the door. Must be 18 years and older to participate.

Join us for the Black Alumni Council Breakfast at the International African American Museum (IAAM). The museum serves as a beacon of history, education, and inspiration. Attendees will meet Bernard Powers, PhD, College of Charleston Professor Emeritus and Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Slavery in Charleston. Dr. Powers has been a force behind the IAAM since its inception and now sits on its Board of Directors. He will share his profound insights and knowledge, making this an event not to be missed; the discussion topic will be “The Journey To and Through the International African American Museum”. Following the presentation, attendees may tour the IAAM at their leisure. Tickets are limited to the first 25 guests, so be sure to secure your spot today for a morning of networking, learning, and community.


9 am-12 noon
Open Classes
Locations TBD


1-3 pm
Founding Footsteps: A Tour of the President’s House
6 Glebe Street, Driveway Gate Entrance
Six 20-minute tours available: 1 pm, 1:20 pm, 1:40 pm, 2 pm, 2:20 pm, and 2:40 pm
Tickets: $10 per person; children ages 12 and under are free. Proceeds benefit the Campus Preservation Fund. Advance registration only—tickets will not be sold at the door.

Discover the rich history and elegance of the oldest building on the College of Charleston campus! Experience a 20-minute guided tour of this handsome Georgian mansion, which was the site of the College’s first classes and served as the home of the College’s first president, Bishop Robert Smith, over 200 years ago. Today, it continues to serve the College as the President’s House, surrounded by a beautifully maintained garden.


2-4 pm
Timeless Traditions: A Tour of CofC’s Special Collections
Addlestone Library, Rivers Green Entrance
Four 30-minute tours available: 2 pm, 2:30 pm, 3 pm, and 3:30 pm
Tickets: $10 per person; children ages 12 and under are free. Proceeds benefit the Dean of the Libraries Excellence Fund. Advance registration only—tickets will not be sold at the door.

Step into the storied past of the College with a boutique pop-up exhibit drawn from Special Collections, a treasure trove of priceless items spanning centuries and continents. Special Collections safeguards materials rarely found outside flagship museums and Ivy League libraries, and this is our chance to view items usually kept secure in the vault: a 1613 King James Bible, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, Audubon’s exquisite Birds of America and much more. Alumni will find a special resonance through yearbooks and CofC memorabilia. With presentations by Special Collections’ faculty archivists, Timeless Traditions also tells the story of the College—from its founding to its current position as a preeminent institution of higher learning.


2 pm
CofC Volleyball vs. Northeastern (free, no ticket required)
TD Arena


4-6 pm
Tailgate and Pep Rally
George Street & Cistern Yard
Free, no registration required—bring family and friends!

Join us for an exhilarating Tailgate and Pep Rally before our Cougars take on the Florida Atlantic Owls in Men’s Basketball. Experience the electrifying energy of our cheerleaders, the Cougarettes dance team, the Chucktown Sound Pep Band, and our beloved mascot, Clyde, as they ignite the crowd with high-energy performances and contagious enthusiasm. Enjoy complimentary popcorn, chips, and sodas while mingling with fellow alumni, students, families, faculty, staff, and fans. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect with the Cougar community, united in school spirit, and get excited for the big game!


7 pm
CofC vs. Florida Atlantic University Men’s Basketball Game
TD Arena
Tickets required

Single-game tickets will go on sale in the fall via the CofC Athletics ticket portal. You can also visit SeatGeek, who serves as the Official Secondary Ticket Marketplace of Charleston Athletics. Athletics will send students an email regarding game tickets after school begins. Click here for more information on the process for claiming student tickets.

7-9 pm
Watch Party for CofC Men’s Basketball Game, Hosted by the Division of Student Affairs
Liberty Fresh Food Co.
Basketball tickets available for purchase in October.

Saturday, Nov. 16:

9-11:30 am
Parents Leadership Society
By invitation only. Please contact Jenny Fowler Peck at fowlerj@cofc.edu for more information on joining the Parents Leadership Society.


9-11 am
Honors College Alumni Breakfast Reception
Blacklock House, second floor
Tickets: $10 per person. Advance registration only—tickets will not be sold at the door. Proceeds benefit the Honors College Dean’s Excellence Fund.

Celebrate Homecoming 2024 with the Honors College! Connect with old friends, meet new ones, and celebrate Honors alumni award recipients Derrick Williams ’99, Honors College Distinguished Alumni Award; Canyon Barry ’14, Alumnus of the Year Award; and Maggie Panetta ’17, Young Alumni Award. All Honors alumni are welcome. Click here to register.


11 am-1 pm
Family Fun Picnic, Hosted by the Division of Student Affairs
Location TBD

Homecoming 2024 is here, and we can’t wait to celebrate with our families! Grab your family (and those you call “family”) for a fun time with food, live music, activities, and free takeaways! This event is a chance to connect and celebrate all things College of Charleston! Sport your maroon and white gear, bring the whole family, and let’s make this Homecoming one to remember! No RSVP is required to attend this event.


1 pm
CofC Volleyball vs. Northeastern (free, no ticket required)
TD Arena


1-3 pm
I Got Myself a Yard, Hosted by the College of Charleston Civility Initiative
Rita 101 (enter from College Way)
Tickets: $25 per person; current CofC students, $5 (must show Cougar Card upon entry) Advance registration only—tickets will not be sold at the door. Proceeds benefit the Alumni Association’s programs and services for the College.

View the new feature-length documentary about the life of CofC alumnus and South Carolina State Representative Jermaine Johnson ’08, from basketball to the halls of political power. The film will be introduced by Dr. Michael Lee, Director of CofC’s Civility Initiative. After the film, Dr. Lee will moderate Q&A with Rep. Johnson and the film’s Director, Adam Bailey. Your ticket includes event entry and a wide variety of delicious movie snacks and sodas. View the trailer here


2-4 pm
Timeless Traditions: A Tour of CofC’s Special Collections
Addlestone Library, Rivers Green Entrance
Four 30-minute tours available: 2 pm, 2:30 pm, 3 pm, and 3:30 pm
Tickets: $10 per person; children ages 12 and under are free. Proceeds benefit the Dean of the Libraries Excellence Fund. Advance registration only—tickets will not be sold at the door.

Step into the storied past of the College with a boutique pop-up exhibit drawn from Special Collections, a treasure trove of priceless items spanning centuries and continents. Special Collections safeguards materials rarely found outside flagship museums and Ivy League libraries, and this is our chance to view items usually kept secure in the vault: a 1613 King James Bible, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, Audubon’s exquisite Birds of America and much more. Alumni will find a special resonance through yearbooks and CofC memorabilia. With presentations by Special Collections’ faculty archivists, Timeless Traditions also tells the story of the College—from its founding to its current position as a preeminent institution of higher learning.


6-7 pm
Celebrating Excellence: The CofC 2024 Alumni Awards Ceremony
Sottile Theatre
44 George Street
Tickets: $10 Early Bird Price through October 14; $15 Regular Price starting October 15. Proceeds benefit the Alumni Association’s programs and services for the College.

Please join us to celebrate eight distinguished alumni whose outstanding achievements reflect honor upon our alma mater. This year’s ceremony will be particularly special, marking the first time the Alumni Awards will be presented in the College’s beautifully restored Sottile Theatre. H. Biemann Othersen Jr. ’50 will receive the Alumni Award of Honor; Cheryll Novak Woods-Flowers ’81 will receive the Karen Burroughs Jones ’74 Distinguished Alumni Award; Canyon Barry ’16 will receive the Alumnus of the Year award; Maggie Panetta ’17 will receive the Young Alumni Award; Otis Robinson ’90 will receive the Howard F. Rudd Jr. Business Person of the Year award; Jonathan Cook ’88 and Joel Cook ’88 will jointly receive the Outstanding Service Award in Medicine; and Derrick Williams ’99 will receive the Honors College Distinguished Alumni Award. Their stories of dedication and success are sure to leave you feeling prouder than ever of the College of Charleston.


7-10 pm
Cistern on the Half Shell: Homecoming Oyster Roast & Class Reunions
Cistern Yard
Tickets: Early Bird Pricing through October 14: $75 ages 21 and older; $40 ages 10-20; Free for children ages 9 and younger. Regular Price starting October 15: $100 ages 21 and older; $50 ages 12-20; Free for children ages 9 and younger. Advance registration only—tickets will not be sold at the door. Proceeds benefit the Alumni Association’s programs and services for the College.

For our Homecoming grand finale, indulge in delicious oysters, whole hog barbecue, chili, hot dogs, and all the fixings under the oaks in the heart of campus! Guests ages 21 or older may savor an open bar featuring regional flavors, premium liquors, local beers, and fine wines—but don’t worry, there will be plenty of non-alcoholic beverages available as well. Whiskey Run band will set the mood with their tight four-part harmonies, infectious lyrics, and catchy choruses as we enjoy the College’s beautiful holiday lights with fantastic live music. Cheer on student performances from Pep Supper, the Step Show, and more. Reunions for the Class of ’74, the Class of ’84, and the Class of ’99 will be held in historic Randolph Hall, providing a perfect setting to reminisce. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate, reconnect, and create new memories with old friends!

Sunday, Nov. 17:

9-11 am
Farewell Coffee and Krispy Kreme Donuts (free, no registration required)
Rivers Green


Order your Commemorative CofC Homecoming 2024 Long-Sleeve T-Shirt!
Bella+Canvas 100% cotton for pickup during Homecoming Weekend
$20 each; order by October 14 to guarantee sizes from XS to 3X.