2025 Alumni Band Homecoming Weekend Schedule and Information

Alumni Band Reception

Thursday, September 25 | 7–8:30 p.m.

Homecoming Parade, Post Parade Picnic, and Alumni Pep Bands

Friday, September 26

Attire: Top: Black Alumni Band Shirt
Bottom: Khakis, blue jeans, dark leggings or sport pants
OR
An appropriate black-and-gold outfit you have traditionally worn for the parade

Schedule of Events

3 p.m. - Equipment truck arrives, E. Washington St. and S. Van Buren St.
3:30 p.m. - Percussion checkout begins at equipment truck
4 p.m. - Parade check-in opens at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert St.
4 p.m. - Other instrument checkout begins at equipment truck
5:15 p.m. - Parade line up, corner of E. Washington St. and S. Van Buren St.
5:45 p.m. - Parade step off

Parade Music Order

Schedule of Events

6:15 p.m. - All instrument check-in at the equipment truck
6:30 p.m. - Post Parade Picnic Hosted by Joe Judge
Robert A. Lee Recreation Center
TBA p.m. - Alumni Pep Bands Hosted by Steve Jepson and Tim Clay
Iowa River Landing and Downtown Iowa City

“Take Back the Field” Pregame Rehearsal and Performance

Saturday, September 27

Attire: Top: Black Alumni Band Shirt
Bottom: Khakis, blue jeans, dark leggings or sport pants

Schedule of Events

7:30 a.m. - Shuttle Bus Service begins from Hancher Parking Lot to UI Fieldhouse
8 a.m. - Check-in begins with morning refreshments at UI Field House
8:30 a.m. - University parking ramps and lots around Kinnick Stadium open
9 a.m. - Instrument checkout begins, equipment truck at the Rec Center
9:15 a.m. - Athletics golf carts arrive at UI Field House for ADA accommodations
9:30 a.m. - Check-in closes, walk to Kinnick Stadium
10 a.m. - Rehearsal in Kinnick Stadium ❗ MUST have wristband provided by Alumni Band
11:30 a.m. - Rehearsal ends, walk to UI Field House
11:45 a.m. - Tailgate Brunch, UI Field House
12:45 p.m. - ADA carts arrive at UI Field House
12:50 p.m. - March to street concert location
1:00 p.m. - Street concert in front of UI Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital
1:15 p.m. - March to Kinnick Stadium
1:30 p.m. - Enter Kinnick Stadium tunnel ❗ MUST have wristband provided by Alumni Band
2:10 p.m. - Alumni Band “Take Back the Field” pregame performance
2:30 p.m. - Kickoff
Postgame - Combined Alumni and Hawkeye Marching Band postgame performance (“The Stars and Stripes Forever”)
Dismissed - See you in 2026!

Music

School Songs, "Hey Jude," and "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Scroll to the bottom of the Alumni Band page for printable sheet music and drum parts.

Stars and Stripes Forever

There will be a limited number of printed parts available at the Saturday check-in.

However, if you would like to practice before Homecoming, music parts are available on the FlipFolder App, the digital music application used by the Hawkeye Marching Band.

FlipFolder App Instructions

Download the FlipFolder app:
Apple/iOS | Google Play

You will need to provide your own smartphone holding device. If you don’t have your own, here are two options we recommend:

Uni-Clips from FlipFolderApp
These clips connect to your instrument via a normal metal lyre. They also have special trombone and piccolo versions.

Gripophone Clips
These work for brass instruments and do not require a metal lyre.

Additional Saturday Information

Check-In

Wrist bands, drill charts, and registration packets, if not already picked up, will be available.

Storage Room

The UI Field House will provide a room for instrument cases and extra clothing. This room will be locked while we are at Kinnick for rehearsal and during the game.

Game Day Parking and Alumni Band Shuttle

Find general parking information, including fees, for the lots/ramps around Kinnick Stadium.

The Hancher Auditorium lot (Lot 55) is where the Alumni Band Shuttle Bus will load to take you to the UI Field House for Saturday morning check-in. The service will run from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

The Hancher lot is open 24 hours a day and is free to park on game days. However, due to the construction around Kinnick Stadium, the Hancher lot may fill up faster than previous years. Please plan accordingly!

After the Game

There is no Alumni Band-provided shuttle to return to the Hancher lot after the game.

If you park in the Hancher lot, you must use the CAMBUS shuttle to return to the Hancher lot.

CAMBUS shuttle loading location on the VA Hospital loop.

ADA Accommodations for Saturday Game Day (please read!)

University of Iowa Athletics will provide golf cart shuttle service to and from the UI Field House and Kinnick Stadium for rehearsal and performance, and elevator service to accessible seating, ONLY for those Alums requesting ADA seating in advance of Game Day.

Those utilizing ADA seating will enter the stadium for the pregame performance via golf cart through a tunnel entrance and will NOT march in the pregame performance but will play along the NW sidelines during the performance. After the performance, you will be carted to the concourse near the ADA seating.

After the Game for ADA Participants

University of Iowa Athletics provides golf cart shuttle service for those using ADA accommodations. Find the gate where you need to meet the golf carts after the game to be taken to your parking lot/ramp.

For ADA Participants Parked in the Hancher Lot

The golf carts shuttles do not go all the way to the Hancher lot, but will take you to the loading location (VA Hospital Loop) of the CAMBUS shuttle to Hancher. You can pick up this cart at Gate I after the game. View this map to find the Gate I location.