Penn State University
ALUMNI Blue Band ASSOCIATION

October 21-22, 20Join us this October as we celebrate Penn State Homecoming with the Alumni Blue Band!

Registration will open on Tuesday, September 6th at 7:00am EST and will close Wednesday, September 21st at 11:59pm EST. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept any registrations after this cut-off date.

The cost to participate in Homecoming this year, including your ticket for the Homecoming football game, will be $115 per person.

Be sure to add homecoming@psualumnibands.org to your address book to avoid important communications going to your "Spam" or "Junk Mail" folder!

IMPORTANT REMINDER:

With the transition to the Penn State Alumni Association’s new unified membership model, you no longer need to renew your membership in the Alumni Blue Band Association in order to be eligible to participate in Homecoming. Access to ABBA communications and events is now included in your Alumni Association membership! Visit the Alumni Association for more information about this change.

Not a member of the Penn State Alumni Association? Click here to learn more about all the benefits you’re missing!

NEW FOR HOMECOMING 2022:

We are excited to make your Homecoming experience even better this year with these enhancements! More details will be shared regarding each of these changes in the near future.

Post Parade Reception - New Location!

We are excited to bring our traditional post-parade reception closer to the end of the parade route this year! We will gather at the Music Building’s Esber Rehearsal Hall following the parade, just a short walk from the Nittany Lion Shrine. Come see the School of Music’s beautiful new space, enjoy some refreshments, and catch up with your fellow Blue Band alumni! 

Keep Your Folio!

The Homecoming Committee is furthering its efforts to be more sustainable, decrease cost, and reduce the burden on our volunteers and the Blue Band staff. This year, you will keep your music and folio at the end of Homecoming weekend. (That's right: no more tracking down plastic bins on the field at postgame!) Bring your folio back for Homecoming next year and get a discount on your registration! 

New to Homecoming? Haven’t marched in a while? Need a refresher?

For those who are new to ABBA, or just haven’t back back for Homecoming in a while, read on to learn about all the events you can participate in throughout the weekend! 

What does my registration include? 

• Game ticket (please note that due to capacity constraints, only confirmed Homecoming participants will be permitted in the Alumni Blue Band seating area: family and friends will need to secure tickets elsewhere in the stadium)

• Opportunity to participate in the Homecoming parade

• Opportunity to participate in the Ice Cream Social

• Friday night post-parade reception

• Transportation between the O. Richard Bundy Blue Band Building and Holuba Hall on Saturday morning

• Pregame rehearsal at Holuba Hall led by Director of Athletic Bands Dr. Greg Drane

• Instrument rentals for certain sections (NOTE: instruments cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability - only sousaphones, baritones, mellophones, and percussion will be available)

• Use of equipment for band front members

• Music folios and drill charts

• A contribution to the Penn State athletic bands program on behalf of each participant

• The opportunity to "relive the glory days", reconnect with fellow Blue Band alumni and friends, make new connections with alumni and current Blue Band students, and take the field during pregame and halftime of the Homecoming game

What do the Homecoming weekend events entail?

Hintz Family Alumni Center Ice Cream Social Pep Band

The Alumni Association kicks off Homecoming activities on Friday afternoon with its annual ice cream social at the Hintz Family Alumni Center. This event takes place in the afternoon. ABBA participants play one or two sets for the crowd, and get to enjoy free Berkey Creamery ice cream and socialize.

Homecoming Parade

Relive the magic of marching down College Ave as the crowds cheer in this time-honored Penn State tradition on Friday night. Uniform is blue shirt/jacket and jeans, and we play the traditional Penn State fight songs throughout the parade route (music will be provided to those who need it).

Post-Parade Social

After marching in the parade, make your way over to the Music Building and join us for a reception in the Esber Rehearsal Hall. Enjoy the School of Music’s beautiful space, enjoy some refreshments, and catch up with your fellow Blue Band alumni.

Rehearsal at Holuba Hall (Time TBD)

Meet at Holuba Hall on Saturday morning to rehearse. Run through music, and learn the pregame and halftime drills.

Game Day (Kickoff 7:30PM ET)

Join us in Beaver Stadium as we take the field for pregame, halftime, and postgame! Play some of your favorite stands tunes and enjoy being together with your Blue Band family. Uniform is a white shirt/sweatshirt/jacket. Game tickets and field credentials are provided during rehearsal at Holuba Hall.

Do I have to participate in everything?

No! You are welcome to participate in as much or as little of Homecoming weekend as you like. If you want to participate in the game, you MUST pay the full registration fee and attend the Saturday rehearsal at Holuba to receive your game ticket and field credentials. This includes individuals who wish to join the Alumni Band and play from the stands, but not necessarily take the field for pregame, halftime, or postgame.

Those who do NOT want to participate in the game, and only want to march in the parade and/or play at the ice cream social, do NOT need to pay the registration fee. More info will be provided in the upcoming registration email.

QUESTIONS?

Please keep in mind that the committee is still in the early phases of planning this year's event, and details are subject to change. We will do our best to communicate any changes as soon as possible. At this time, we do not have details or information regarding guest tickets or game day parking. We are also awaiting confirmation of game day rehearsal timing and will communicate those plans as soon as we are able.

If you have any other questions, please contact the Homecoming committee.

We look forward to seeing you at Homecoming 2022! 

Raise the Song!

Mark Poblete, Homecoming Co-Chairperson

Carol Poblete, Homecoming Co-Chairperson and Volunteer Coordinator

Randy Seely, ABBA President

COVID-19 Risk Acknowledgement:

The Pennsylvania State University requires adherence to its policies at all times while on Penn State property or attending University events. Penn State has issued rules and precautions which follow, or may in some cases exceed, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. By registering to participate in Homecoming weekend activities with the Alumni Blue Band Association, you agree to adhere to such guidance and policies, you acknowledge the risk of being exposed to or infected by COVID-19, and you assume any and all such risk.

As of July 7, 2022, this guidance includes basic health, safety, and sanitation measures (staying home when sick, washing/sanitizing hands often, etc.) in addition to wearing a face mask while in healthcare facilities and certain research facilities and labs.

Per CDC guidance, Penn State may impose additional or alternative requirements, including masking at certain locations, depending on community spread in Centre County and at the University Park campus. You agree to comply with any directive from Penn State representatives regarding masking or other mitigation measures while participating in any events hosted by the Alumni Blue Band Association on campus.

You must adhere to these protocols regardless of vaccination status.