Homecoming Schedule of Events

8:45 A.M.–4:45 P.M. / DAHL CENTENNIAL UNION
BOOK SHOP OPEN – JOSTEN’S REP AVAILABLE FROM 12–5

9 A.M.–5 P.M. / LOBBY, DAHL CENTENNIAL UNION
REGISTRATION

10:30–11:30 A.M. / MAIN HALL, CENTER FOR FAITH AND LIFE
HOMECOMING CHAPEL AND CONVOCATION: The Inauguration of the 12th President of Luther College – Brad Chamberlain, Ph.D.
A community-wide reception will follow in Bentdahl Commons

4:30 P.M. / RECEPTION / LOBBY, CENTER FOR FAITH AND LIFE
5:30–6:15 P.M. / PRESENTATION / MAIN HALL, CENTER FOR FAITH AND LIFE
CELEBRATION OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND AWARD PRESENTATIONS
Honorees to be announced in fall 2025

7:30–8:30 P.M. / INDUCTION CEREMONY / MAIN HALL, CENTER FOR FAITH AND LIFE
8:30 P.M. / RECEPTION / LOBBY, CENTER FOR FAITH AND LIFE
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

EVENING
INAUGURAL NIGHT ON THE TOWN
Enjoy all Decorah has to offer through a variety of activities and events downtown
Homecoming events are subject to change.

8 A.M.–3 P.M. / LOBBY, DAHL CENTENNIAL UNION
REGISTRATION

9 A.M.–5 P.M. / DAHL CENTENNIAL UNION
BOOK SHOP OPEN – JOSTEN’S REP AVAILABLE

10 A.M. / WATER STREET TO CAMPUS
HOMECOMING PARADE

10 A.M. / ROOM 206, VALDERS HALL OF SCIENCE
HOSLETT MEMORIAL LECTURE

11 A.M.–12:30 P.M. / VALDERS HALL OF SCIENCE (Adjacent to Room 271)
HOSLETT MUSEUM OPEN HOUSE

11 A.M.–12:30 P.M. / ATRIUM, SAMPSON HOFFLAND
SCIENCES RECEPTION | BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, PHYSICS AND PSYCHOLOGY

11 A.M. / RECITAL HALL, CENTER FOR FAITH AND LIFE
IRONSIDE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI LECTURE IN NURSING 

11 A.M. RECEPTIONS / 11:30 A.M. LUNCHEONS
CLASS REUNION RECEPTIONS/LUNCHEONS
Classes of 1950 (75-year), 1955 (70-year), and 1960 (65-year)—Nobel Room, Dahl Centennial Union
Class of 1965 (60-year)—Mott-Borlaug Rooms, Dahl Centennial Union
Class of 1970 (55-year)—Main Floor Atrium, Center for the Arts
Class of 1975 (50-year)—Peace Dining Room, Dahl Centennial Union

11:30 A.M. / ONEOTA MARKET AND TERRACE, DAHL CENTENNIAL UNION
LUTHER FOOTBALL TAILGATE
Selling an assortment of craft and domestic beer, wine, a variety of soda and beverages, and snacks. Last call will be at the end of the third quarter of the football game.

12 NOON–1:00 P.M. / ROOM 245, VALDERS HALL OF SCIENCE
NURSING SIMULATION CENTER OPEN HOUSE

1 P.M. / LEGACY FIELD, CARLSON STADIUM
FOOTBALL GAME 

2:30–3:30 P.M. / WIGLEY-FLEMING GALLERY, CENTER FOR THE ARTS
ALUMNI ART EXHIBIT RECEPTION
Gallery hours: 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

3–5 P.M. / BAKER COMMONS, BAKER VILLAGE
CIES COOKOUT
Join the Center for Intercultural Engagement and Support (CIES) for an afternoon cookout. Food and drinks provided. All are welcome!

3–6:00 P.M. / FARWELL STUDY LOUNGE
TAU DELTA GAMMA ALUMNI MIXER
Celebrating 70 years of sisterhood and service. Not a Tau Delt alum? Friends and family are welcome. Admission is $5. RSVP for this event.

CLASS REUNION RECEPTIONS/DINNERS 
Please note: reunion locations will be confirmed in early 2025.

Class of 1975 (50-year)—5:30 P.M. Reception / 6:30 P.M. Dinner – Peace Dining Room, Dahl Centennial Union.
Class of 1980 (45-year)—6:00 P.M. Reception – Vesterheim Commons.
Class of 1985 (40-year)—5:30 P.M. Reception – Steyer Opera House, Hotel Winneshiek
Class of 1990 (35-year)—5:00 P.M. Reception – Sampson Hoffland Atrium.
Class of 1995 (30-year)—5:00 P.M. Reception – Center for the Arts.
Class of 2000 (25-year)—5:00 P.M. Reception – Impact Coffee
Class of 2005 (20-year)—5:30 P.M. Reception – Oneota Golf Course and Country Club.
Class of 2010 (15-year)—5:30 P.M. Reception – Hotel Winneshiek Ballroom.
Class of 2015 (10-year)—6:00 P.M. Reception – T-Bock’s Upstairs.
Class of 2020 (5-year)—5:00 P.M. Reception – The Landing.

9:30 A.M.–1:30 P.M. / DAHL CENTENNIAL UNION
BOOK SHOP OPEN – JOSTEN’S REP AVAILABLE

10 A.M. / MAIN HALL, CENTER FOR FAITH AND LIFE
HOMECOMING WORSHIP

1:30 P.M. / MAIN HALL, CENTER FOR FAITH AND LIFE
HOMECOMING CONCERT
Symphony Orchestra
Concert Band, Cory Near, conductor
Nordic Choir, Andrew Last ’97, conductor
Presentations:
Weston H. Noble Award
Carlo A. Sperati Award
Hemp Family Prize for Orchestra Performance

Homecoming events are subject to change.

Luther College Book Shop (located on the main level of Dahl Centennial Union)
Friday, October 25: 8:45 to 4:45 p.m.
Saturday, October 26: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, October 27: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Cafeteria (located in the lower level of Dahl Centennial Union)
Meals are served continuously during open hours.
Friday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Oneota Market (located on the main level of Dahl Centennial Union)
Features pre-made items, Impact Coffee, baked good, breakfast all day, wraps, sandwiches, paninis, and daily specials.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: CLOSED

Nordic Brew (located in the lower level of Dahl Centennial Union)
Features ice cream, coffee (including specialty coffees), bakery items, cinnamon rolls, and crepes.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nordic Mart (located in the lower level of Dahl Centennial Union)
Luther’s convenience store with cold drinks, snacks, health and wellness items, and household items.
Friday: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Things To Do

In addition to catching up with all things Luther and participating in events on campus, you may be wondering what you might do in Decorah. We’ve got some ideas:

• Hit the Luther Book Shop to stock (or restock) your Luther gear.
• Check-out the Gausta exhibit in the Dahl Centennial Union Gallery. Gausta is perhaps the best-known of the Norwegian-American painters, born in Telemark, Norway (1854), he emigrated to America with his family, settling on a farm near Harmony, Minnesota. Gausta entered Luther College in 1872 but left for Norway three years later on a stipend provided by the community of Decorah under the leadership of U.V. Koren. He returned to Decorah and taught at Luther College during the 1886-1887 academic year.  There are almost 60 paintings by Gausta in the Fine Arts Collection, and a sampling will be on view in the Dahl Union Gallery. Dahl Union Gallery Hours: 8am-10pm throughout the weekend.
• Take a look at the view of the Valley from the deck of Dahl Centennial Union.
• Check out downtown Decorah and take advantage of the restaurants, ice cream and pizza joints, coffee shops, and sports bars both downtown and in the surrounding area, many owned by Luther grads, offering a wide variety of cuisines from all over. We recommend reservations at most places – call ahead to check for sure!
• Pack your hiking shoes or bicycles (you can also rent bicycles)! You can hit the trails early and still make lunch! With miles and miles of trails over the rolling hills as well as up into the bluffs, you can really get lost in this part of the Driftless Region. We also recommend visiting two of our favorite parks: Dunning Springs and Phelps Park.
• With nearly every storefront full, downtown Decorah is bursting with retailers, offering nearly everything you might need to check some things off your holiday shopping list (no, it’s not too early). Clothing stores, gift shops, arts and crafts suppliers, candle shops, a food co-op, bookstores, and much more!

Vesterheim Museum

Open daily | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Downtown Decorah

Exploring Vesterheim’s Main Building with its four floors of incredible artifacts is a delight. Wandering at your own speed, you can linger for as long as you wish at your favorite pieces.

Take a tour through the museum’s latest addition, the beautiful Vesterheim Commons and enjoy a guided tour of the museum’s Heritage Park – scheduled daily at 1:30 p.m. (Please call ahead to confirm in case of tour change.) Find out more about Heritage Park here.

Good to know: In 1877, Norwegian Americans began collecting and preserving objects at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, documenting their chapter of the immigrant story, making them pioneers in the preservation of cultural diversity in America. That early collection has grown into one of the most comprehensive museums in the United States dedicated to a single immigrant group—Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, now an independent not-for-profit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).