Homecoming Schedule of Events

Homecoming events are subject to change

Registration

9 a.m.– 5 p.m. | Lobby, Dahl Centennial Union

Homecoming Chapel

10:30 a.m. | Main Hall, Center for Faith and Life

Clergy and College Ministries Alumni Coffee

11:00 a.m – 12:00 p.m. | Impact Coffee, Downtown Decorah

All alumni clergy and college ministries alumni, as well as partners/families, are invited to gather for fellowship and conversation upstairs at Impact Coffee (101 W. Water Street). Coffee and treats provided—come right up and join us!

Walking Campus Tour with Professor Emeritus David Faldet ’79

1:00 p.m. | Dahl Centennial Union, front entrance

This 45-minute walking tour of campus will deepen your sense of Luther’s connection to place, review college history, and feature a walk-through of buildings likely constructed since your graduation.

Class of 1976 50-Year Afternoon Class Reception

3:00 — 5:00 p.m. | Admissions Atrium, Dahl Centennial Union

Launch into the weekend by gathering informally with your 1976 classmates. This popular open house style event is a wonderful time to mingle and reconnect! There is no cost to attend. Light refreshments provided.

Gerdin Fieldhouse Tour

4:00 p.m. | Gerdin Fieldhouse Lobby

All tours will begin in the main lobby.  Guests and visitors are welcome to walk through the facility at other times on their own if tour times do not align with schedules.

Book Signing with Peg Brenden ’76 and Sheri Brenden ’81

4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Luther College Book Shop

Break Point tells the inspiring true story of two Minnesota high school girls whose fight for the right to compete in boys’ sports led to a landmark legal victory that helped advance gender equality in school athletics across the United States. Peg’s and Sheri’s book, “Break Point,” is available for purchase in the book shop.

Celebration of Distinguished Service and Award Presentations

Light appetizers and a cash bar will be available.

4:30 p.m. | Reception | Lobby, Center for Faith and Life
5:30 p.m. | Ceremony | Main Hall, Center for Faith and Life

Congratulations to the 2026 Distinguished Service Award recipients:

Myrna (Olson) Peterson ’71

Dr. Thomas Coon ’76

Ron Larson ’76

Bill Friskics-Warren ’81

Lance Bergstrom ’86

Heather (Schacht) Reisinger ’96

Jason Zabokrtsky ’96

Lonnie Norwood Jr. ’06

Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

Light appetizers and a cash bar will be available.

7:30 p.m. | Induction Ceremony | Main Hall, Center for Faith and Life
8:30 p.m. | Reception | Lobby, Center for Faith and Life

View award citations on the Norse website.

Congratulations to the 2026 Hall of Fame Class:

John Den Hartog – Football and Baseball – 1991

Brooke Hagen – Women’s Tennis – 2001

Thane Holland – Football, Track and Field – 2001

Lauren Boleen – Track and Field, Volleyball – 2011

Lexy Determan – Softball – 2011

Tricia Serres – Cross Country, Track and Field – 2016

Clare Slagel – Swimming and Diving – 2016

Drew Van Anrooy – Men’s Wrestling – 2016

Brian Huinker – Coach – Men’s and Women’s Tennis

Jazz Night

8:30 – 10:00 | Marty’s, Dahl Centennial Union

Join SAC, Luther’s Jazz Orchestra, and Jazz Band with Professor Tony Guzman ’90 for a fun night of music and dancing.

Luther College Night on the Town

Visit downtown Decorah for great restaurants, shops and special events. Check out area attractions and visitor info at visitdecorah.com.

Registration

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Lobby, Dahl Centennial Union

Gerdin Fieldhouse Tour

9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. tours available | Gerdin Fieldhouse Lobby

All tours will begin in the main lobby.  Guests and visitors are welcome to walk through the facility at other times on their own if these tour times do not align with schedules.

Phi Beta Kappa Symposium

9:30 a.m. | Recital Hall, Center for Faith and Life

Anna Fett ’12 will present “American Brotherhood for the World: Interfaith Dialogue, Christian-Jewish Relations, and U.S. Empire.”

Hoslett Memorial Lecture

10 a.m. | Room 206, Valders Hall of Science

Hoslett Museum Open House

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Valders Hall of Science (adjacent to Room 271)

Luther Swimming & Diving Alumni Meet

11 a.m. | Gerdin Fieldhouse

Men’s Soccer

11:00 a.m. | Soccer Field

Luther vs. Lake Forest College

Sciences Reception: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Nursing, Physics, and Psychology

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Atrium, Sampson Hoffland Laboratories

Reunion Luncheons

11 a.m. Receptions | 11:30 a.m. Luncheons
Classes of 1951 (75-year), 1956 (70-year), and 1961 (65-year) | Nobel Room, Dahl Centennial Union
Class of 1966 (60-year) | Mott-Borlaug Rooms, Dahl Centennial Union
Class of 1971 (55-year) | Main floor atrium, Center for the Arts
Class of 1976 (50-year) | Peace Dining Room, Dahl Centennial Union

Football Game

1:00  p.m. | Legacy Field, Carlson Stadium

Luther vs. Illinois College

Women’s Soccer

1:30 p.m. | Soccer Field

Luther vs. Lake Forest College

Book Signing with Janet Preus ’71

1:30–3:30 p.m. | Luther College Book Shop

Preus’s debut historical true crime novel, “The Thirteenth Crime: The Ghosts of Injustice in Frontier, Otter Tail County,” is told with a reporter’s eye for story and a sleuth’s nose for the incriminating detail. “The Thirteenth Crime” is a collection of stories, connected by their crimes, about how a rural county in frontier America dealt with violence and death, the free press, harassment and abuse, mental health, grief, alcoholism and drug use, skilled defense attorneys, ethnic loyalties, population growth, and the ghosts—real or imagined—that haunt us to this day.

Alumni Art Reception

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Wigley-Fleming Gallery, Center for the Arts

Gallery hours will be open 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. throughout Homecoming weekend.

CIES Cookout

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Baker Commons

Join the Center for Intercultural Engagement and Support (CIES) for an afternoon cookout. Food and beverages provided. All are welcome!

Evening Class Reunions

For more information, visit the class reunions page
Please note: reunion locations are subject to change
Class of 1976 (50-year) Reception & dinner | 5:30 p.m. | Peace Dining Room, Dahl Centennial Union
Class of 1981 (45-year) Reception | 5:00 p.m. | Vesterheim Commons
Class of 1986 (40-year) Reception | 6:00 p.m. | Steyer Opera House, Hotel Winneshiek
Class of 1991 (35-year) Reception | 5:00 p.m. | Sampson Hoffland Atrium
Class of 1996 (30-year) Reception | 5:00 p.m. | Center for the Arts
Class of 2001 (25-year) Reception | 5:00 p.m. | Impact Coffee
Class of 2006 (20-year) Reception | 6:00 p.m. | Gerdin Fieldhouse Lobby
Class of 2011 (15-year) Reception | 6:00 p.m. | Oneota Market, Dahl Centennial Union
Class of 2016 (10-year) Reception | 6:00 p.m. | T-Bock’s Upstairs
Class of 2021 (5-year) Reception | 5:00 p.m. | The Landing Market

Homecoming Worship

10 a.m. | Main Hall, Center for Faith and Life

Campus Pastor Melissa Bills presiding, guest worship speaker Susan Tjornehoj ’76

Homecoming Concert

1:30 p.m. | Main Hall, Center for Faith and Life

Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, and Nordic Choir to perform

Award Presentations

Weston H. Noble Award – Wayne Kivell, ’61

Carlo A. Sperati Award – Sócrates Garcia, ’06

Hemp Family Prize for Orchestral Performance to be announced at the concert

Luther College Bookshop

Friday, October 3 | 8:45 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Saturday, October 4 | 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Sunday, October 5 | 9:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M.

Parking Information

Visitor parking available throughout campus. View a comprehensive list of lots and parking map here.

The Caf (located in the lower level of Dahl Centennial Union)

Meals are served continuously during open hours.
Friday | 7:00 a.m. –7:00 p.m.
Saturday | 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Sunday | 10:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

Oneota Market (located on the main level of Dahl Centennial Union)

Featuring snacks, beverages, pre-made items, Impact Coffee, baked goods, breakfast all day, wraps, sandwiches, paninis, and daily specials.
Monday–Friday | 7:30 a.m.– 3:00 p.m.
Saturday Tailgating hours | 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday | CLOSED

Nordic Brew

Featuring pastries and speciality coffee drinks, located on the main level of Dahl Centennial Union
Homecoming weekend hours

Friday, October 2: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 3: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 4: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 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.
• 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 some of Decorah’s most loved parks—Dunning Springs and Phelps Park.
• Downtown Decorah has a variety of unique 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. Learn more about planning a visit at Vesterheim.org.

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).