SIU Homecoming offers a great time for all. (SIU Carbondale photos)
October 15, 2025
Embrace the Saluki spirit with concerts, football, more at SIU’s Spooktacular Homecoming
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Homecoming 2025 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale promises to be memorable for all with a giant pep rally, a fun block party, a concert featuring Mariah the Scientist, the Carbondale Halloween Homecoming Music Street Festival and numerous other activities, including of course, a parade, tailgating and football.
The celebration is set for Oct. 20-25, with the timely and most appropriate theme “Saluki Spooktacular.” The week is filled with events, many of which are free and open to the public.
“Homecoming and Halloween have always held a special place in SIU’s history, and this year, we get to celebrate them together,” said Tina Sickinger, director of the Office of Student Engagement and Campus Life. “In past generations, Salukis packed the Strip to show their spirit, a tradition so legendary it once brought the whole community to a standstill. While times have changed, that same energy and pride are still at the heart of what makes this season unforgettable. But homecoming isn’t just about looking back. It’s about carrying that spirit forward. It’s about celebrating who we are, where we’ve been and the Saluki family we continue to build. At SIU, we lead, we overcome, we persevere and we celebrate together.”
Kicking things off right
The big kickoff and pep rally, which officially launches homecoming week, is set for 4:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at Faner Plaza, and everyone is welcome. It’s an enhanced version of a traditional pep rally, offering inspiring guest speakers, the homecoming court announcement, free food, a live DJ and the signing of the homecoming proclamation at 5 p.m. Students can also claim exclusive 2025 homecoming T-shirts.
Musical entertainment
Mariah the Scientist is headlining the 2025 homecoming concert, bringing her eclectic soulful rhythm and blues sound to the Shryock Auditorium stage on Oct. 22. The doors open at 6 p.m., and the show opens with BabyChiefDolt at 7 p.m. followed by the electrifying Mariah at 8 p.m.
An Atlanta native, Mariah the Scientist earned her first Billboard 200 rank and a top 50 spot on the Billboard R&B Albums chart with “To Be Eaten Alive,” her October 2024 debut album with Epic Records. Her success continues as her May 2025 hit single “Burning Blue” peaked in the No. 1 slot on the Apple Music chart, the highest for any female soloist. The song, with more than a million TikTok views, is part of her fourth album, “Hearts Sold Separately.”
Pursuing studies in pediatric anesthesiology, Mariah attended St. John’s University in New York City, but when she left for her entertainment career, the “Scientist” name stuck, a name as unique and innovative as she and her music.
Tickets for SIU’s Homecoming concert are on sale via EventBrite. Pricing is $25 for balcony level, $45 for floor seats and $75 for the pit level; a nominal handling fee will be added.
Great music continues downtown as the city is “shutting down the Strip” for the Carbondale Halloween Homecoming Music Street Festival from 3-10 p.m. Oct. 24. Hangar 9, the City of Carbondale, SIU Alumni Association, Carbondale Main Street, SIU’s Student Programming Council, Koerner Distributing and River Radio are joining forces to offer free music on two stages along with food, costume contests for kids and adults, vendors, games and family fun galore. Performers include The Urge, Keller Williams Presents DeadPettyKellerGrass, Hot Like Mars and Modern Day Saints, featuring Tawl Paul and guests. Get free tickets online. Visit the SIU Alumni Association website for details.
Block party and other activities planned
The Saluki Block Party has quickly become a favorite event in the homecoming lineup for students, alumni and community members in recent years. It’s happening from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 23 at a new location, the Shryock lawn.
This free festival night is open to all. People of all ages will come together for outdoor games, rock wall climbing, inflatables, caricature artists and assorted “spooky” activities. Food vendors will be on-site, offering refreshments for purchase. To ensure the public’s safety and enjoyment for all, a few rules will be in place. Pets, solicitation, smoking, glass bottles, underage drinking and multiple-serve containers are prohibited.
The 52nd Miss Eboness pageant, a longtime campus tradition, is slated for 6:06 p.m. Oct. 25 at Shryock Auditorium, with the doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are required and available on Eventbrite online for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. event. Find tickets there as well for the organization’s popular Step Show, set for 6:06 p.m. on Oct. 24 at Shryock Auditorium.
The Spooky Saluki Crawl, a new student-only event from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Student Center’s Ballroom D and International Lounge, features a fun night of classic board and card games, a mini-haunted house, a DJ and karaoke, pumpkin carving/painting, a Student Programming Council-designed mocktails, great prizes and more.
Game day wraps up the week with parade, tailgating and football
Downtown Carbondale comes alive with the annual homecoming parade, featuring marching bands, floats, marchers and much more, on Saturday, Oct. 25. It begins at East Mill Street at 10 a.m. and travels down Illinois Avenue onto campus.
Parade entries are being accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 22. High school and junior high bands as well as small and large floats, cars/trucks and walking equestrian units are welcome to compete for prizes as they entertain the crowd.
Following the parade, tailgating fun will be happening on Saluki Row from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then head to Saluki Stadium to see SIU’s football squad take on the University of Northern Iowa Panthers. Purchase game tickets at the Banterra Center ticket office, on the Saluki Athletics website or at the gate. Crowning of the homecoming royalty, chosen by the students through online voting during the week, will happen at halftime along with the announcement of the parade winners and honoring the grand marshal.
Campus pride abounds
Campuswide, you will see Dawgs and Saluki maroon far and wide as students, faculty, staff, departments and registered student organizations participate in spirit competitions, decorating doors and public areas as they vie for trophies and prizes. There are competitions for RSO spirit and Greek Life spirit.
Complete details online
Find the complete schedule of events and additional information at homecoming.siu.edu. For additional information, email homecoming@siu.edu or call 618-453-6559.