Ferrum College invites all alumni, families, former and current employees, and friends back to campus for Homecoming Weekend 2025, taking place Friday, October 10, through Sunday, October 12. This special celebration will feature reunions, athletic events, tailgating, alumni awards, theatre performances, campus and theatre tours, socials, and more.
Highlights of the weekend include welcoming the newest Golden Panthers from the Class of 1975 and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Jack Tale Players as well as the 100th anniversary of Schoolfield Hall. We will also celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 1965 National Championship Football Team. We will recognize members of the 2005 USA South Conference Championship Football, Baseball and Softball Teams as they celebrate their 20th anniversary of these wins. Members of the 1965, 1968, 1974, and 1977 National Championship Football Teams will be present to help us cheer on the Panthers as they play their first Homecoming football game as NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas members.
Mark your calendars and join us as we reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate all that makes Ferrum College so special. The celebration keeps growing….stay tuned for more details! Click here to register for Homecoming or use the button below.
Check back often as we continue to add new events and details!
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum (BRIM)
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Return to local roots as you celebrate the 52nd year of the BRIM‘s internationally renowned programming and scholarship. Special exhibits include The Vanishing Schools of Franklin County and The BRIM Looking Back: A Sampling of Exhibits. Visit the gift shop and share a story or two at Virginia’s State Center for Folklore. No registration required.
Alumni Board Fall Meeting
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Founders Room, Stanley Library
Business meeting of elected representatives of the Alumni Board of Directors (ABOD). Click here to see the list of members of ABOD. Complimentary. Business casual dress at minimum requested.
Alumni Social Event – Soccer
2:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Hank Norton Center, 2nd Floor Lobby
We are especially excited to invite all soccer alumni and their guests to an exclusive social with our current Ferrum College student athletes. Get ready to reconnect and celebrate with friends, and cheer on the Women’s and Men’s Soccer Teams! This is a fantastic opportunity to meet the student athletes who are making history and learn what lies ahead for a stronger, faster, fiercer Ferrum College. Pre-registration required. $10.00/per person.
Women’s Soccer vs UNC Pembroke (UNCP)
4:00 pm
Penn-Roediger Field
Cheer the Panthers on as they take on the Braves of University of North Carolina at Pembroke. No registration required. Complimentary.
All Golden Panthers Reception
4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Stratton House
The Golden Panthers are gathering! We invite all classes that graduated 50 or more years ago and the 50th Reunion Class of 1975 to join us for a special celebration. Enjoy light fare while reconnecting and creating new memories with classmates, friends, family, faculty, and staff. Pre-registration required. $10.00 per person. Business casual dress at minimum requested.
Women’s Softball vs Patrick and Henry
5:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex
Cheer on the Softball team as they take on Patrick and Henry. No registration required. Complimentary.
Class of 1975 50th Reunion Dinner
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Blue Ridge Mountain Room
The Class of 1975 and their guests are invited to a 50th reunion dinner to celebrate their milestone anniversary. Pre-registration required. $30/per person. Business casual dress at minimum requested.
Men’s Soccer vs Belmont Abbey
7:00 pm
Penn-Roediger Field
Cheer the Panthers on as they take on the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey. No registration required. Complimentary.
Alumni Social Event – Women’s Basketball – Open Practice
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Swartz Gym
You are invited to join our current Ferrum College Women’s Basketball team during open gym practice. Pre-registration required. Complimentary.
Ferrum Alumni Takeover & Championship Celebration
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Jose’s Mexican Grill – Ferrum Location
10057 Franklin St, Ferrum, VA 24088
Join the Ferrum College Homecoming tradition with a takeover at one of our hottest gathering spots. Reconnect with alumni, classmates, friends, faculty, staff, and members of the senior class in this all-class party. Join members of the 1965 National Championship Football team as they celebrate their 60th anniversary. Come join the members of the 2005 USA South Conference Championship Football, Baseball and Softball Teams as they celebrate their 20th anniversary. We recommend that participants park on campus in the commuter/visitor lot near John Wesley Hall and carpool or walk to the venue, which is on Rt. 40 across from the campus. Pre-registration required. All expenses will be the responsibility of each participant.
Mainstage Performance The Jack Tale Players 50th Anniversary Celebration
Show at 7:00 pm
Sale Theatre – Schoolfield Hall
Beloved by generations of audiences, The Jack Tale Players are a treat for the whole family. In this very special anniversary celebration, the current company of The Jack Tale Players is joined onstage by veteran performers spanning five decades of the troupe’s history to perform Rex Stephenson’s dramatized Appalachian folktales and foot-stomping music. Reservations recommended, but not required. Click here to get tickets for the show. We encourage you to visit the upper level of the Franklin Hall dining area for Friday Fish Fry before the show. Former Jack Tale Players, click here to register for 50th anniversary reunion activities.
Alumni Social Event – Men’s Basketball
7:30 am to 9:30 am Open Practice
9:30 am to 10:30 am Game
Swartz Gym
All former players are invited to join our current Ferrum College Men’s Basketball team during open gym practice. Following open gym, the team and coach invite you to a friendly competition. Pre-registration required. Complimentary.
Golden Panthers and Class of 1975 Induction Ceremony
Check-in and Breakfast 8:00 am to 9:00 am
Ceremony 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Blue Ridge Mountain Room, Franklin Hall
Live performance by Orchestra Appalachia
All Golden Panthers, alumni, and friends are encouraged to join us in the celebration and induction of the Class of 1975 into the Golden Panthers. Pre-registration required. $15.00/per person. Business casual dress at minimum requested.
Admissions Homecoming Open House
8:30 am to 2:00 pm
Spilman-Daniel House
Our second fall open house! We’ll welcome high school juniors and seniors for tours, academic showcases, student panels, and more, and celebrate HOMECOMING 2025. At the end of Open House, campus tours are available if requested. No registration required.
Agriculture Alumni Social
9:00 am to 10:00 am
Titmus Agricultural Center
Join fellow Ag alumni for a morning social and visit with faculty to learn about the great things occurring in the Ag program.
Alumni Welcome Tent
10 am to 2 pm
Bassett Hall Field
Check in and pick up your information packets full of details about the weekend events. Our Alumni Director, members of the Alumni Board of Directors (ABOD), Faculty, Staff, and Admissions team members will be on-site to welcome you home. While supplies last, grab your spirit swag to help cheer on our team, the Panthers. No registration required.
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum (BRIM)
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Return to local roots as you celebrate the 52nd year of the BRIM‘s internationally renowned programming and scholarship. Special exhibits include The Vanishing Schools of Franklin County and The BRIM Looking Back: A Sampling of Exhibits. Visit the gift shop and share a story or two at Virginia’s State Center for Folklore. No registration required.
Homecoming Tailgate Alley
10:00 am
Bassett Hall Field – Between Bassett Hall and Swartz Gym
Bring your gear and game face for fun and feasting with Ferrum alumni and families! Claim your Tailgate Alley space early. Spaces are complimentary. Parking is first come, first served. Spaces go fast.
Click here for Ferrum College Athletics Parking Instructions and Tailgating Policy.
Click here to view Homecoming and Tailgate menu and place your orders.
Alumni Social Event – Golf
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Bassett Hall Field – Tailgate Alley
Get ready to reconnect and celebrate! We’re especially excited to invite all Golf alumni and their guests to an exclusive social with our current Ferrum College Golf student-athletes. Pre-registration required. $10.00/per person.
Alumni Social Event – Cheerleading
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Bassett Hall Field – Tailgate Alley
All Cheerleading alumni and their guests are invited to an exclusive social with our current Ferrum College Cheerleading student-athletes. Pre-registration required. $10.00/per person.
Alumni Social Event – Women’s and Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Bassett Hall Field – Tailgate Alley
All Cross Country and Track and Field alumni and their guests are invited to an exclusive social with our current Ferrum College Women’s and Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field student-athletes. Pre-registration required. $10.00/per person.
Alumni Social Event – Women’s Volleyball
10:30 am
Trophy Room – Swartz Gymnasium
All Women’s Volleyball alumni and their guests are invited to an exclusive social with our current Ferrum College student-athletes. Join us and cheer on the Panthers as we celebrate our inaugural year of Ferrum College Athletics in NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet the student-athletes who are making history and learn what lies ahead for a stronger, faster, fiercer Ferrum College. Pre-registration required. $10.00/per person.
Open House – Schoolfield Hall
11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Schoolfield Hall – Ground Floor Lobby
Join us in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Schoolfield Hall. Drop in for a colorful tour of Schoolfield Hall and the theatre archive. Peek behind the scenes of the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre, learn a bit of Ferrum College trivia, and perhaps hear a ghost story or two. Pre-registration required. Complimentary.
Softball Alumni Homerun Derby
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex
All Women’s Softball alumni are invited to participate in the annual Homerun Derby to compete against our current team. This event will allow alumni to interact with the team and coaches. Guests are invited to cheer on this friendly competition. Pre-registration required. Complimentary.
Black Hat Walk
12:00 pm
Tailgate Alley on Bassett Hall Field
Cheer on the Panther football players and coaches as they head to Adams Stadium and Daniel Field. Let’s show them that we are all behind our Black Hats! Show everyone what Panther Pride is all about! Ring your cow bells, shake your pom-poms, and make all the noise you can to support our team! Let’s get loud and cheer them on to victory! We will show everyone that we are Ferrum Rising! No registration required.
Women’s Volleyball vs Chowan Game
12:00 pm
Swartz Gym
Cheer the Panthers on as they take on Chowan University Hawks. Immediately following the match, join the team in an alumni social in the lounge of Swartz Gym. Alumni are encouraged to come share your stories, reconnect with friends, and meet the student-athletes who are making history. No registration required. Complimentary.
Homecoming Football Game – Ferrum vs Barton College
1:30 pm Pre-game Program, Championship Recognitions, & Division II Celebration
2:00 pm Game Kickoff
W. B. Adams Stadium and Football Field
Help fill the stands and cheer for the Panthers and Head Coach Kevin Sherman ’92. Show your Panther Pride as we host Barton College Bulldogs in our first Homecoming as a Division II school and member of Conference Carolinas. Half-time activities will include the presentation of the Homecoming King and Queen with their court. The newest Golden Panthers of the Class of 1975 will be recognized during the game. We will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 1965 National Championship Football Team. We will recognize members of the 2005 USA South Conference Championship Football, Baseball, and Softball Teams as they celebrate their 20th anniversary commemorating these wins. Members of the 1965, 1968, 1974, and 1977 National Championship Football Teams will be present at their tents to meet and greet everyone who stops by. Pre-register online to purchase your tickets in advance for $10.00 per person. On game day, pick up pre-purchased tickets at Will Call at the home team stadium entrance. A picture ID is required to pick up your pre-purchased football ticket at Will Call. Will Call will be open 2 hours prior to game time, starting at 12:00 noon, and will stay open until half-time. Tickets available at the gate $15.00 per person, CASH ONLY.
The Jack Tale Players 50th Anniversary Reunion Reception – Private Gathering
5:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Blue Ridge Mountain Room
Jack Tale Players and their guests are invited to join us for a 50th anniversary celebration and private reception with light hors d’oeuvres from 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Immediately following will be the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre dinner service, which will begin at 5:30 pm, where you will be joined by those who purchased the meal option before the show. Pre-registration required. Click here to register.
Mainstage Performance The Jack Tale Players 50th Anniversary Celebration
5:30 to 6:30 pm – Dinner in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room
Show starts at 7:00 pm – Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre – Sale Theatre
Beloved by generations of audiences, The Jack Tale Players are a treat for the whole family. In this very special anniversary celebration, the current company of The Jack Tale Players is joined onstage by veteran performers spanning five decades of the troupe’s history to perform Rex Stephenson’s dramatized Appalachian folktales and foot-stomping music. Reservations recommended, but not required. Click here to get tickets for the show and optional meal.
Sunday Brunch
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Dining Hall – Upper Franklin Hall
Come in at your leisure and enjoy the fresh taste of Ferrum. Food services provided by our partner Metz Culinary. Brunch cost is $7.85 + tax. Pre-registration required. Everyone should plan to pay for their meal at the door.
Faith of Our Fathers – Concert Performance
11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Sale Theatre – Schoolfield Hall
Join us to learn more about the history of Ferrum College as we celebrate a century in song. One of the oldest buildings on campus, Schoolfield Hall was the original chapel, later a gymnasium and more, before it became home to the Sale Theatre, the Rex Stephenson Theatre, and the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre. In this uplifting free performance written by Rex Stephenson, we’ll take a fun trip through the building’s first hundred years at Ferrum College. Registrations are recommended, but not required. Click here for ticket information.
Worship Service
12:30 pm
Vaughn Chapel
All alumni and families are invited to join students at a Sunday worship service with the ministry team from Franklin Heights Church. No registration required. Complimentary.
Open House – Schoolfield Hall
12:00 pm to 1:30 PM
Schoolfield Hall – Ground Floor Lobby
Join us in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Schoolfield Hall. Drop in for a colorful tour of Schoolfield Hall and the theatre archive. Peek behind the scenes of the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre, learn a bit of Ferrum College trivia, and perhaps hear a ghost story or two. Pre-registration required. Complimentary.
Mainstage Performance The Jack Tale Players 50th Anniversary Celebration
12:30 pm to 1:30 pm Lunch in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room
Show starts at 2:00 pm – Sale Theatre – Schoolfield Hall
Beloved by generations of audiences, The Jack Tale Players are a treat for the whole family. In this very special anniversary celebration, the current company of The Jack Tale Players is joined onstage by veteran performers spanning five decades of the troupe’s history to perform Rex Stephenson’s dramatized Appalachian folktales and foot-stomping music. Reservations recommended, but not required. Click here to get tickets for the show and an optional meal.
Your favorite fare is on the menu at one of the four campus dining options. Enjoy a fresh take by our food service partner Metz Culinary. Visit at your leisure, but please note that hours vary, so check the service schedules below. All locations accept cash or credit cards. Click this link to access menus for the dining hall and Homecoming week menus for tailgating purchases.
Dining Hall – Upper Franklin Hall
Monday to Friday
Saturday and Sunday
Panther Kitchen (Boar’s Head & Chopping Block) – Lower Franklin Hall
Panther Pizzeria – Lower Franklin Hall
Dining Hall Door Prices
Click here to request catering orders or contact Michael Ferguson by calling 540-365-4453 or emailing michael.ferguson@metzcorp.com.
Find a wide array of Ferrum College spirit wear, gifts, and other merchandise at the Campus Store located in Panther Grounds. While you are there, enjoy your favorite freshly brewed Starbucks® coffee beverage and choose from a variety of sandwiches, salads, snacks, fresh fruit, baked goods, and bottled beverages that are available to go. Purchase selections from our “Pink-Out” collection apparel. All in-store purchases of merchandise are 20% off at the Campus Store in Panther Grounds.
Panther fans, get ready to fire up the grills and show your spirit—check out our tailgating policies to make the most of your game day!
Pre-registration is required for most events! If pre-registration or a pre-paid ticket is required, please pick up at the venue. Want to join in but didn’t register in time? Feel free to check by the venue to see if any spaces are available. If so, we will welcome you. If additional assistance is required, check out the Alumni Welcome Tent – Bassett Field from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm for more information.
Purchase your Homecoming football tickets early for just $10 per person through our online registration page here!
On game day, swing by Will Call at the home team stadium entrance to pick up tickets before the 1:30 p.m. pre-game program kicks off. A picture ID is required to pick up your pre-purchased football ticket at Will Call. Will Call will be open two (2) hours prior to game time, starting at 12:00 noon and will stay open until half-time.
Tickets will also be available at the gate on Homecoming day for $15 per person (cash only).
Business casual attire requested for the All Golden Panthers Reception, the 50th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1975, and the Alumni Awards Brunch and Ceremony. Dress for all other events is casual or spirit wear.
Campus Map and Directions
Click here for a campus map and driving directions.
Lodging Information
Click here to find information about the variety of accommodations available in Franklin County and within easy driving distance of Ferrum College.
Ferrum Express Shuttle
Click here to see the daily routes, stops, and schedules for the Ferrum Express Shuttle.
The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre (BRDT) has been your family’s destination for high-quality food and entertainment since 1979! The BRDT produces a full season of exciting and memorable plays and musicals. There’s something for everyone. This Homecoming, treat yourself and your family to high-quality entertainment right here in Ferrum. If you are a Jack Tale Player, click here to register for 50th anniversary reunion activities.
Presented by Emily Blankenship-Tucker and Jack Tale Players Past & Present
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 11:30 am
Stanley Library – LEaP Studio
The Jack Tale Players, founded by R. Rex Stephenson, gave their first performance at Callaway Elementary School in December 1975. Fifty years later, the group is still on tour, performing Stephenson’s dramatized retellings of Appalachian folktales and mountain music. Members of the troupe from throughout its history will share stories of life on the road with the Jack Tale Players. Click here to learn more about the Jack Tale Players. Pre-registration required. Complimentary.
Beloved by generations of audiences, The Jack Tale Players are a treat for the whole family. In this very special anniversary celebration, the current company of The Jack Tale Players is joined onstage by veteran performers spanning five decades of the troupe’s history to perform Rex Stephenson’s dramatized Appalachian folktales and foot-stomping music. Reservations recommended, but not required. Click here to get tickets for optional meals and show. Performances in Sale Theatre Friday 10/10 at 7:00 pm, Saturday 10/11 at 7:00 pm and Sunday 10/12 at 2:00 pm.
Join us to learn more about the history of Ferrum College as we celebrate a century in song. One of the oldest buildings on campus, Schoolfield Hall was the original chapel, later a gymnasium and more, before it became home to the Sale Theatre, the Rex Stephenson Theatre, and the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre. In this uplifting free performance written by Rex Stephenson, we’ll take a fun trip through the building’s first hundred years at Ferrum College. Registrations are recommended, but not required. Click here for ticket information. One performance only in the Sale Theatre Sunday 10/12 at 11:00 am.
Stanley Library is the intellectual nerve center of Ferrum College, comprising three floors designed to give our students a variety of learning spaces. The library is open to members of the Ferrum community. The Library Staff invite you to visit while on campus Homecoming weekend to learn, grow, connect, and reconnect.
A display on the 50th anniversary of the Jack Tale Players is on the main floor of the library. Permanent murals about Ferrum College history are in the main lobby on the ground floor.
On Wednesday, October 8 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, the library will host Inquiring Minds in the main floor LEaP Studio, with a special program about the 50-year history of the Jack Tale Players. Assistant Professor Emily Blankenship-Tucker, program coordinator for Music and Theatre, will be joined by other current members of the troupe and alumni from throughout its history to share stories of life on the road performing traditional music and stories of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Phone: (540) 365-4444 (In case of emergency if assistance is required, please also call 911.)
Address: 109 Ferrum Mountain Rd, Ferrum, VA 24088
Saturday to Sunday: 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 pm
Monday to Wednesday: 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Thursday to Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
