Tritons Come Together for UC San Diego’s 2023 Homecoming Celebration
UC San Diego is bustling with excitement as it prepares for its Homecoming and Family Weekend, a campuswide celebration filled with spirited Triton fun. The beloved university tradition takes place from Oct. 16-22, offering dozens of opportunities to make new friends, cheer on UC San Diego’s Division I scholar-athletes, enjoy live music and more.
Whether you’re an incoming student exploring campus for the first time or an alum revisiting your old stomping grounds, the Homecoming event lineup showcases a mix of new and fan-favorite programs tailored for all community members. Students, alumni, staff, faculty, parents and friends are invited to participate in the celebration, featuring popular returning events like the Triton 5K and the Triton Tailgate.
“Made possible by the hard work of partners across the university, Homecoming and Family Weekend offers unique opportunities for our UC San Diego community to connect, learn about our campus and celebrate what it means to be a Triton,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “I encourage every Triton to mark their calendar for the upcoming festivities and join the action as UC San Diego comes alive with the spirit of unity and celebration.”
Sing, dance and get your spirit on
Chart-topping singer-songwriter Em Beihold ’20 will take center stage at the Epstein Family Amphitheater on Oct. 20, setting the tone for a week filled with lively performances, athletic matches and family-friendly events. At the outdoor concert, sing and dance under the stars as the talented alumna—who led an illustrious collegiate career as a fencing champion—shares personal and authentic songs such as her breakout single “Numb Little Bug.” Free tickets are available for students.
“I encourage every Triton to mark their calendar for the upcoming festivities and join the action as UC San Diego comes alive with the spirit of unity and celebration.”
There are also plenty of opportunities sprinkled throughout Homecoming week to root for the university’s NCAA Division I scholar-athletes, including the Triton Tailgate hosted on Oct. 21 at RIMAC Field. Join UC San Diego Alumni for a night filled with delicious barbecue fare, lawn games and a live DJ. Alumnus-founded Protector Brewery created by Sean Haggerty, MBA ’17 will also be onsite, as well as the university’s mascot King Triton ready to snap photos with attendees donning their best blue and gold.
Following the free tailgate, attendees can choose their athletic adventure, heading out to see either the men’s soccer team take on UC Davis or the women’s volleyball team face off against UC Irvine.
At the Triton Tide Fan Fest, which kicks off at 6 p.m., Oct. 19, students are invited to enjoy free food and giveaways before watching UC San Diego Women’s Soccer team battle it out against CSUN. The first 250 Triton Tide Fan Fest participants will receive a spirited blue and gold scarf, courtesy of UC San Diego Athletics. Triton swag giveaways will be available throughout the week.
“I’m really excited for the next couple of matches, especially being on a high and having a new win streak,” says Keara Fitzpatrick, goalkeeper and captain of the UC San Diego Women’s Soccer team.
The team recently took home a big win against UC Davis, generating plenty of team pride for the upcoming Homecoming games.
“Just being in the position where we can cause some havoc in the Big West standings is really exciting,” adds Fitzpatrick, who is currently studying international business with the goal of launching a career in sports marketing. “The team is looking really good and we’re really cohesive together.”
Every year, Tritons turn out in big numbers to enthusiastically support the university’s scholar-athletes during the Homecoming games. UC San Diego now competes at the highest level in NCAA Division I, adding to the vibrant spirit of the annual celebration.
“UC San Diego Athletics positively impacts the student experience, adding to the family environment on our campus. With 23 varsity sports and year-round events, we are uniquely positioned to bring students from each of the eight distinct colleges together as one. We are all Tritons!,” said Earl W. Edwards, athletic director at UC San Diego, who has been chosen as one of two Triton 5K Grand Marshals for 2023. Former UC San Diego Chancellor Robert C. Dynes will serve as the second Triton 5K Grand Marshal.
The 27th Annual Triton 5K will round out the university’s roster of signature events, inviting campus members for a scenic 3.1-mile trek through campus in support of student scholarships. Hosted the morning of Oct. 22, the course will take campus members past iconic landmarks and bustling university areas such as the Torrey Pines Living and Learning Community.
“I am honored to serve as one of the Grand Marshals of the annual Triton 5K—an event that supports the opportunity for prospective students who might not otherwise be able to afford college. I’m grateful for Chancellor Khosla’s leadership in helping to ensure access to a world class education,” added Edwards.
Since its establishment in 1996 by Chancellor Emeritus Robert C. Dynes, the Triton 5K has raised over 4 million in undergraduate scholarship support. Those who can’t make the race in person can still participate in the cause by downloading the Triton 5K app, allowing them to race from anywhere in the world. Additionally, children aged 12 or younger can sign up for a scaled-down version of the race called the Junior Triton Run. After a bit of friendly competition, Tritons can celebrate crossing the finish line with music, games and food trucks at a post-race festival hosted on the Triton Track & Field.
Explore campus and reconnect with fellow Tritons
Homecoming and Family Weekend is an ideal time for parents and friends of new and returning students to visit campus, explore their Triton’s home-away-from-home and engage in activities that provide insights into university life.
Get a glimpse at UC San Diego’s world-class academics with “Take a Triton to Class,” a popular program that spotlights unique courses led by UC San Diego professors. These virtual sessions run from Oct. 16-18, allowing individuals to “take a seat” in classes covering topics like “Nutrition for a Healthy Lifestyle” and “Understanding the Partisan Brain.”
On Oct. 20, don’t miss the Homecoming and Family Weekend Kickoff—a celebratory mixer featuring food, drinks and the chance to connect with UC San Diego families, staff and more. That evening, gather under the stars on the iconic Sun God Lawn for a screening of “The Princess Bride.”
Breakfast ‘n’ Research takes place on Oct. 21, offering a continental breakfast and the opportunity to hear about UC San Diego’s diverse array of student-researchers. Students and their families can also visit Sun God Lawn that afternoon to take a professional family portrait.
The university—which is on its way toward becoming a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution with 23% full-time Latinx undergraduate student enrollment—will also present activities during Homecoming designed to help familiarize Latinx/Chicanx students and their families to campus.
Among these programs is an Oct. 21 session titled “La vida de una madre Triton” (“The life of a Triton parent”). During this bilingual panel, Latino parents will share their experience of their first month of being a Triton parent and the separation from their student. The Raza Resource Centro will also host “El Lonche!” on Oct. 21, inviting families to enjoy lunch, music, community-building and more.
The university will also offer various alumni gatherings celebrating the enduring friendships formed on campus. The Homecoming Farmer’s Market on Oct. 21 provides a space for alumni, staff and faculty to reminisce on old memories at one of the university’s newest locales, the Epstein Family Amphitheater.
On Oct. 20, the GOLD Reunion Happy Hour & Gathering will bring together alumni from classes 2014 to 2023 for a pre-concert happy hour. Hosted at The Loft, Tritons will enjoy bites and drinks before heading over to the Em Beihold concert at the Epstein Family Amphitheater. The reunion event will also be a chance to hear from the UC San Diego Regional Alumni Club about upcoming festivities and more.
“Alumni events are a great place to have fun, meet new and interesting people and connect with the university,” said Omar Abu-Hantash ‘21, a human biology graduate and the co-president of the San Diego Regional Alumni Club at UC San Diego. “When we plan events, we try our best to make sure that they are fun events that everyone can enjoy with fellow alumni, friends and family. I have made so many great professional and personal relationships through our events, and I don’t want anyone to miss out on that!”
The Affinity Councils Mixer—hosted by the Asian Pacific Islander Alumni Council, Chicanx/Latinx Alumni Council, Pilipino/a/x Alumni Council and Black Alumni Council—will close out the lineup of alumni-centered events. On Oct. 21, alumni, students and staff can enjoy food and drinks as they meet and greet with new and current council members.
