Southwestern University welcomed students, faculty, staff, alumni, family, and friends to campus on October 25-27 to celebrate Homecoming, 115 years after SU invented the tradition in 1909. Festivities began on Friday with the Golden Anniversary for the Class of 1974 and continued with a tour of current campus construction projects. The Academic Mall came to life after dark with pumpkin painting and decade parties. On Saturday, Pirate football fans enjoyed tailgating and trunk-or-treating before the big game. At halftime, the first Homecoming Court and Royalty in 35 years was crowned. The night concluded with drag bingo and a homecoming picnic on the Mall, complete with a biergarten, live music, and dancing.