October 19-25, 2025
Campus departments and offices are invited to participate in the annual Homecoming Spirit Photo Contest. Departments and offices should take a photo displaying their Bearcat spirit and pride while reflecting the Homecoming theme.
All submissions will be posted to Northwest Homecoming Instagram and Twitter accounts (@NWhomecoming), where the number of likes on an image are counted as votes. Retweets and shares are not count toward vote totals but are encouraged.
Offices interested in participating should submit photos via email to hocopr@nwmissouri.edu by the deadline below. Refer to the Homecoming bylaws for detailed rules and regulations.
| Event | Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo submissions due | Email to hocopr@nwmissouri.edu | 10/18/25 | 5 p.m. |
| Photos posted | Posted to all Homecoming social media accounts | 10/19/25 | 5 p.m. |
| Voting ends | - | 10/23/25 | 5 p.m. |
| Winner announcement | Homecoming Variety Show | 10/23/25 | Intermission |
Questions? Contact hocopr@nwmissouri.edu or call 660.562.1496
Banner decorating has long been a Northwest Homecoming tradition. Student organizations are invited to submit a banner with their best and most original expression of Bearcat pride and the year’s Homecoming theme. All submitted banners will be displayed at the J.W. Student Union during the week of Homecoming. A panel of Northwest employees and community members will judge the banners and select winners. Refer to the Homecoming bylaws for detailed rules and regulations.
| Event | Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banner entries due | BearcatLink | 10/13/25 | 11:59 p.m. |
| Banner turn-in | J.W. Jones Student Union, Office of Student Involvement | 10/17/25 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Banner hanging | J.W. Jones Student Union | 10/19/25 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Banner judging | J.W. Jones Student Union | 10/20/25 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Banner tear-down | J.W. Jones Student Union | 10/26/25 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Banner pickup | J.W. Jones Student Union, Office of Student Involvement | 10/27 - 10/31 | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
Questions? Contact hocophil@nwmissouri.edu or call 660.562.1496
Donation Creation features Bearcat structural engineering and creativity. Using only non-perishable food items, student organizations are invited to create a structure that represents their best and most original expression of Bearcat pride and the year’s Homecoming theme.
All Donation Creation structures are placed on the second floor of the J.W. Jones Student Union for display during the week of Homecoming. A panel of Northwest employees and community members judge the Donation Creation entries and select winners. A secondary People’s Choice competition gives community members the opportunity to vote for their favorite Donation Creation entries by providing donations of non-perishable food items.
All non-perishables collected are donated to area food pantries. Refer to the Homecoming bylaws for detailed descriptions rules and regulations.
| Event | Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donation Creation entries due | BearcatLink | 10/17/25 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Donation Creation setup | J.W. Jones Student Union | 10/19/25 | 12:00 p.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Donation Creation judging | J.W. Jones Student Union | 10/20/25 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Donation Creation tear down | J.W. Jones Student Union | 10/26/25 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Take Items to Ministry Center | J.W. Jones Student Union | 10/26/25 | 2:00 p.m. |
Questions? Contact hocophil@nwmissouri.edu or call 660.562.1496
The Homecoming Variety Show is a compilation of student performances, including skits and olio acts (miscellaneous performances), and concludes with the crowning of Northwest's Homecoming king and queen.
Students are invited to participate in the Variety Show as student organizations or individuals while expressing their Bearcat Pride and representing the year’s Homecoming theme through their performance. Refer to the Homecoming bylaws for detailed rules and regulations.
To purchase your Variety Show tickets, please go here.
| Event | Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skit entries due | BearcatLink | 4/25/25 | 5 p.m. |
| Skit draft due | BearcatLink | TBD | TBD |
| Variety Show tryouts | Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building, Charles Johnson Theater (CJT) | TBD | 6-10 p.m. |
| Finalists announced | TBD | TBD | |
| Script read-through with theater techs | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Final scripts due | BearcatLink | TBD | 5 p.m. |
| Prop load-in | Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts | 10/19/25 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Skit technical rehearsal | Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts | 10/15/25 | 5 p.m. |
| Olio technical rehearsal | Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts | 10/15/25 | 5 p.m. |
| Tech rehearsal | Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts | 10/15/25 | 5 p.m. |
| Dress rehearsal | Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts | 10/20-10/22 | 5 p.m. |
| Skit chair meeting | Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts | 10/20-10/22 | After rehearsals |
| Variety Show | Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts | 10/23/25 | 7 p.m. |
Questions? Contact hocovariety@nwmissouri.edu or call 660.562.1496
The Homecoming Royalty Court is selected in the spring of each calendar year and recognized at the conclusion of the Variety Show, where a king and queen are crowned.
Students may begin voting at midnight Wednesday, Oct. 8, by following the link they received in their Northwest Email via Northwest Surveys; voting ends at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22. The king and queen will be announced Thursday, Oct. 23, at the conclusion of the Homecoming Variety Show, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts.
| Event | Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty nominations begin | BearcatLink | 3/1/25 | 10 a.m. |
| Nominations due | BearcatLink | 3/4/25 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Applications due | BearcatLink | 3/17/25 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Royalty application selection | Office of Student Involvement | 3/18/25 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Royalty interview signup | Google Drive | 3/19/25 | 5 p.m. |
| Royalty interviews | Student Union | 3/20/25 | 5 p.m. |
| Announcement of court | Social media | 3/26/25 | Noon |
| Royalty voting | Voting on CatPAWS | 10/8/25 - 10/22/25 | 11:59 p.m. |
| Royalty crowning | Variety Show | 10/23/25 | End of the Show |
The Homecoming parade starts at the corner of Ray and College Avenue, proceeding east on Fourth Street and ending at Main Street. The parade takes place in any weather, with the exception of lightning; patrons should not enter the parade route once the parade begins.
Organizations representing surrounding communities also are invited to participate in the parade by submitting a walk-in entry. Refer to the Homecoming bylaws for detailed rules and regulations.
Due by October 24, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
After that date, entries will be accepted as space allows. See the fee schedule below.
8/18/25 - 10/24/25 | $35 non-profit, $65 for-profit
10/25/25 (Parade Day) | $100 for all groups; must present check at the parade route
For more information or questions, please email hocoparade@nwmissouri.edu or call 660.562.1496.
Due Friday, October 8, 2025, at 5 p.m.
This includes entries for: Dancing Clowns, Float, Jalopy, and Paper Mache Heads.
As of 2024, entry fees will be collected. Refer to Homecoming Bylaws for more information and to review participation agreement.
For more information or questions, please email hocoparade@nwmissouri.edu or call 660.562.1496.
Due Friday, October 8, 2025, at 5 p.m.
As of 2024, entry fees will be collected. Refer to Homecoming Bylaws for more information and to review participation agreement.
For more information or questions, please email hocoparade@nwmissouri.edu or call 660.562.1496.
Marching Band Information and Registration
For more information or questions, please email hocoparade@nwmissouri.edu or call 660.562.1496.
| Event | Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Committee Application & Co-Chair Applications Open | BearcatLink | Open | Open |
| Royalty Nominations Form Opens | BearcatLink | 3/4/25 | 10 a.m. |
| Theme Nomination Form Open | Email hocopr@nwmissouri.edu | 3/4/25 | 10 a.m. |
| Org Reps Forms Open | BearcatLink | 3/4/25 | 10 a.m. |
| Royalty Nomination Closes | BearcatLink | 3/17/25 | 8 p.m. |
| Royalty Application Open | BearcatLink | 3/17/25 | 12 p.m. |
| First Round of Committee Selected | Executive Board | 3/4/25 | 5 p.m. |
| Committee Application & Co-Chair Application Closes | BearcatLink | Open until positions fill | Open until positions fill |
| Royalty Applications Close | BearcatLink | 3/16/25 | 11:59 p.m. |
| Org Reps Forms Due | BearcatLink | Open until positions fill | Open until positions fill |
| Entry Forms Open | BearcatLink | 5/14/25 | 8 a.m. |
| Variety Show Entries Due | BearcatLink | 5/25/25 | 5 p.m. |
| Parade Script Dropbox Open | BearcatLink | 9/25/25 | 5 p.m. |
| All Entry Forms Close | BearcatLink | TBD | 8 a.m. |
| Skit Final Script Due | BearcatLink | TBD | 5 p.m. |
| Parade Script Submission Closes | BearcatLink | 10/1/25 | 5 p.m. |
| On-Campus Walk-in Entries Due | BearcatLink | 10/1/25 | 5 p.m. |
| Street Chalking Applications Open | BearcatLink | 4/11/25 | 8 a.m. |
| Street Chalking Applications Due | BearcatLink | 10/6/25 | 11:59 p.m. |
| Street Chalking Day | Specified area on campus | 10/19/25 | Orgs sign up for time |
| Event | Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General meeting | CH 3500 | Wednesdays | 5 p.m. |
| Event | Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awards presentation | Lamkin | 10/29/25 | 7 p.m. |
