Fill the Field — Homecoming 2026

CALLING ALL NIU MARCHING BAND & SILVERETTE ALUMNI!

Dust off your instruments, flags, and dancing shoes! It is time to come home for the 119th NIU Homecoming on October 10, 2026.

Join over a hundred of your fellow alumni on the turf for our annual “Fill the Field” event!

Why you can't miss this year:

• Zero pressure: We welcome all alumni back regardless of your current performance ability. There is a spot on the field just for you!
• A historic milestone: This is our very first Homecoming show under the brand-new Mountain West Conference!
• Prime time energy: It’s a night game with an electric 6:30 p.m. start!
• Fresh new look: Be among the first to see the brand-new Huskie band uniforms on the field!

We hope to see you there!
 

REGISTRATION DETAILS:

All participating alumni must register in advance. Due to the complexity of the event's performing activities, walk-ins cannot be accommodated. Even if you don’t plan on marching, playing or dancing, you must still register by the deadline for a spot on the field!

Deadline: Oct. 5 at Noon

Questions? Contact Assistant Director of Affinity Groups, Melissa Ouimette, at mouimette@niu.edu or 815-753-9057. 
 

GAME TICKETS:

All participating alumni must purchase a game ticket in advance to perform on the field. Game tickets for general admission seating in the east grandstand are available at the group rate of $20 each. Band and Silverette alumni are welcome to sit near the band. You’ll need to purchase tickets for yourself and each guest.

Tickets can be purchased online directly through NIU Athletics here, or by calling 815-752-6800 and referencing the Huskie Marching Band Alumni Network Group Offer. 
 

PERFORMING OPPORTUNITIES:

For the 19^th year, the Alumni Band and Silverette alumni will perform the entire pregame and halftime show on the field alongside the Huskie Marching Band. The 2026 homecoming activities will include the parade, tailgating, pregame, postgame and halftime, and will feature the following music selections: NIU Fanfare, Hail to the Huskies, Huskie Fight Song, Alma Mater, Star-Spangled Banner as well as the following halftime features: Funkytown, Jungle Boogie and Uptown Funk.
 

MUSIC:

Pregame music is available in PDF format on the Huskie Marching Band website. Please note that these arrangements might be different from what you played “back then.”

Halftime music PDFs — a link will be included in the confirmation email you will receive after you register. Please print the music and bring it with you. And don’t forget your lyre and flip folder, which you may obtain from your local music store or an online supplier.
 

INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT:

Due to the band’s tremendous growth in recent years, virtually every band-owned instrument is used by current members, so we ask that you provide your own instrument.

Drumline performers can reserve the use of equipment for the day on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact Abby Shields at ashields4@niu.edu with your request.

Color Guard performers will have flags provided.
 

STORAGE AND BELONGINGS:

Due to limited instrument storage space, performers are encouraged to leave cases and other belongings in their cars or plan other arrangements.
 

UNIFORMS:

Alumni marching band apparel is available for purchase, items will be picked up during check-in before the field rehearsal. 

BAND - Participants are encouraged to wear the “official” shirt or any other NIU logoed apparel with black pants or jeans.

SILVERETTE UNIFORM: Alumni Silverettes may wear any black alumni T-shirt, sequined jacket or tank purchased previously with black pants (yoga, performance leggings or black jeans) and black footwear. Metallic 6-inch silver poms are needed for both pregame and halftime performances. If you still have them from previous alumni performances, please bring them. If you need to purchase them, please contact Cheryl Ringler, Huskie Marching Band Alumni Network President at cleargraphics@comcast.net. As soon as the choreographer uploads the halftime routine to YouTube, the link will be posted on the “NIU Silverettes Alumni-Official” Facebook group page and a video link will be sent via email.
 

SECURITY: 

Per the NIU Athletics policy, only performing members with wristbands may come onto the football field for rehearsal, pregame and halftime. Wristbands are only for staff and performers. Your guests may watch us from the stands, and children younger than age 18 must be supervised by an adult.
 

PARKING:

Event parking is available at the Convocation Center parking lot. The Convocation Center parking lot is general parking. Please refer to the Huskie Stadium Fan Guide for additional information regarding game-day parking. 

Please note - the Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center and the Chick Evans Field House lots are reserved for NIU Foundation donor parking. Anyone parking in those lots must have a valid donor parking pass displayed.
 

SCHEDULE:

Please see the schedule below. Saturday’s schedule is based on a 6:30 p.m. game time. The final schedule will be emailed to registrants and posted on the Alumni Band website a few days before homecoming.
 

Friday, Oct. 9

• 4-6 p.m., Silverette Meet and Greet, Comfort Inn and Suites, Enjoy sandwiches and light refreshments as you reconnect with your fellow alumni.

• 7-9 p.m., Mandatory Silverette alumni practice (Chessick Center), To perform the routine on homecoming, alumni must attend this crucial practice.

Saturday, Oct. 10 - Game Day 

• Noon, Welcome and Sign-in: Band and Silverette alumni sign-in and welcome opens at southeast gate to the stadium.

• 12:30 p.m., Rehearsal in Huskie Stadium. ALL PERFORMERS. Band and Silverette alumni and current HMB combined REHEARSAL at Huskie Stadium. We will run through the music and review the schedule and logistics for the day. To ensure that Saturday’s activities proceed without difficulty, Dr. Bough and the network request that all who are performing any portion of the event attend the rehearsal.

• 2:30 p.m., Rehearsal dismissed. 

• 4:30 p.m., Huskie Preview (optional): Band and Silverette alumni are invited to perform with the Huskie Marching Band at the Huskie Band preview mini-concert, located north of the Chessick Practice Center, or at The Yard, west of Huskie Stadium.

• 5 p.m., Perform at The Yard (optional).

• 5:50 p.m., Pregame call time: The band and Silverette alumni will join the band and will enter Huskie Stadium from the southeast.

• 6:05 p.m.: The pregame show starts.

• 6:30 p.m., Kickoff: Band and Silverette alumni and their guests are welcome to sit in the east grandstand with the band during the game. All band and Silverette alumni and guests must have tickets.

• Approximately 8 p.m., Halftime: Band and Silverette alumni will perform the halftime show with the Huskie Marching Band. 

• Approximately 10:30 p.m., Post-game performance (optional): Band and Silverette alumni are invited to join the band on the field to perform the halftime music.