Autumn at the Arbor is one of the most anticipated events of the year, bringing current students, alumni, and the entire SAU community together to celebrate Homecoming! With lots of excitement through various events and activities happening all week long, it’s the perfect opportunity to show your Cougar spirit and experience the best of campus life. From September 28th to October 3rd, here are some of the main events happening throughout the week that are student favorites.  

Scavenger Hunt 
Keep an eye out for the golden coin as the campus wide scavenger hunt begins on Monday! Happening all week or until the coin is found, earn the chance to win the golden coin and a major prize inside.  

SAU Serves 
Serve your community by volunteering alongside fellow students and faculty through our various service projects throughout the Spring Arbor and Jackson area. Meet at the MAC on Wednesday at 8:00am for some light breakfast and prayer.  

Giant Bonfire 
Head to Mount Beebe at 9:30pm on Wednesday and gather around the bonfire for a night full of fun as we gear up for Homecoming week. Bring your friends, eat some s’mores, and take in the excitement!   

Cougar Madness 
Experience the high energy of Cougar Madness highlighting our men’s and women’s basketball teams! Pack the MAC starting at 10:00pm on Friday to  play games, win prizes, and be a part of this Homecoming favorite with an atmosphere like no other.  

5K Donut Dash
Come back to the MAC at 9:30am on Saturday and kick off the big day with a donut themed 5k.  No matter your pace, you’ll get donuts at every mile mark and have a whole lot of fun from start to finish!

Register online at springarbor.edu/donutdash.

Homecoming Festival
Bring your friends and family for a day full of fall fun featuring food trucks, local vendors, live music, and more. Starting at 11:30am on Saturday and going throughout the afternoon, the Fall Festival is the perfect place to reconnect with old friends and get ready for the big game.  This year, the first 100 students to show their student ID at the welcome tent get a free food voucher to use at any of the food trucks! 

Register here: https://springarbor.edu/landing-pages/homecoming-festival.php 

Soccer Game 
Bring the noise and come cheer on our men’s soccer team as they take on Taylor University at 3:00pm on Saturday! Pack the stands, bring the energy, and experience one of the most anticipated events of the week.  

Homecoming Hoedown 
Put on your cowboy boots and bring your best dance moves at the Homecoming Hoedown starting at 8:00pm on Saturday in the Plaza. Enjoy a night full of line dancing, country music, and fall vibes as the perfect way to wrap up Homecoming week.  

As Autumn at the Arbor is just around the corner, we can’t wait to celebrate with you and welcome you back to campus.  Whether you’re a current student, alum, family, or community member, this week is an opportunity to reconnect, make new memories, and experience the liveliness of campus. With a full schedule all week long, there is something for everyone to enjoy.  Show your Cougar spirit and join us for a week full of fun! 

 

Written by SAU Marketing student Ella Yowell '26.

 

Female student with dark hair, wearing a red shirt standing outside smiling with a tree in the background.

 

Ella Yowell

Hey everyone! My name is Ella Yowell, and I’m a senior from Edwardsburg, Michigan. I’m a Digital Communication and Marketing major who enjoys writing and photography. Being from the Southwest end of the state, I love going to Lake Michigan to swim and spend time at the beach. On campus, you can almost always find me in the library doing homework, hanging out in the Cougar Den, or getting coffee in the Arbor Cafe. The Christ-centered community on campus is one of my favorite things about SAU.