Hawktoberfest
Homecoming & Family Weekend
October 16-17, 2026
The most fantastic fall festival you can imagine all right here, down by the river.
Join us for traditions like the Great Bamboo Boat Race and Seahawks' Got Talent Showcase. ALL our students, alumni, faculty and staff are invited, so bring your friends and family along for the ride!
Schedule Of Events
Friday
October 16
2:00-8:00 p.m.
Saturday
October 17
8:00-2:00 p.m.
Aldom Lounge
CHECK-IN & WELCOME
Start your Hawktoberfest weekend at Aldom Lounge by following the directional signs across campus.
There you can pick up your event wristband, personalized itinerary, campus map and any paid merchandise. Our friendly staff will be on hand to help you get oriented and answer any questions.
Friday
October 16
All Afternoon
On-Campus Activities
Choose Your Own Adventure
Enjoy the afternoon as you please! Options include:
Campus Store – Take 20% off all SMCM logo merchandise (until 5 p.m.)
The Daily Grind – Grab a coffee or smoothie (until 5 p.m.)
Angelika’s - Angelika’s Kitchen is your local Kitchen & Pub. Located in Historic St. Mary’s City
Commemorative to Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland – Visit anytime (open day and night)
Waterfront – Relax and enjoy the view (until dusk)
Friday
October 16
All Afternoon & Evening
Off-Campus Activities
Choose Your Own Adventure
Explore the wonders of Southern Maryland at your own pace! Options include:
Our Neighbor – Visit Historic St. Mary’s City with its museums, historic buildings and scenic walking trails
Local Towns – Discover dining, shopping and small-town charm at Solomons Island, Leonardtown or Lexington Park
Parks and Beaches – Unwind at nearby Point Lookout State Park, Elms Beach Park, St. Mary’s River State Park, or Greenwell State Park, where you can enjoy scenic views, trails and picnic areas
Friday
October 16
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Campus Center Patio
PatioFest
Free Event for Registered Attendees with Wristband
Kick off Hawktoberfest weekend with PatioFest! Enjoy live music, seasonal mocktails, carnival games, festival artists and more to set the weekend’s festive, fall vibe. This event is open to all students, families, alumni and community members joining us Friday.
Friday
October 16
5:00-7:30 p.m.
Campus Center J. Frank Raley Great Room
Dinner in the Great Room
No Advance Sales - Swipe OneCard or Pay at the Register Enjoy this all-you-can-eat dinner buffet from our award-winning campus caterer, Bon Appétit. Walk-up guests are welcome to attend, and students with a meal plan may use their OneCards for admission for themselves and their guests. $19.10 (age 13+), $5.60 (age 3-12), Free (age 0-2)Friday
October 16
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Nancy R. and Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center Recital Hall
Hall of Fame Reception
Preregistration Required - No On-site Sales Celebrate the Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Guests will enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails before the Induction Ceremony. Registered and invited guests are encouraged to check in at Aldom Lounge before the reception. $40/attendeeFriday
October 16
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Nancy R. and Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center Concert Hall
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Free Event for Registered Attendees with Wristband Celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of this year’s talented honorees. While the preceding reception requires advance registration and payment, the ceremony itself is free and open to the public.Friday
October 16
7:30-9:00 p.m.
Admission Field
Outdoor Movie Night
Free Event for Registered Attendees with Wristband Join us for Addams Family Values on Admission Field. There will be popcorn!Saturday
October 17
All Day
On-Campus Activities
Choose Your Own Adventure
Enjoy the day as you please! Options include: Campus Store – Take 20% off all SMCM logo merchandise (until 6 p.m.) The Daily Grind – Grab a coffee or smoothie (until 6 p.m.) Commemorative to Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland – Visit anytime (open day and night)Saturday
October 17
10:00-2:00 p.m.
Campus Center J. Frank Raley Great Room
Brunch in the Great Room
No Advance Sales - Swipe OneCard or Pay at the Register Enjoy this all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet from our award-winning campus caterer, Bon Appétit. Walk-up guests are welcome to attend, and students with a meal plan may use their OneCards for admission for themselves and their guests. $19.10 (age 13+), $5.60 (age 3-12), Free (age 0-2)Saturday
October 17
10:00-2:00 p.m.
Campus Center J. Frank Raley Great Room
Brunch in the Great Room
No Advance Sales - Swipe OneCard or Pay at the Register Enjoy this all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet from our award-winning campus caterer, Bon Appétit. Walk-up guests are welcome to attend, and students with a meal plan may use their OneCards for admission for themselves and their guests. $19.10 (age 13+), $5.60 (age 3-12), Free (age 0-2)Saturday
October 17
11:00-5:45 p.m.
Waterfront Pier
St. Mary’s River Cruises
Preregistration Required - No On-site Sales Take in the breathtaking view of the St. Mary’s River on a relaxing, scenic cruise aboard the Chelsea Lane Tyler. Local food trucks will be available by the River Center from 12 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Please note that the 5 p.m. cruise runs overlaps with the HawktoberFEAST Dinner, so plan accordingly. $25 (age 13+), $10 (age 0-12) (45-minute blocks with 15-minute breaks)Saturday
October 17
Various Times
Various Locations
Alumni Reunion Games
Alumni athletes from baseball, lacrosse and swimming are encouraged to participate in their reunion game, or just come for the fun! Families and friends are welcome to attend. Women’s Lacrosse 9:30 a.m. JLR Stadium Men’s Lacrosse 10:30 a.m. JLR Stadium Baseball 12:00 p.m. Hawk’s Nest Swimming 1:00 p.m. Aquatics CenterSaturday
October 17
Various Times
Various Locations
Varsity Homecoming Games
Make some noise for the Seahawks as they take on these homecoming opponents! Sailing 10:00 a.m. (Women's ACC Final) Teddy Turner Waterfront Volleyball 11:00 a.m. vs Keystone Michael P. O’Brien ARC Arena Field Hockey 1:00 p.m. vs Immaculata Jamie L. Roberts Stadium Volleyball 1:00 p.m. Keystone vs Averett Michael P. O’Brien ARC Arena Volleyball 3:00 p.m. vs Averett Michael P. O’Brien ARC Arena Women’s Soccer 3:00 p.m. vs Cedar Crest Jamie L. Roberts Stadium Men’s Soccer 5:30 p.m. vs Penn College Jamie L. Roberts StadiumSaturday
October 17
12:00-4:00 p.m.
James P. Muldoon River Center
Great Bamboo Boat Race Construction
Preregistration Required to Race Free Event for Registered Competitors and Spectators with Wristband Gather your team of family and friends (up to six members) to construct, and eventually race, a boat made entirely of bamboo and other provided materials. Family, student and employee teams are highly encouraged! Gift cards to the Campus Store of $350, $250 and $150 will be awarded to the top three teams. (Race begins at 4 p.m.)Saturday
October 17
12:00-4:00 p.m.
Waterfront
Seahawk Fall Festival
Free Event for Registered Attendees with Wristband Bring the young and young-at-heart for this riverside fall festival. With food trucks, carnival games, pumpkin painting, face painting, lawn games and a fall-themed photo wall, there is something fun for everyone.Saturday
October 17
4:00-4:45 p.m.
James P. Muldoon River Center
Great Bamboo Boat Race
Preregistration Required to Race Register for the Great Bamboo Boat Race Free Event for Registered Competitors and Spectators with Wristband Come experience this time-honored St. Mary’s College tradition! After an afternoon of crafting boats entirely from bamboo and other materials, teams will test them in a race across the water for the top prize - a $300 gift card to the Campus Store. (Construction begins at 12 p.m.)Saturday
October 17
5:00-7:30 p.m.
Kent Hall Lawn
HawktoberFEAST Dinner
Preregistration Required - No On-site Sales Except for Food Trucks Explore the region’s amazing and diverse cuisine. These crab and shrimp dinner options must be purchased in advance through the online registration. If you prefer indoor seating, you can eat at the Campus Center dining hall and pay on-site. Option 1: Steamed Crab Dinner — ½ dozen Maryland blue crabs, pasta salad, coleslaw, cookies and soda or water – $50/order Option 2: Steamed Shrimp Dinner — One dozen medium/large peel ’n eat shrimp, pasta salad, coleslaw, cookies and soda or water – $30/order Option 3: Food Trucks — Local vendors serving a variety of food will be available – Price VariesSaturday
October 17
5:00-7:30 p.m.
Campus Center J. Frank Raley Great Room
Dinner in the Great Room
No Advance Sales - Swipe OneCard or Pay at the Register Enjoy this all-you-can-eat dinner buffet from our award-winning campus caterer, Bon Appétit. Walk-up guests are welcome to attend, and students with a meal plan may use their OneCards for admission for themselves and their guests. $19.10 (age 13+), $5.60 (age 3-12), Free (age 0-2)Saturday
October 17
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Nancy R. and Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center Concert Hall
Seahawks’ Got Talent Showcase
Free Event for Registered Attendees with Wristband Cap off the day with entertainment from a variety of the College’s talented student performers in the College’s state-of-the-art performing arts center.
Local Hotels
Fairfield Inn by Marriott
22119 Three Notch Rd, Lexington Park, MD 20653 | (301) 863-0203
Home2Suites by Hilton
46058 Valley Dr, Lexington Park, MD 20653 | (301) 866-1416
TownePlace Suites by Marriott
22520 Three Notch Rd, Lexington Park, MD 20653 | (301) 863-1111
"My son and I have been wanting to attend for 4 years! We wanted to enjoy the campus. It's beautiful. The previous three years he was always traveling with the cross country team, but we made it happen this year - his senior year. It was worth the wait! We had the best time reflecting upon his first campus tour when he was in high school. He showed me all the nooks and crannies and his favorite spots at SMCM. Thank you!"
- Anonymous 2024 Feedback
Our Campus
We invite you to take a walk along the brick path, toss a disc along our treasured frisbee golf course or find a nice spot in the shade to read a book or take a nap. Just keep an eye out for some of our resident stars, like Meatball the tabby cat, turtles, geese, squirrels and, of course, our eponymous seahawks.
Check out last year!
Our Neighbor, HSMC
Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC) is a National Historic Landmark and one of Southern Maryland’s leading tourism attractions. The outdoor living history museum commemorates the fourth permanent English settlement in North America, Maryland’s first city and for sixty-one years, its colonial capital. It’s the perfect place to stretch your legs—and your imagination.
The Maryland Dove is a rebuilt 17th-century coastal trading vessel. Classed as a pinnace, it evokes the original Dove -- the smaller of two ships that made the voyage to Maryland in 1634. It's worth noting that The Maryland Dove is captained by none other than SMCM alumna, Angela (Wilt) Laaro '15!