Homecoming 2021 Update

Celebrating 100 Years of the World’s Largest Drum at Homecoming 2021
Full Alumni Band Reunion Moved to Fall 2022

Purdue University’s iconic World’s Largest Drum turns 100 years old this fall. The Purdue “All-American” Marching Band will celebrate this historic anniversary by welcoming our Big Bass Drum Crew alumni back to campus during Homecoming weekend (October 1-2, 2021). Participating Drum Crew alumni will play an integral part of the celebration as the century-old, University icon is featured throughout the weekend. Additional details will be announced in the summer pending new guidelines for fall events and campus visitors.

There remains uncertainty on how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may affect a number of campus activities in the fall, such as football games and large alumni events. Due to this uncertainty, Purdue Bands & Orchestras has moved the full Alumni Band Reunion back one year to Homecoming of fall 2022. This biannual reunion consistently welcomes over 500 alumni from across the country to perform together and reconnect with close friends. While we are saddened to delay this exciting reunion for one year, we believe it will ultimately allow more of our alumni to be part of the special Purdue Alumni Band tradition in a safe and healthy way. The full Alumni Band will pick up its every other year pattern starting at that time (2022, 2024, etc.). We look forward to hosting our largest ever Alumni Band weekend during Homecoming 2022 in what will be our brand-new home, Hagle Hall.