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Fall Festival: A Homecoming Weekend

Please join us September 15 – 17, 2023 for the annual Bethany Fall Festival: A Homecoming Weekend. This event includes activities for all ages and alumni reunions. All alumni and friends are invited to be part of the weekend. Enjoy athletic contests, live music, and more! 

Friday, September 15
Saturday, September 16
  • Coffee, Donuts, and Cookies available (or until gone) – Alumni Tent – 9 AM – 4 PM
  • Bethany Activity Center Open House – 10 AM–7 PM – Come check out Bethany’s newest facility!
    • *We are currently installing the ceiling net over the turf portion of the BAC, and unfortunately, we cannot allow guests on the track and turf field. However, you are still welcome to tour the new facility at your leisure. 
  • Bethany Alumni Soccer Game Scheels Field – 10 AM Come watch former Bethany Viking Soccer players (men and women) play! 
  • Handle Without Care (An Art Exhibit by Michael Wiechmann ’10) – Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center – All Day
  • Little Viking Half-Mile Fun Run  (For ages 12 and under) – Sports and Fitness Center – 10 AM
    Online Registration 
  • BLC Viking 5K – Sports and Fitness Center – 10:30 AM
    Online Registration
  • Alumni Class Reunions – Alumni Tent/Honsey Hall – All Day
    • Class meet and greet at 10 – 11 AM in Honsey Hall – Reunion rooms found HERE (Rooms will be reserved all day for classes if they want to gather and visit while on campus)
  • Admissions Open House (registration recommended) – Honsey Hall – 9:30 AM
  • Bethany Spirit Store /Bookstore Open – Old Main – 10 AM – 3 PM
  • Memorial Library Open10 AM – 5 PM
  • Inflatable Games and Children’s Activities – Near Alumni Tent – 10 AM – 4 PM
  • Bethany Book and Craft Fair – Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center – 11 AM – 5 PM
    – Browse or purchase books and crafts from members of the Bethany Family and ELS/WELS. If interested in showcasing and selling your books or crafts, please contact BethanyBookFest@gmail.com or call (507)-220-0561. Cost is $25 for an 8-foot table and must be reserved by Friday, September 8. Up to two vendors may share a table. 
  • B-Town Drumline Performance – Alumni Tent – 11 AM
  • Tailgating Party/Hog Roast (Free-will donation) – Alumni Tent – 11:15 AM
  • Live Music/Entertainment – Alumni Tent – 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
    • Beret Finken ’1811:15 – 12:15 AM
      • A Southern Minnesota-based musician and songwriter. She graduated from Bethany Lutheran College with a bachelor’s degree in Music and Theatre. Blending the sounds of her soft, ethereal vocals, simple yet rich instrumentation, and unique folk-inspired compositional style, Beret strives to evoke strong feelings of nostalgia and introspection in her listeners through her musical storytelling.
    • Daniel Jaspersen Magician ’05 – 12:30 – 1:30 PM
      • Magician and Mentalist Daniel Jaspersen provides highly engaging and thought-provoking entertainment for today’s audiences.
  • All Bethany Choir Reunion Concert Rehearsal – Younge Gym – 12:15 – 2:30 PM
  • Bethany Men’s Soccer vs. North Central – Scheels Field – 2 PM
  • All Bethany Choir Reunion Concert – Younge Gym – Sports & Fitness Center – 2:30 PM
  • Alumni and Friends Reception –  Celebrating 30 Years of Theatre Physics – Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center – 4 PM
    Remarks shared from special guests that have or are currently a part of Theatre Physics. 
  • Bethany Women’s Soccer vs. North Central – Scheels Field – 4:30 PM
  • Theatre Physics – Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center – 5:30 PM & 7:30 PM
  • Bethany Social at the Mankato Brewery (All alumni, parents, and friends welcome!) – Mankato Brewery7-11 PM
    Cash bar, complimentary hors d’oeuvre’s, and live music from the bands, GBK Trio and Flotsam Quartet. 
Sunday, September 17
  • Worship Service with Bethany Choir – Trinity Chapel – 9 AM
    – Bethany alumni, family, and friends will be invited to join the choir at the end of the service to sing Prof. Fremder’s arrangement of On My Heart Imprint Thine Image.
  • Presentation of the Exceptional Service to Bethany Award – Trinity Chapel – Following Service
    2023 recipient is Reverend Doctor Professor Emeritus Erling Teigen
  • Breakfast at Bethany – Dining Center-Old Main – Following Service and ESBA Presentation
    – All you can eat with many options available.
    – $8.63 per person
  • Jacob B. Weber (’10) Organ Performance – Trinity Chapel – 1 PM
  • Theatre Physics – Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center – 2 PM

Fall Festival Events

Fall Festival events will be posted here as they're finalized.

Accommodations, maps and directions

Here is a list of local accommodations who support Bethany.

Check out our maps and directions for how to find the campus.

Please contact Jake Krier – Director of Alumni Relations at (507) 344-7519 with any questions.