Sep 12, 2018 3 min read

California University of Pennsylvania and the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency are transforming Cal U.’s Homecoming celebration into a regional festival.

Vulcan Fest Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 12-14, will include traditional Homecoming activities, plus a free public concert featuring multi-platinum recording artists Lonestar, 2001 winners of the Country Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year Award.

Opening for Lonestar will be contemporary country musician Chris Higbee. The concert will be held outside Adamson Stadium at Roadman Park, on Cal U.’s upper campus. The concert begins immediately after the Homecoming football game, where the Cal U. Vulcans face Gannon University’s Golden Knights.

Also on the Vulcan Fest agenda will be California University’s traditional Homecoming parade, with floats designed by students and marching bands from area high schools; Vulcans soccer matches; and a festival at Roadman Park, near Cal U.’s stadium, with food trucks, Kids Zone activities, fireworks and more.

“California University is a premier destination in Washington County,” said California University President Geraldine M. Jones. “Partnering with the county’s tourism agency has allowed us to reimagine our Homecoming as a top tourism attraction. I’m excited about using our Homecoming event as a springboard to a festival that promotes tourism in our region. I’m looking forward to meeting friends old and new at Vulcan Fest – and introducing more people both to Washington County and to Cal U.”

As part of the weekend’s festivities, California University will host some alumni events at the Meadows in North Strabane Township, including a celebration of the Alumni Association’s 135th anniversary.

Jeff M. Kotula, president of the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency, said that the agency has been working with Cal U. for several years to promote the county’s tourism assets to the university’s 55,000 alumni.

“Vulcan Fest Homecoming Weekend is the natural evolution of these efforts. We hope the great lineup of events over multiple days will encourage overnight stays as alumni visit Cal U. and explore Washington County,” Kotula said. “We also believe that Vulcan Fest will bring more customers to our Mon Valley businesses and increase visits to our river towns. Tourism is great for our local economy, and we fully expect our area to benefit from Vulcan Fest.”

The complete Vulcan Fest schedule is online at www.vulcanfest.com. While some activities are expressly for Cal U. alumni, most are open to the public.

Lonestar will perform Oct. 13 at Roadman Park. Higbee opens the outdoor show at around 6 p.m., immediately after the Vulcans football team wraps up its Homecoming game against Gannon. Showtime for Lonestar is approximately 8 p.m., with fireworks after the show.

Concertgoers may bring their own chairs. Parking at Roadman Park is $10. Vulcan Flyer shuttles will transport visitors between the main campus and Roadman Park at no charge.

For information about other Washington County activities and attractions, go to www.visitwashingtoncountypa.com. For directions, visit www.calu.edu.