A special weekend of events has been planned as Cumberland University prepares for Homecoming 2010 on October 2.

This year's Homecoming festivities will offer an opportunity to connect with former classmates, friends and faculty as well as members of the Lebanon community. Make plans to visit campus for a fun and event-filled, family friendly weekend! There will be something for everyone to enjoy during Homecoming 2010 - children's activities, reunions, tailgating, Bulldog football and two new events, the Dawg Dash 5K Run/Walk and the LIVE on the Lawn Homecoming Concert!

Homecoming morning kicks off with the University's inaugural Dawg Dash 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Oct. 2 with registration beginning at 7 a.m. and the start at 8 a.m. Members of the community, as well as alumni and friends, are encouraged to participate in this run/walk benefiting student scholarships. Tickets are only $15 for CU students and children ages 8 to 18 and $20 for everyone 19 and over. If you are interested in taking part in this event, please register at www.active.com.

After the Dawg Dash 5K, everyone is invited to tailgate outside of Kirk Field/Lindsey Donnell Stadium prior to the kick-off against the Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson College. Beginning at 11 a.m., numerous campus and community organizations will have booths set up so that guests can enjoy games, food and drinks before the Bulldogs take on the Blue Raiders. There will also be a live band and family activities for all to enjoy.

After the game, the weekend will conclude with a concert on Memorial Hall Lawn. Great bands and entertainers will perform for the first-ever LIVE on the Lawn Concert. The event begins at 5 p.m. on Oct. 2 and will feature Capitol Nashville recording artist Walker Hayes as he performs his new hit single, "Pants." Other performances will include singer/songwriter Jessica Campbell and her band, Rye Mouth, who recently had one of her songs featured on ABC's "Ugly Betty." Chris Burke, who was selected from a contest sponsored by American Songwriter Magazine, will also perform at the concert as well as two local bands affiliated with Cumberland students - Flamingo and Sleepy Eyed Fox. Feel free to bring your blankets and lawn chairs as you relax on CU's historic campus. Advance tickets for LIVE on the Lawn are available at Wilson Bank & Trust locations and through the Cumberland University Alumni Office at 615-547-1253 for $10 per person. Tickets at the gate will be $15 per person, so be sure to purchase your tickets early! The concert will be free to Cumberland students with a valid student ID and to children 10 and under. LIVE on the Lawn is presented by Cumberland University, American Songwriter Magazine and WANT Radio.

For information about any of these events or to register or purchase tickets, please contact Meredith Thomas, Alumni Relations Coordinator, via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 615-547-1253.

For the Lebanon and Wilson County community, Homecoming 2010 represents a great time to come and see what is happening at your university. Whether you are an avid runner, enjoy watching college football or just want to relax and listen to some great music, make plans to be a part of this year's Homecoming festivities. You may be surprised by all of the improvements and enhancements taking place. For example, did you know Cumberland now has a Papa John's pizza restaurant on campus? Come by and check it out.

And the events listed above are just the tip of the iceberg ... Cumberland will also mark Homecoming Weekend with a baseball alumni game, an art exhibit and the groundbreaking ceremony for a new residence hall! Here's a complete SCHEDULE OF EVENTS. Hope to see you there, and GO 'DAWGS!