LSSU Invites Community to Celebrate Great Lake State Weekend, Oct. 23-24

Oct 01, 2026

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State University invites students, alumni, families, friends, and the community to celebrate Great Lake State Weekend (GLSW), Oct. 23-24, 2026.

Dating back to 1995, this longtime LSSU tradition brings the Laker community together for a homecoming-style event featuring athletic competitions, alumni awards, campus festivities, and opportunities to (re)connect with fellow Lakers.

The schedule includes the Laker hockey home opener, Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremonies, campus open houses, and much more.

Highlights of GLSW include:

• Laker Hockey: The Lakers take on Bowling Green at their home opener on Friday, Oct. 23rd, and again Saturday, Oct. 24th. Puck drops at 7:07 p.m. both nights.
• Pre-Game Picnic and Tailgate: Gather with fellow Lakers for community and pre-game activities throughout the weekend.
• CFRE Discovery Center Open House: Explore the Barch Center for Freshwater Research and Education during Saturday’s open hours.
• Engineering Expo and Design Competition: Discover student innovation and engineering projects from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday in the CAS building.
• 5K Fun Run: Participate in the annual 5K Fun Run hosted by the LSSU Kinesiology Club at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
• Campus and Community: Enjoy more GLSW activities, including the Arts Center’s Battle of the Bands, Oozeball, Laker Volleyball, and more.

Additional activities are scheduled throughout the week leading up to the weekend, beginning Sunday, Oct. 18, including student events, the Career Fair, and Bedlam at the Bud.

Dining and Retail on-campus hours include:

Dining (Hours for Saturday and Sunday)

• North Shore Dining Hall
  • Brunch: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Dinner: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• The Galley, C-Store and Coffee Shop
  • 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Retail

• LSSU Bookstore
  • Monday – Friday: 9 am – 5 pm
  • Saturday, 10/24: 10 am – 4 pm
• Laker Team Store
  • Monday 10/19: 12 pm – 5 pm
  • Tuesday 10/20: 12 pm – 5 pm
  • Wednesday 10/21: 10 am -5 pm
  • Thursday 10/22: 10 am – 5 pm
  • Friday 10/23: 10 am – 9 pm
  • Saturday 10/24: 12 pm – 9 pm

(Regular Laker Team Store hours will be M-F 10 am – 5 pm after GLSW, except for Laker game days and athletic center events)

Whether returning to campus to reconnect or experiencing GLSW for the first time, LSSU welcomes the community to celebrate Laker pride with friends, family, and fellow Lakers.

The full schedule of events, registration information, and ticket links are available at www.lssu.edu/glsw. Visitors are encouraged to review the schedule regularly, as additional events may be added and details are subject to change.

View the Printable Schedule of Events