The Lions Are Calling. Purple and White Is Ready to Roar.
There is a specific kind of joy that happens on Laney-Walker Boulevard and 15th Street when Paine College comes home. The marching band strikes up, the step teams line the sidewalk warming up their routines, and generations of Lions — classmates who built lives in Atlanta, D.C., New York, and right back in Augusta — hug each other like no time has passed at all. It is smaller than the mega-homecomings you see trending on social media, and that is exactly the point. At Paine, everybody still knows your name.
That is Paine College Homecoming. And here is the honest, transparent update: Paine's Homecoming week runs every year in early February, not the fall — because Paine is a Division II HBCU built around basketball, baseball, and track, not football. The 2026 celebration already happened this year on February 7, 2026. So the next one on the calendar is Paine College Homecoming 2027, expected the first week of February 2027 (exact dates traditionally announced by the college and National Alumni Association in the fall — check paine.edu closer to the date).
🦁 Check Official Homecoming 2027 Dates
What Makes Paine College Homecoming Unlike Any Other
Paine's Homecoming does not try to be Atlanta or D.C. It does not need to. Three things make it its own.
First, Paine College's history. Founded in 1882 in Augusta, Georgia, Paine was built on an almost unheard-of foundation for its era — an active partnership between the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church (now the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church) and the Methodist Episcopal Church South (now the United Methodist Church). At a time when the country was aggressively segregated, Black and white church leaders sat on the same board to build a college for the formerly enslaved and their descendants. The Augusta Chronicle has called Paine's Board of Trustees the oldest interracial governing body in the nation.
Second, the intimacy. Paine is a small campus — roughly 64 acres in the heart of Augusta — and Homecoming reflects that. This is a homecoming where you run into your old professor at the parade and your former roommate at the tailgate in the same afternoon.
Third, the timing. Because Paine's athletics are built around basketball rather than football, Homecoming lands in the dead of winter — early February — giving it a different energy entirely from the October homecoming season everyone else is used to. The parade, the tailgate, and the basketball game against a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) rival all happen the same Saturday, capping a full week of step shows, coronation, and alumni gatherings.
The History: Paine College & Its Founding Story
Paine College was established on November 1, 1882, after Bishop Lucius Henry Holsey began pushing for its creation as early as 1869. The school was named for Bishop Robert Paine, and its founding is one of the more remarkable stories in HBCU history: rather than one denomination building a school on its own, the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and the white Methodist Episcopal Church South worked together, sharing governance, to create an institution of higher learning for Black Georgians in the years immediately following slavery. Classes began in 1884 in a rented space at 10th and Broad Street before the college moved to its current 15th Street campus in 1886.
More than 140 years later, Paine remains a private, church-affiliated HBCU turning out teachers, nurses, ministers, and business leaders from Augusta and across the CSRA (Central Savannah River Area). Homecoming is where that lineage shows up in person — generations of Lions, from the 1960s to last year's graduating class, walking the same 15th Street sidewalks.
Why Paine Homecoming Matters
Paine Homecoming matters because Paine's founding story matters. This is a college that exists because Black and white church leaders chose partnership over the segregationist norms of 1882 Georgia — and because generations of Lions since have kept a small, historically underfunded HBCU alive through sheer community will. Coming home for Homecoming is a direct act of support for that legacy.
It also matters locally. Paine sits inside the Laney-Walker neighborhood, historically the center of Black commerce and culture in Augusta. Homecoming week reconnects the college with that surrounding community — alumni shop at Black-owned businesses, eat at neighborhood restaurants, and walk streets that were built by Black entrepreneurs during Jim Crow segregation.
Why You Should Attend Paine Homecoming 2027
You do not need a Paine degree to enjoy this one. The parade rolling down 15th Street and Walton Way is free and open to the public, complete with area high school marching bands, dance teams, and cheer squads joining Paine's own band. The step show is one of the best-kept secrets on the HBCU homecoming calendar — smaller crowd, closer view, same energy.
Come for the tailgate. Stay for the basketball game. And budget an extra day to explore Augusta itself — a city with a deep, underrated Black history footprint that most first-time visitors never expect.
🎟️ Get Paine Lions Basketball Tickets
What to Expect: Homecoming Week
- Early in the week — Convocation & Alumni Kickoff: Founder's-week-style chapel services and alumni association gatherings open the week, honoring Paine's 1882 founding.
- Midweek — Coronation & Step Show: Homecoming court coronation and the campus step show, traditionally among the most-attended events of the week.
- Thursday/Friday — Pep Rally & Vendor Village: Campus pep rally and a vendor market featuring alumni-owned and local Augusta businesses.
- Saturday — Parade, Tailgate & Basketball: The signature day. Morning parade down 15th Street and Walton Way (free, family-friendly), followed by tailgating on campus, then the Lions basketball game against a SIAC opponent.
- Saturday Night — After-Parties: Alumni chapter mixers and step-team afterparties around Augusta close out the week.
Exact day-by-day scheduling is finalized by Paine's Office of Alumni Relations each year — confirm the official 2027 lineup at paine.edu once released.
Career & Networking Opportunities
Paine's alumni network is smaller than a flagship HBCU's, which makes it more personal, not less valuable. Homecoming weekend is when the Paine College National Alumni Association (PCNAA) hosts its most active gatherings of the year.
- PCNAA chapter meetups — regional alumni chapters organize dinners and receptions during Homecoming week; check pcnaa.360alumni.com for chapter contacts before you travel.
- Faculty and staff receptions — a small-campus advantage: it is genuinely easy to reconnect face-to-face with former professors and administrators who are still on campus.
- Local CSRA business connections — many Paine alumni have built businesses in the Augusta area; Homecoming weekend vendor markets are a real entry point into that network.
Social Events & Parties
Augusta's homecoming social scene centers around the campus itself and a handful of nearby venues in downtown Augusta and North Augusta. Expect Greek-letter organization step and stroll showcases, a homecoming coronation formal, and alumni chapter after-parties running Friday and Saturday night. Because Augusta is a smaller city than Atlanta or D.C., the social calendar is easier to navigate — most events are a short drive or rideshare from campus.
Where to Eat: Augusta's Best for Paine Homecoming
- Fat Man's Mill Cafe — A downtown Augusta institution serving traditional Southern comfort food and soul food classics near Greene Street. A homecoming-week staple for returning alumni.
- Sconyer's BBQ — Historic pit barbecue that has been smoking meat in Augusta since 1956. Old-school, no-frills, and exactly what you want after a morning at the parade.
- Boll Weevil Cafe & Sweetery — A beloved downtown Augusta cafe on James Brown Boulevard known for Southern comfort dishes and its dessert case. Good option for a relaxed homecoming-week lunch.
- Pasches Island Soul — Caribbean-and-soul-food fusion in Augusta, great for a group looking for something a little different from classic Southern fare.
- French Market Grille — Cajun and Creole cooking in the Augusta area, a solid dinner option for homecoming weekend groups.
- Rhinehart's Oyster Bar — A casual, no-frills seafood shack that has long been an Augusta favorite for oysters and low country classics.
What to Do in Augusta
- Augusta Riverwalk — A scenic walking and event space along the Savannah River in downtown Augusta, an easy stop between homecoming events.
- James Brown Statue & James Brown Boulevard — Augusta is the hometown of the Godfather of Soul. His statue stands on Broad Street, and the surrounding sites are covered by the James Brown Family Historical Tour.
- James Brown Arena — Augusta's downtown arena, named for its most famous native son, occasionally hosts events during major weekends in the city.
- Augusta Museum of History — Covers the city's full history, including its African American history and its James Brown legacy exhibits.
- Paine College Campus Walk — Walk the small, historic 15th Street campus itself; several buildings date back to the college's 19th-century founding era.
Black History & Cultural Sites in Augusta
- Laney-Walker Historic District — Spanning the 600–1400 blocks of Laney-Walker Boulevard, right next to Paine's campus, this was Augusta's center of Black-owned commerce during segregation, home to Black banks, churches, and businesses that thrived despite Jim Crow.
- Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History — Honoring the pioneering Black educator Lucy Craft Laney, founder of the Haines Normal and Industrial Institute, this museum anchors the Laney-Walker district and tells Augusta's African American story in depth.
- Tabernacle Baptist Church — A historic spiritual anchor of the Laney-Walker community, tied closely to the district's civil-rights-era organizing.
- Penny Savings Bank site — A reminder of Black financial self-determination in Augusta during the segregation era, located within the historic district.
- James Brown Family Historical Tour — A guided look at the sites tied to James Brown's Augusta upbringing, part of the city's broader Black cultural heritage.
Recommended Places to Stay
Augusta hotel rates rise during major weekends, so book early once 2027 dates are confirmed.
Premium
- Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center — Riverfront downtown location, walkable to the Riverwalk. From roughly $185–$225/night.
- Hilton Garden Inn Augusta — Reliable upscale option with easy access to downtown and the medical district. From roughly $180–$260/night.
Mid-Range
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott Augusta — Suite-style rooms, good for groups and families. From roughly $150–$200/night.
- Hampton Inn & Suites Augusta-Washington Rd — Consistent, well-reviewed, and centrally located. From roughly $100–$140/night.
Budget
- Econo Lodge Augusta, Downtown — Straightforward budget option close to downtown homecoming activity. From roughly $75–$95/night.
- My Place Hotel-Augusta, GA — Well-reviewed extended-stay-style budget property. From roughly $95–$115/night.
🏨 Find & Compare Augusta Hotels for Homecoming →
BTN Travel Tip: Your Paine Homecoming Itinerary
- Day 1 — Arrive & Laney-Walker: Check in, walk the Laney-Walker Historic District, visit the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History.
- Day 2 — James Brown & Riverwalk: Morning at the James Brown Statue and Museum of History, afternoon stroll on the Augusta Riverwalk, dinner at Boll Weevil Cafe & Sweetery.
- Day 3 — Coronation & Step Show: Attend Paine's evening step show and coronation events on campus.
- Day 4 (Saturday) — Parade, Tailgate & Game: Morning parade on 15th Street, tailgate on campus, afternoon Lions basketball game. Dinner at Fat Man's Mill Cafe or Sconyer's BBQ.
- Day 5 — Brunch & Depart: Slow morning, brunch, one last walk through campus before heading home.
Mark Your Calendar
Paine College Homecoming 2027
📅 Expected first week of February 2027 — exact dates TBA (based on Feb 8, 2025 and Feb 7, 2026 patterns)
📍 Paine College, 1235 15th St, Augusta, GA 30901
🦁 Basketball tickets & info — paineathletics.com
⚠️ Official dates are announced by Paine College and the National Alumni Association closer to the event — confirm before booking travel.
🦁 Visit Paine.edu for Homecoming Updates →
How to Stay Connected
- Official Website: paine.edu
- Alumni Association: Paine College National Alumni Association
- Hashtags: #PaineHomecoming2027 #PaineLions #PurpleAndWhite
- BTN Coverage: Follow @myblacktravelnow for HBCU homecoming guides and Augusta travel tips
