NC State Homecoming Weekend: One House for Your Whole Group
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Old roommates come back from all over for Homecoming. Book one house in Wake Forest and nobody has to split up for the night.
- DateSaturday, October 31
- WhereCarter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh
- DriveAbout 30 minutes to NC State
- Sleeps13 across 7 bedrooms
- That weekRed and White Week, Oct 25 to Nov 1
Homecoming is a whole week this year
NC State calls it Red and White Week, and in 2026 it runs October 25 to November 1. The football game against California on Saturday, October 31, is the big finish. It is the weekend the group chat finally picks a date.
Sort out the beds early. NC State Alumni set up hotel blocks for the week, and the last booking dates on those blocks ran from September 9 to October 8, 2026. A group booking now is on its own, and ten friends in four hotel rooms means saying good night in a hallway.
Homecoming lands on Halloween this year. Kickoff is Saturday, Oct 31 at 12:00 p.m. ET on ACC Network, at Carter-Finley Stadium, so there is time for trick or treat after the game.
Your Homecoming weekend, day by day
Friday to Sunday is two nights. Inside three weeks of arrival, that is enough. Book earlier than that and the minimum is three nights, so add Thursday or Sunday night.
Arrive and settle in
Self check-in opens at 4pm. Friends flying into RDU land about 30 minutes away. Stock up at Wegmans across the street, and save the king suites for the couples.
Game day, then Halloween
Drive to Carter-Finley for California. Kickoff is Saturday, Oct 31 at 12:00 p.m. ET on ACC Network, at Carter-Finley Stadium. It is Halloween night too, so if kids came along, plan trick or treat around the game.
One last breakfast
Pancakes in one kitchen, coffee in the other, and everyone swaps photos from the night before. Check-out is by 10am.
- 30 minNC State + Carter-Finley
- 30 minDowntown Raleigh
- 30 minRDU Airport, for fly-in friends
- Across the streetWegmans
Coming in three cars? Each home has one garage space and one driveway space, and there is more room in the guest lot across from the driveway.
Good to know for a game weekend
- Check-in: the keypad works from 4pm Friday, so the first car to arrive gets in.
- Check-out: Sunday by 10am. Sleep in on Saturday, not Sunday.
- Quiet hours: from 10pm until 8am, Halloween included. The late stories move off the roof and indoors.
- Who can stay: only the friends on the reservation, for insurance reasons. Message us ahead if someone wants to drop by.
- The climb: every bedroom is up at least one flight. The upper home is a real climb, so the friend with the bad knee takes Tessa. More in our house rules.
How a crew of friends splits up the house
Nine beds across seven bedrooms makes the sorting quick. Couples take the two kings, each with its own bathroom, and the two queens. Single friends split the twin XL rooms, two to a room. The thirteenth person gets the double daybed in Julianne, which comes with a desk. Each home has its own kitchen, garage and front door, so the early risers and the night owls stay out of each other's way.
| Tessathe lower home | Juliannethe upper home | Sunset Grovethe whole house | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeps | 6 | 7 | 13 |
| Bedrooms | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Baths | 2.5 | 2.5 | 5 |
| Floors | 1 and 2 | 3 and 4, plus the roof | All four, plus the roof |
| Rooftop deck | No, a balcony | Yes | Yes |
| Books out | 3 months | 3 months | 12 months |
Julianne's king suite
Top floor, with a walk-in closet and a bathroom with two vanities. One couple, one door.
The twin XL rooms
One in each home, two beds each. That is four single friends in four real beds.
The daybed room
A double daybed for guest number thirteen, plus a desk for two if anyone has a Monday deadline.
The deck, four floors up
Back from Raleigh, the crew heads up to Julianne's private rooftop deck, with lounge seating, bar stools at the rail and a cornhole set. Quiet hours start at 10pm, so the late stories move inside to one of the two living rooms.
Saturday morning starts in two kitchens instead of one. Each has double wall ovens, and the pots, pans and seasonings are already stocked. Wegmans is across the street for the eggs and the coffee.
What friend groups say
"The space was amazing and was more than enough for our group of 9! The host was incredibly responsive. We’d definitely come back the next time we’re in NC."
"This our second time staying here. It is a beautiful home. We loved the rooftop in the evening, the kitchen had everything we needed and the bedrooms are spacious and comfortable."
"Both units were beautiful, spacious and extraordinarily clean. It is walking distance to Wegmans and other food places in the area. The host, Marianna, was incredibly responsive and flexible. I would absolutely recommend this house and book another stay there!"
NC State Homecoming questions
When is NC State Homecoming in 2026?
Saturday, October 31, against California at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. Kickoff is 12:00 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
What is Red and White Week?
NC State's homecoming week for alumni, families and friends. In 2026 it runs October 25 to November 1, and the football game on Saturday closes it out. Details are on the Red and White Week site.
Are the NC State alumni hotel blocks still open?
The blocks NC State Alumni listed had last booking dates between September 9 and October 8, 2026. After that, groups book on their own.
Where can a group of 13 stay for Homecoming?
Sunset Grove in Wake Forest sleeps 13 in 7 bedrooms across two homes side by side in one building, about 30 minutes from NC State. Book the whole house on Airbnb or Vrbo.
Can we book just Friday and Saturday night?
Yes, when you book within three weeks of arrival. Earlier than that the minimum is 3 nights, so add Thursday or Sunday. Airbnb and Vrbo apply the final rule.
How far is Sunset Grove from Carter-Finley Stadium?
About 30 minutes by car to NC State. RDU Airport and downtown Raleigh are also about 30 minutes. Allow more time at weekday rush hour and on game days.
Is there parking for several cars?
Each home has one garage space and one driveway space, and there is more room in the guest lot across from the driveway.
Wondering about something we did not cover? Ask Marianna. She replies within a day.
More big weekends this fall
Bring the whole crew this time
Seven bedrooms, two kitchens and a rooftop deck, all under one roof for the weekend.