Iowa's Golden Girl, Drum Major Set to Lead Homecoming Festivities

PHOTO: JUSTIN TORNER/UI OFFICE OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION Golden Girl Carissa Wolfe performs at the 2025 UI Homecoming parade.

When Iowa's Golden Girl leaps across the field and the drum major struts toward the 50-yard line at Kinnick Stadium, nearly 300 marching Hawkeyes are not far behind. The Hawkeye Marching Band begins playing “On Iowa” with 70,000 fans clapping along.

For every spirited performance, the Hawkeye Marching Band devotes many hours behind the scenes to prepare—especially during homecoming week. Golden Girl Carissa Wolfe and new drum major Annabelle Temple will lead the band through all the homecoming festivities Oct. 25–31, including an alumni performance at Voxman Music Building, the parade in downtown Iowa City, and the football game against Wisconsin.

Band members spend extra time preparing for homecoming, but typically put in at least two hours a day, not including specialty practices, performances, and travel time. They receive only one course credit for their efforts, but Temple and Wolfe say it’s worth it to gain a rewarding experience they will treasure for the rest of their lives.

Wolfe began twirling at age 3, with her mom acting as her coach until she was 9. Last year was her first homecoming as the Golden Girl. The international award-winning twirler and sophomore communication studies major says, “It was one of my favorite weeks to twirl with the band because I got to meet so many people.”

This year will be Temple’s first homecoming as the drum major, the third woman to hold the role since World War II. “I’m beyond excited for the opportunity,” says Temple, a junior studying music education and clarinet performance. “I can’t wait to see how the band is going to develop and change within these next two years.”

PHOTO: ALEX BUSH Hawkeye Marching Band drum major Annabelle Temple performs during the Iowa-Iowa State football game on Sept. 12 at Kinnick Stadium.

Homecoming 2026

See the full schedule of events, map out the parade route, and order homecoming merchandise at the Homecoming at Iowa website.