Southern Utah University held its 16th annual Forever Red celebration on Friday, Sept. 25. The event invited students and alumni to the Upper Quad to celebrate homecoming week with live music, food vendors and other activities.
The event kicked off at 7:30 p.m., where local alternative rock band Black Cat Parade performed a set comprising original songs like “Scared of You,” as well as covers, including “Jolene” by Dolly Parton. The group was the winner of the Battle of the Bands on Tuesday, where they won the opportunity to open for the event. They closed out their set with a cover of local favorite “Kilby Girl” by the Backseat Lovers.
Following their performance, Broken Road: A Rascal Flatts Tribute Band took the stage to perform many of the band’s greatest hits, including “Bless the Broken Road” and “What Hurts the Most.” Keeping with the “Cars” theme of homecoming week, they ended with a rousing rendition of their biggest hit, “Life is a Highway.”
SUU President Mindy Benson was up next, where she awarded two $500 scholarships and one $1000 scholarship to students in the crowd. She then introduced the neon drone show, which would close out the night.
The lights were met with cheers from the crowd as images like Lightning McQueen, the bell tower and the SUU logo lit up the sky.
The event also included other activities, including food trucks, bounce houses and “Cars”-themed photo ops. Attendees could also take part in numerous traditions, including pictures with school mascot Thor and President Benson.
“Hearing the Rascal Flatts cover band, being right in the front row and screaming with everybody was so fun,” said SUU student Jamie Stucky. “Forever Red is the best tradition we have on campus, and the drone show was amazing!”
Hundreds of students and alumni were in attendance, making Forever Red 2026 one of the biggest events of the year.
Author: Conner Dean
Photo by:
Editor: Lainey Porter
life@suunews.net
