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Fill the Hill (with flamingos) this week in Madison

Bascom Hill will soon be covered with hundreds of plastic pink lawn flamingos. Find out more about this annual UW-Madison’s Fill the Hill fundraiser and other Homecoming events this week.

608 Bascom flamingo

The annual fundraising event started off as a 1979 student prank. | Photo by Kenton Fowler

It’s Homecoming Week in Madison, and starting Thursday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. UW-Madison will be putting on its annual 24-hour Fill the Hill fundraiser.

For every donation made, a plastic lawn flamingo will be added to Bascom Hill. Those who gift $350 or more will receive a lawn flamingo of their own.

Where does the money go?

Campus initiatives, schools, and colleges

  • Chancellor’s Fund
  • Tuition assistance
  • Nursing School
  • Nelson Institute

Student and community experiences

  • Arboretum
  • Chazen Museum of Art
  • Wisconsin Union

Homecoming week lineup

Thursday, Oct. 5

  • Women’s soccer vs Northwestern | 7 p.m. | McClimon Field, 750 Walnut St.

Friday, Oct. 6

  • Swim and dive vs Notre Dame | 3:30 p.m. | Soderholm Aquatic Center, 797 W. Dayton St.
  • Homecoming Parade | 6–7:30 p.m. | State and Gilman streets
  • Block party | 7-9 p.m. | Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
  • Men’s soccer vs Michigan State | 7 p.m. | McClimon Field

Saturday, Oct. 7

  • Football vs Rutgers | 11:00 a.m. | Camp Randall