Family Weekend will be held from Friday, Sept. 13 to Sunday, Sept. 15 at the University of Connecticut’s Storrs campus. Throughout the weekend, students and their families can attend a multitude of events set up by organizations across UConn.
Family Weekend is meant to include families in their college student’s experience at UConn, according to Eric Bouchard, assistant director of major events and programs for UConn student activities.
“Aside from Family Weekend, most family members will only spend a brief period of time on campus during a given visit,” said Bouchard in an email on Wednesday. “We aim to host a robust, three-day schedule of events that will continually engage families.”
While advanced registration for Family Weekend closed on Aug. 30, on-site registration is available for families that have not yet registered, according to the UConn Family Weekend website.
Once guests arrive on campus, there will be signs directing them to the Student Union for check-in. Here, information will be given about the events planned for Family Weekend, along with a map of campus and a bookstore coupon among other items. Families that have purchased admission to specialty meals can pick up tickets or wristbands at check-in as well. More information on the scheduled activities can be found on the UConn Family Weekend website.
This year’s Family Weekend is scheduled a month earlier than it has been in prior years. Bouchard credits this decision to UConn student activities’ consideration of religious holidays, athletic home games, and other events happening around campus.
“However, the shorter timeline to plan, coupled with the start of the semester, has made Student Activities, and likely our campus partners, a bit more hectic compared to previous years,” Bouchard said.
On the other hand, the earlier date offers warmer weather and longer days to this year’s Family Weekend, which Bouchard said he hopes will encourage families to take advantage of the outdoor events and activities in the evening. Daily event schedules can also be found on the website. Bouchard highlighted two events on Saturday that are open to anyone visiting UConn this weekend, one being the food truck rally from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. behind the Student Union that will have local food trucks serving a variety of lunch options for guests. In addition, a watch party of UConn football playing against Duke will be hosted under a large tent on the Student Union Mall at 6 p.m.
Anticipation for Family Weekend is already apparent in the popularity of some upcoming events. Admission to specialty meals, which includes the Family Weekend Barbecue on Saturday, Sept. 14 and the Family Weekend Brunch on Sunday, Sept. 15, are both currently sold out.
Similarly, Family Weekend is holding two signature events that are sold out. The first one is “Celebrate Your UConn Family: Alumni Legacy Breakfast,” which will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 in the Student Union Ballroom for alumni related to current UConn students. The breakfast is intended to celebrate the legacy of UConn alumni and will be accompanied by a pinning ceremony.
The second signature event is a comedy show by Colin Jost, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. at the Jorgenson Center for Performing Arts. Bouchard considered Jost’s show to be the most anticipated event of the weekend, as major comedy shows have historically done well during Family Weekend.
“The staff at Jorgensen take the lead in exploring nationally touring acts available during our Family Weekend dates,” said Bouchard. “This type of show appeals to both UConn students and their families, especially at the talent level that has become synonymous with Jorgensen and Family Weekend.”
This upcoming Family Weekend stands out among prior years regarding new events from campus partners that have not previously been involved with Family Weekend, according to Bouchard. Notably, the physics department will host 30-minute shows running every half hour at the newly renovated UConn Planetarium on Friday.
Bouchard also mentions an event by six faculty members of the Office of Provost, who will present research they are conducting in an engaging, TedTalk-style conversation on Saturday. Another event on Saturday that Bouchard said he believes will be a hit for families is the marching band’s performance at Jorgensen, who have not performed during family weekend in recent years.
With a multitude of special events and activities prepared for Family Weekend, Bouchard said that “the most important goal of Family Weekend is reconnecting. So, whether that happens on campus, at a local restaurant, or even at the Big E, Family Weekend sets aside time and space for UConn families to relax, catch up, and visit with one another.”
Directions to campus, along with information on dining halls, parking on campus, and the check-in procedure are all available on the UConn Family Weekend website.