Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½

All day - The Great Game Digital Adventure: Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Edition

• The Great Digital Adventure is back! Learn more about campus by creating a team and using your smartphones to scan a QR code and solve a series of puzzles that will take teams to the most interesting parts of campus. This activity is self-guided and can be done anytime during Family Weekend. All families who complete the adventure will be entered into a drawing and five families will receive a $100 gift card for Downtown Evanston, which recipients can use it at any of the participating businesses including restaurants, retailers and service providers. More details on how to participate coming soon!  

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10:00 am – 6:00 pm - Family Weekend Hospitality Room & FB Watch Party Ticket Pick Up (101 Wildcat Room, Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Dr.)

• Families should go to the Wildcat Room to pick up their pre-purchased Watch Party Tickets, and to connect with Family Engagement staff, pick up an “at a glance” schedule book, collect a coupon for the bookstore and enjoy some complimentary coffee, tea and water.  

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11:00 am – 12:00 pm - Faculty Lecture Series: Round 1 

Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½’s world-class faculty showcase their teaching expertise during various lectures for families. We typically offer at least six different lectures for each timeframe and descriptions will be listed here by early October. There are no tickets for this event; all seating is first-come, first-served.

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1:30 pm – 2:30 pm - Faculty Lecture Series: Round 2 

Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½’s world-class faculty showcase their teaching expertise during various lectures for families. We typically offer at least six different lectures for each timeframe and descriptions will be listed here by early October. There are no tickets for this event; all seating is first-come, first-served.

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Afternoon with the Undergraduate Schools

Bienen School of Music 

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, Jean Gimbel Lane Reception Room)

• Bienen School family members are invited to a reception to connect with members of the Bienen School's leadership team and with other Bienen parents.

Families are also invited to observe student rehearsals at various times throughout the afternoon. 

• University Chorale, 2:00-3:20 pm (Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, 1-190 McClintock Choral Room)   
• Symphonic Wind Ensemble, 2:10 pm - 4:10pm (Pick-Staiger Rehearsal Room)  
• University Singers, 3:30 pm - 4:50 pm (Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, 1-190 McClintock Choral Room)  
• Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ University Jazz Orchestra, 4:30 pm - 6:20 pm (Regenstein 011)  
• Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble 5:00 pm - 6:20 pm (Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, 1-190 McClintock Choral Room)  
• Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ University Marching Band, 4:00 pm - 6:00pm (Wilson Field/TBD)  

McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (205 Louis Room, Norris University Center) 

• McCormick family members are invited to this presentation and Q&A with Dr. Burghardt, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Engineering, and current engineering students.  

Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (McCormick Foundation Center Forum, 1870 Campus Dr.) 

• A welcome from our Dean, and a brief showcase of student work, and time with advisers.

School of Communication

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Wirtz Center for Performing Arts, Room 201, 1949 Campus Drive) 

• Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Advising Lori Barcliff Baptista will speak briefly, and academic advisors will mingle with guests.

School of Education and Social Policy (SESP)

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Annenberg Hall, Room 123, Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Advising Office, 2120 Campus Dr.) 

• An open house and conversation with SESP faculty and advising team will take place in the SESP Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Affairs Office on the first floor of Annenberg Hall. Light refreshments will be served.

Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St.)

• Presentation and panel discussion on resources and opportunities for Weinberg students.  

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6:45 pm – 8:30 pm:  Acapalooza Show #1 (Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St.)

9:00 pm – 10:30 pm:  Acapalooza Show #2

• Join Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ University Dance Marathon (NUDM) and Family Engagement for a night of incredible a cappella performances! Enjoy music from Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½’s premier a cappella groups while learning about NUDM 2026’s life-changing primary and secondary beneficiaries.  

  Please Note: There will be two separate shows this year, one at 6:45 pm and another performance at 9:00 pm. Each performance costs $10, which is donated to NUDM and will feature half of Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½’s a cappella groups.  

  To ensure you are purchasing tickets for the a cappella groups you want to see, tickets will not go on sale until the beginning of October. This is because a cappella groups host auditions and finalize their group rosters at the beginning of the Fall quarter. We will provide you with one week’s notice before tickets go on sale and a complete run of show for each performance.   

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8:00 pm – 10:00 pm - Dearborn Observatory (2131 Tech Drive) 

• Families are invited to drop in and tour the Observatory free of charge.  Weather permitting, you will be able to view the night sky with our historic Dearborn Telescope.

Events will continue to be added to the “Other Things to Do” section of the Family Weekend schedule through October. 

7:30 pm – 8:30 pm - Hang Time written & directed by Zora Howard (Takes place on the Chicago Campus in Abbott Hall, Wirtz Theater, Room 203, 710 N. Lake Shore Drive)

• Three men chew the fat under an old, wide tree. In Hang Time, we peek into the interiority – the great loves and bitter blues – of Black men in America. Setting the romantic and the macabre in sharp relief, the work invites the viewer to envisage the living Black body triumphant over the legacy of violence that it holds. Written and directed by Pulitzer Prize Finalist Zora Howard in her directorial debut, Hang Time is a deeply moving and subversive work not to be missed. For more information and tickets, go to

Please note: There is a home football game on Saturday, October 18. Per the NCAA, we may not know the game time until 10 days prior to the game. For that reason, you will see timing TBD for events happening on Saturday. The schedule will be updated once gametime is announced. Additionally, more programming will be added to the Saturday schedule in the next few weeks. 

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All day - The Great Game Digital Adventure: Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Edition

• The Great Digital Adventure is back! Learn more about campus by creating a team and using your smartphones to scan a QR code and solve a series of puzzles that will take teams to the most interesting parts of campus. This activity is self-guided and can be done anytime during Family Weekend. All families who complete the adventure will be entered into a drawing and five families will receive a $100 gift card for Downtown Evanston, which recipients can use it at any of the participating businesses including restaurants, retailers and service providers. More details on how to participate coming soon! 

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10:00 am – 4:00 pm - Family Weekend Hospitality Room & FB Watch Party Ticket Pick Up (101 Wildcat Room, Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Dr.) 

• Families should go to the Wildcat Room to pick up their pre-purchased Watch Party Tickets, and to connect with Family Engagement staff, pick up an “at a glance” schedule book, collect a coupon for the bookstore and enjoy some complimentary coffee, tea and water. 

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TBD - Family Engagement Football Watch Party (Cohen Lawn, Norris University Center)

• Cheer on your Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Wildcats as they take on the Boilermakers at the Family Engagement Football Watch Party on the new Cohen Lawn! The event will begin 30 minutes prior to gametime and feature music, games, and face painting plus an opportunity to mingle with other Wildcat families while everyone watches the game on a large screen. This event is FREE to attend, but there is a charge for food and beverages. Food and beverage tickets can be purchased when registering for Family Weekend at a discounted rate of $2 per ticket. You may also purchase tickets on site at the event with a credit card (no cash) for $3 per ticket. All food and beverage tickets are non-refundable.

• Watch Party Menu  

  Grill (2 tickets each):  
  Hamburgers/Cheeseburgers  
  Portobello Mushroom Burger  
  100% Beef Hot Dogs  
  Brats  
  Grilled Chicken Breast  
  Veggie Burger  

  Sides and Desert (1 ticket each):  
  Bags of Chips  
  Cookies  
  Brownies  
  Lemon Bars  

  Nonalcoholic Drinks (1 ticket each):  
  Cans of Soda (Coke Products)  
  Topo Chico Sparkling Water  

  *Free drinking water will be available in large canisters
   
  Alcoholic Beverages (3 tickets each):  
  Beer  
  Wine  
  Hard Seltzers

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TBD - Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Football vs. Purdue University (Lakeside Field)

• The Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Wildcats will battle the Purdue Boilermakers for an exciting Big Ten match up. Gametime is currently TBD and may not be announced by the NCAA until 10 days before the game. Official Family Weekend game tickets are sold out but you can check out to see if other tickets are still for sale. Go ‘Cats! 

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TBD – Campus Tours led by Family Ambassadors (Leave from The Rock, near Harris Hall) 

• Family Ambassadors will lead a campus-walking tour which will leave from The Rock.    

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TBD – Campus Resource Sessions Round 1 (Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Dr.)

Career Services for Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½s (McCormick Auditorium, Norris University Center)  

• Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Career Advancement (NCA) will offer an overview of the career resources available to your student including career counseling and advising services, internships and summer experiences, and the post-graduation success of our students.  Come learn about how Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ prepares its students for life after graduation.  

Undergraduate Research Information (Norris Lake Room 2-180) 

• The Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research will explain how students can get involved in research.  At Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½, research occurs in all fields and schools from the [expected] labs to the creative arts and journalism.  Come learn the process of getting into a lab and/or developing your own project.  We have extensive resources and funding for both.  

Office of Fellowships Session (Norris Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Room 2-160 & 2-172)

• The Office of Fellowships helps students find and apply for external sources of funding to do many different things, including research, internships, language study, and tuition support, with international options available for all opportunities.  

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TBD – Campus Resource Sessions Round 2 (Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Dr.)

Career Services for Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½s (McCormick Auditorium, Norris University Center)  

• Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Career Advancement (NCA) will offer an overview of the career resources available to your student including career counseling and advising services, internships and summer experiences, and the post-graduation success of our students.  Come learn about how Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ prepares its students for life after graduation.  

Undergraduate Research Information (Norris Lake Room 2-180)

• The Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research will explain how students can get involved in research.  At Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½, research occurs in all fields and schools from the [expected] labs to the creative arts and journalism.  Come learn the process of getting into a lab and/or developing your own project. We have extensive resources and funding for both.  

Office of Fellowships Session (Norris Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Room 2-160 & 2-172)

• The Office of Fellowships helps students find and apply for external sources of funding to do many different things, including research, internships, language study, and tuition support, with international options available for all opportunities.  

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11:00 am – 5:00 pm - Visit the Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL) 

• Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ undergraduates always enjoy free access to the museum when they present their Wildcard. During Family Weekend, only on Saturday, October 18, this benefit extends to up to two guests who will be allowed free entry when they visit either the Michigan Ave or Modern Wing ticketing counter with a Wildcard-wielding undergraduate! Information about visitor policies, special exhibits and more available at: This program is supported by the Division of Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Affairs and managed by Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Organizations & Activities.  

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8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Dearborn Observatory (2131 Tech Drive) 

• Families are invited to drop in and tour the Observatory free of charge. Weather permitting, you will be able to view the night sky with our historic Dearborn Telescope.

Events will continue to be added to the “Other Things to Do” section of the Family Weekend schedule through October. 

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm - Hang Time written & directed by Zora Howard (Takes place on the Chicago Campus in Abbott Hall, Wirtz Theater, Room 203, 710 N. Lake Shore Drive)

• Three men chew the fat under an old, wide tree. In Hang Time, we peek into the interiority – the great loves and bitter blues – of Black men in America. Setting the romantic and the macabre in sharp relief, the work invites the viewer to envisage the living Black body triumphant over the legacy of violence that it holds. Written and directed by Pulitzer Prize Finalist Zora Howard in her directorial debut, Hang Time is a deeply moving and subversive work not to be missed. For more information and tickets, go to

All day - The Great Game Digital Adventure: Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Edition

• The Great Digital Adventure is back! Learn more about campus by creating a team and using your smartphones to scan a QR code and solve a series of puzzles that will take teams to the most interesting parts of campus. This activity is self-guided and can be done anytime during Family Weekend. All families who complete the adventure will be entered into a drawing and five families will receive a $100 gift card for Downtown Evanston, which recipients can use it at any of the participating businesses including restaurants, retailers and service providers. More details on how to participate coming soon! 

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10:00 am – 11:30 am - Donut 5K (Southern End of Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Lakefill)

• An old family favorite has returned! The Donut 5K is a typical 5K with a twist! Every donut you eat takes time off your run! It’s a fun way to combine everyone’s love of donuts with friendly competition. This student-run race is a fundraiser for the Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ Triathlon team. Registration is coming soon!

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10:00 am – 11:00 am - Exploring Study Abroad (McCormick Auditorium, Norris University Center) 

• Õ¬Äи£Àûµ¼º½ students participate in study abroad programs around the world. The Global Learning Office will provide insight into the process and possibilities of studying abroad.  

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11:30 am – 12:30 pm - Fraternity & Sorority Life Panel Presentation (McCormick Auditorium, Norris University Center)

• Families are invited to a presentation provided by the Fraternity & Sorority Life staff that will overview the values of our community, benefits of membership, and pathways to joining across our four councils: the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and the Panhellenic Association (PHA). Families will also have a chance to ask questions and engage with a panel of upper-class student leaders within the FSL community about their experiences.