NMU’s Family Weekend allows students to show parents and siblings the campus lifestyle and Marquette area. It is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 25 through Sunday, Oct. 27.
Lizzie Corser, graduate assistant in the Center for Student Enrichment (CSE) and coordinator of the planning committee for family weekend, said the event is opportune for students in the freshman and sophomore classes after they have settled into the area.
“It allows the families to see the campus in action and for students to show them around,” said Corser.
The average turn-out for family week is around 1,000 people, she said.
Family Weekend begins with a “Kick-Off” event in the University Center from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. There will be refreshments as well as additional tickets for weekend events on sale.
Students can show their family their school pride by taking them to one of the many sporting events over the weekend. On Friday, the NMU hockey team will play Michigan Tech with the puck dropping at 7:07 p.m. in the Berry Event Center.
The football game against Wayne State will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, and there will be a tailgating party beforehand at 11 a.m.
The tailgating party is one of the biggest events of family weekend, Corser said. Typically around 700 people take part in the party at the Vandament Arena, Corser said. There will be performances and door prizes. The tailgate party tickets are $7, but will be free for children younger than 12 and students participating in Family Week.
On Sunday, the women’s soccer team will compete against Grand Valley at noon at the soccer field located behind the Superior Dome.
In addition to the home games occurring over the weekend, the Marketplace will hold a Friday night fish fry from 4 to 8 p.m. Meals cost $9.50 and live music will be provided. There will also be a family brunch in the Marketplace from 9:30 a.m to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Other on-campus events over the weekend will include BlackMahal, a “Punjabi funk hip hop” group, which will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 in the Great Lakes Rooms of the University Center. Tickets are $5 for students and children and $18 for the general public.
The Forest Roberts Theatre’s “Haunted Theatre” will run from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 25 to 27, taking place from First Nighter’s Club board member Marty Martello said the event takes place the weekend before Halloween.
“If you are easily scared, come with a friend who makes you feel safe,” Martello said.
For those who will have younger children visiting, there will be a family friendly version from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday. He says this version has less gore and that no actors will touch participants in the tour.
Over the weekend, students can also use the opportunity to show their families around Marquette.
