STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State University will welcome students’ families to campus for the annual Family Weekend Sept. 19-20 with a full schedule of events and activities.
“Family Weekend is a highlight of the year at Tarleton State, when students proudly welcome their loved ones and share the vibrant spirit and enduring traditions of our campus,” said Lathes Towns, Executive Director of Campus Life and Family Engagement within the Division of Student Engagement and Success. “This year promises to be especially memorable, as guests will be able to see exciting new additions like the EECU Center and the Health Professions Building. The weekend will be full of meaningful moments and lasting connections between students, their families and the Tarleton State community.”
The first of three Ring Ceremonies will kick off the Family Weekend festivities. During these ceremonies, students who have completed 60 or more credit hours and have ordered their Tarleton State class rings will receive them.
Family check-in will begin at noon Friday and continue throughout the weekend. Following check-in, guests are invited to attend one of the many featured events, such as the Ballet Folklorico, a massage trailer, a parent social, Texan Smart Family Feud, volleyball vs. Louisiana Tech and Casino Night.
Throughout the weekend, several showings of the movie “Wicked” are scheduled at the Tarleton State Planetarium, a full-dome, surround sound, immersive experience. Various science showings will also be available to view in the impressive 360-degree theater.
Saturday activities begin with Breakfast with the Hurleys on the Trogdon House Lawn at 9 a.m. and will continue throughout the day. A craft fair, Military Connected Family Reception, Family Lunch at the Dining Hall, Create-a-Critter, Texan Bingo and volleyball vs. North Texas are just a few of the available events for families to attend.
The weekend will wrap up with all the best game day traditions, such as Texan Tailgate and Pointe du Hoc, followed by football taking on Chattanooga in Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Here are some highlighted activities and locations:
Friday, Sept. 19
10 a.m. — Ring Ceremony, Fine Arts Center Auditorium
Noon-6 p.m. — Family Weekend Check-in, Dining Hall Patio
12:30 p.m. — Science Showing, Planetarium
1-6 p.m. — Family Weekend T-Shirt Sales, Barry B. Thompson Student Center Commons
1 p.m. — Ring Ceremony, Fine Arts Center Auditorium
1:30 p.m. — Science Showing, Planetarium
2:30 p.m. — Science Showing, Planetarium
3 p.m. — Ballet Folklorico Preview, Dining Hall Patio
3:30 p.m. — Ring Ceremony, Fine Arts Center Auditorium
4 p.m. — Texan Smart Family Feud, Barry B. Thompson Student Center Commons
4:30-6:30 p.m. — Parent Social, Dining Hall Patio, ticket purchase required
4-8 p.m. — Massage Trailer, Barry B. Thompson Student Center Portico
5 p.m. — Movie Showing: “Wicked,”Planetarium
6 p.m. — Volleyball vs. Louisiana Tech, Wisdom Gym
7-8:30 p.m. — Ballet Folklorico, Fine Arts Center Auditorium
9-11 p.m. — Casino Night, Barry B. Thompson Student Center Ballrooms
Saturday, Sept. 20
8:30-10:30 a.m. — Family Weekend Check-in, ULTRA Statue, Joe W. Autry Agriculture Building, Mathematics Building
9-10:30 a.m. — Breakfast with the Hurleys, Trogdon House Lawn
9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. — Massage Trailer, Thompson Student Center Portico
10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Craft Fair, Barry B. Thompson Student Center Ballrooms
10-11 a.m. — Military Connected Student and Family Reception, Dining Hall, Room 218
11 a.m. — College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Family Lunch, Animal and Plant Sciences Center
11 a.m.-noon — Presidential Family Address and Tarleton Parents Association General Meeting, Fine Arts Center Auditorium
11 a.m.-5 p.m. — Family Weekend Check-in, Information Desk
11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. — Face Painting and Balloon Artist, Barry B. Thompson Student Center Commons and Amphitheater.
Noon — Science Showing, Planetarium
Noon-1:30 p.m. — Family Lunch, Dining Hall
1 p.m. — Volleyball vs. North Texas
12:30-1:30 p.m. — Cafecito con Familia, Dining Hall, Honors Hall Lobby
1 p.m. — Science Showing, Planetarium
1 p.m. — Brass Ceremony, Rudder Statue
1:30-2:30 p.m. — Create-a-Critter, Dining Hall Patio
2 p.m. — Movie Showing: “Wicked,”Planetarium
2 p.m. — Tailgate, Texan Alley
2:30-2:40 p.m. — Texan Rally, Barry B. Thompson Student Center Amphitheater
2:40-3 p.m. — Pointe du Hoc, Rudder Statue
3 p.m. — Presidential Family Weekend Tailgate, Texan Alley
3-4 p.m. — Pop Into Honors, Honors Hall Lobby
4 p.m. — Movie Showing: “Wicked,”Planetarium
3-5 p.m. — Texan Bingo, Lamar Johanson Science Building, Room 102
6 p.m. — Tarleton State Football vs. Chattanooga, Memorial Stadium
For more information about Family Weekend, visit tarleton.edu/family-weekend/.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of more than 21,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For over 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.