Parents of West Virginia University students will have a chance to walk in their son or daughter’s shoes next weekend (Oct. 5-7) as part of the 2012 Fall Family Weekend.
The annual event, which is sponsored by the Mountaineer Parents Club, allows families to re-connect after eight weeks of classes during the fall semester. Family members from across the U.S. travel to Morgantown to spend an event-filled weekend with their Mountaineer each year.
This year is no different, as the Fall Family Weekend schedule continues to expand and grow to offer those in Morgantown next weekend an opportunity to enjoy campus life.
“Fall Family Weekend is a wonderful opportunity for families to experience campus life with their students,” said Sabrina Cave, assistant vice president for WVU Student Affairs Communications. “By this point in the semester, students are anxious to show off their new home to their families.”
Mountaineer families can enjoy a variety of events this weekend. They are as follows:
Friday (Oct. 5)
All day – Scenic rides
To fully enjoy the fall season in our beautiful state, check out these scenic routes in the area on our “Country Roads.”
All day – Classes Without Quizzes
Experience a class without all the work. Attend class with your student and see first-hand who’s teaching them. Please have your WVU student check with his or her instructor in advance.
6 a.m. to 10 p.m. – Student Recreation Center open to families
Enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities through the Student Recreation Center. Enjoy swimming, basketball and the climbing wall or choose a group fitness class such as yoga, spinning or Zumba. Families will be permitted to use the facilities for free.
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. – WVU Bookstore opportunities
Shop at the downtown WVU Bookstore beside the Mountainlair for your official Mountaineer Parents Club and WVU merchandise. Remember to show your Mountaineer Parents Club membership card for a 10 percent discount.
9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. – Hall of Traditions
The WVU Hall of Traditions houses trophies, memorabilia and tributes to some of WVU’s greatest players. Stop by the basketball practice facility next to the Coliseum, to walk through Mountaineer basketball history.
9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. – Tour of the WVU Campus
If you have not yet visited our campus, the WVU Visitors Center provides an experience unlike anything you have ever seen before. A visit, combined with a campus tour, is the perfect way to introduce you to WVU. Call the Visitors Center to set up your tour at 304-293-3489 or register online at http://visit.wvu.edu/.
4-6:30 p.m. – WVU Career Services Center open house
Join the WVU Career Service Center in its Mountainlair location for “Chocolate Covered Careers,” an open house for students and parents. The open house will include tours of the office and demonstrations of MountaineerTRAK, a new automated student check-in system and the state-of-the-art Job Kiosk system.
5-7 p.m. – HR&E scholars recognition program and reception
The “College of Human Resources and Education”: invites students and their families to the recognition program for HRE scholarship recipients, the presentation of our Hall of Fame awards and the presentation of our alumni awards to our outstanding graduates at the Erickson Alumni Center.
5-8 p.m. – Welcome Reception (Mountainlair Commons Area)
Just getting into town? This is a great place to meet your WVU student, grab a schedule for the weekend, mingle with WVU administrators and pick up Fall Family Weekend commemoratives.
5-9 p.m. – Art is Food and ArtsWalk (Downtown Morgantown, Morgantown Market Place)
The WVU Mountaineer Parents Club and Main Street Morgantown will “kick-off” this new event “Art is Food,” which is part of the Morgantown ArtsWalk, in the Morgantown Market Place located at the corner of Fayette and Spruce Streets. Food will be provided. Cost is $15 per person and will include samplings of food from downtown/Wharf District restaurants. Plan the perfect Friday night! Enjoy the “Art is Food” event from 5–7 p.m., then stroll through more than 40 downtown businesses and see artwork from local artists’ from 6-9 p.m.
6-8 p.m. – Historic church tour (Downtown Morgantown)
The Archives and History Commission is offering this free opportunity for visitors to see the lovely historic buildings in Morgantown without having to commit to a church service. Seven area churches will be open for anyone to come in and look around, and each will have a representative available to answer questions. Visitors can stop by as time allows.
7 p.m. to 2 a.m. – WVUp All Night (Mountainlair)
Come enjoy comedians, movies, a photo booth, a balloon artist, carnival games and much more. In addition, billiards and bowling are half-price and the food is free.
7:30 p.m. – Blue Man Group (Creative Arts Center)
This sold out show features the group best known for its wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts, which combine comedy, music and technology to produce a totally unique form of entertainment.
8:30 p.m. – Mountaineer Idol (Mountainlair)
In conjunction with American Idol and Coca-Cola, Mountaineer Idol features our very own talented students. As part of Mountaineer Idol Gives Back, we encourage each family to bring at least one stuffed animal with you to donate to Jessi’s Pals. Bring an empty Coke bottle (or Coke product bottle), and Coke will donate $5 to Jessi’s Pals. A silent auction, featuring great auction items will also be held to provide additional dollars to Jessi’s Pals and WVU Children’s Hospital.
Saturday (Oct. 6)
All day – Scenic rides
All day – Visit Coopers Rock State Forest
Stop by Coopers Rock State Forest, located 13 miles east of Morgantown on I-68. It’s a short walk to the main overlook, which features a panoramic view of the gorge and distant horizons.
8 a.m. to 10 p.m. – Student Recreation Center open to families
8:30 a.m. to noon – Farmer’s Market (Downtown Morgantown)
Visit the Farmer’s Market at its new pavilion in Downtown Morgantown on Spruce Street. You will find a diverse collection of more than 30 vendors, gathering every Saturday morning May through October to bring the freshest produce, meats, eggs, breads and more to the Morgantown community.
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Residence hall activities
Come and enjoy breakfast/brunch at your student’s residence hall. Meet their resident assistant, resident faculty leaders and their new friends. Some halls ask that you make reservations in advance so please check with your student’s hall for the specifics.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – WVU Bookstore opportunities
10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – Tour of the WVU Campus
_11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Family Day at the WVU Farm
Family Day at the West Virginia University Farm is a free, casual, family and health-focused event during this year’s Fall Family Weekend. Experience fun, hands-on activities and displays from the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences and WVU Extension Services. Space is limited.
1-3 p.m. – The College of Business and Economics Family Welcome
Join us at the College of Business and Economics for our special family event. Parents and students will have the opportunity to meet the Dean Jose Sartarelli, speak with academic advisors and tour our facility. RSVP at http://be.wvu.edu.
3 p.m. – Blue Man Group (Creative Arts Center)
7 p.m. – WVU vs. Texas game watch (Mountainlair Ballrooms)
Join us for a great game watching party with your fellow Mountaineers and the Mountaineer Maniacs. Parents and students are invited to join us for football, food and fun giveaways as we cheer on the WVU football team and enjoy the first Mountaineer Nation Day.
7 p.m. to 2 a.m. – WVUp All Night (Mountainlair)
7:30 p.m. – Blue Man Group (Creative Arts Center)
9 p.m. – Friends of Old-Time Dancing (Mountainlair Food Court)
If you like old music and enjoy square-dancing, this is for you. Stop by for a free concert and dance featuring Gandydancer and caller Taylor Runner.
Sunday (Oct. 7)
All day – Scenic rides
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. – Student Recreation Center open to families
8 a.m. to noon – Religious services
Looking for local religious services in Morgantown? Follow the link for more information on the different services available.
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. – West Virginia Popular Culture Convention (Mylan Park Expo Center)
The West Virginia Popular Culture Convention will feature writers, artists, filmmakers, publishers and vendors from the worlds of comic books, comic strips, manga, anime, movies, television, gaming and toys. For information about the show, visit http://www.wvpop.com.
1 p.m. – Fall Ring Day Ceremony (Erickson Alumni Center)
Ring Day is held each fall and spring to present those students who have attained junior status with their WVU class rings and to share the moment with family and friends. Reservations for participants and guests are required. For more information, visit http://classring.wvu.edu/.
1 p.m. – Men’s soccer game (Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium)
Don’t miss the Mountaineers take on Buffalo. Admission is $5 per person and students get in free with their Student ID. Tickets can be purchased at the gate.
-WVU-
td/10/01/12
CONTACT: Sabrina Cave, Student Affairs
304-293-2506, Sabrina.Cave@mail.wvu.edu
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.