Family Weekend is the one weekend a year homesick students and empty nester parents come together on campus to enjoy activities made just for them.

Students whose families will not be on campus can also enjoy the weekend as most of the events can be done with a simple group of friends, as well. The activities range from a movie, comedy improv, an acrobatic show, Fall Fest in the Arboretum, to nine different musical performances.

Friday begins the weekend with the movie Inside Out, and a performance by the LineUs Improv Comedy Troup. Depending on the ages of the family members in attendance, it is suggested that students choose wisely as to which event to bring their younger family members to.

Saturday will be the most eventful day, starting at 9:30 a.m. with workshops for parents to learn about the history of Gustavus and how to plan for a semester abroad. There will also be multiple sporting events to choose from with football, volleyball, and men’s soccer all playing in the afternoon.

Saturday will also host the biggest event during the weekend, Fall Fest, starting at 11 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. Linnaeus Arboretum Director Scott Moeller and Administrative Assistant in the Arboretum Shirley Mellema are both very excited for this year’s Fall Fest.

“Fall Fest is for everybody. It’s for Gusties, Gustie Families, the public from St. Peter, from wherever. We try to have a variety of activities. We have scarecrows, games, treasure hunts, food, and we have live animals,” Moeller said.

Just within the Arb there will be live music and food all day, alpacas, border collies showing off their herding skills, venders selling pottery and homemade jewelry, and one of the most popular activities, the treasure hunt.

“Fall Fest is for everybody. It’s for Gusties, Gustie Families, the public from St. Peter, from wherever”
— Scott Moeller

“You get a little card, basically like a bingo card and you have to get three in a row by finding the treasure boxes that are hid in the Arboretum. If you get three in a row, you get to spin the wheel for a prize, like the wheel of fortune,” Moeller said.

If nature isn’t appealing, students and families can also test their trivial skills against The Savants of Question in the Courtyard Café at 3 p.m.

According to the Assistant Director of Campus Activities Scott Broady, winners will receive gift cards to numerous local businesses.

Broady also highlights the Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team on Saturday at 8 p.m. “They’ve been on America’s Got Talent. They’re pretty widely known. We’re excited to have them here,” Broady said.

Closing out the weekend on a high note Sunday will be a worship service in Christ Chapel featuring the Lucia Singers and the Christ Chapel Ringers at 10:30 a.m., a Jazz Brunch at 11 a.m., and five musical performances in Christ Chapel at 2 p.m.

The Musical Performances may be the most traditional event happening during Family Weekend. According to the Director of Fine Arts and Manager of Concert Tours Al Behrends, this showcase got its start in the 1970’s and has been a staple ever since.

“Between Nobel and Family Weekend, all of the major ensembles from the music department will be performing at least once,” Behrends said.

The Jazz Brunch, featuring the Adolphus Jazz Ensemble and the Gustavus Jazz Lab Band, is an informal event in the dining center. The musical performances in the afternoon from the Gustavus Choir, Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, Vasa Wind Orchestra, Choir of Christ Chapel, and the Gustavus Wind Orchestra is a more formal event in chapel, but also free of charge.

“Between Nobel and Family Weekend, all of the major ensembles from the music department will be performing at least once”
—Al Behrens

Although there are many groups performing, the music department does its best to make them all cohesive as possible.

“The Gustavus Choir will be on the risers, the Symphony Orchestra will then be below them to the audience’s left, and the Vasa Wind will be on the right. Each group has about fifteen minutes of music,” Behrends said. Because of how it’s set up, the next group will be able to start playing nearly right as the group prior is done.

Students on campus, whether they have family visiting or not, will likely find something fun and interesting to do this weekend.