11 Things You Have To Do This Family Weekend

Take some family photos

It can be so hard to get the whole family together for a picture, so make sure to come get one taken by a professional photographer! You can get a portrait taken for free on both Saturday and Sunday.

Have a picnic-style lunch and celebrate your school spirit

The annual Family Weekend Lunch and Baxter’s Spirit Celebration are great ways to enjoy the company of your family while watching some of Binghamton’s best performers. Baxter will be there, of course, so come by and take a picture together!

Come meet President Stenger

Head over to the Anderson Center to see President Stenger and Parents Leadership Council Chair David Cohan as they welcome everyone to the beginning of Family Weekend! Right after, critically acclaimed author of How to Raise an Adult and Real American Julie Lythcott-Haims will take the stage as this year’s guest speaker.

Take a tour of our on-campus Art Museum

The Binghamton University Art Museum welcomes families to join them for a tour! First, you’ll visit the main gallery, which currently features a display by Michal Heiman which explores the intersections of psychoanalysis, asylums, and oppression. Afterward, you can check out highlights of our permanent collection, art that has been curated for decades.

Head to the Union Undergrounds for a Late Nite movie

Late Nite Cinema will host two showings of Thor: Love and Thunder on Friday. If you missed it in theaters, now’s your chance to catch it!

Go rubber duck hunting

I had to include this one—it’s my favorite event of the weekend! The Apartments Communities come together to create a massive search for hundreds of rubber ducks. Whatever you find can be turned in for small candy prizes or, if you’re lucky, some larger prize baskets!

Check out the residential community festivals

Family Weekend is a special time for our on-campus living communities to get together and host some super-fun events. Get your face painted at CIW, play some bingo at Newing or get in the photo booth at Dickinson!

Take a Tour of the Nature Preserve

This guided tour is the perfect opportunity if your family has never explored the Nature Preserve. Even if you’ve walked the trail a million times, our guides sometimes catch things you might’ve never seen, so take a tour and experience it together!

Check out the Drawing Marathon

There’s a lot of artistic talent at Binghamton, and you’ll get to see that talent in action during the sixth annual Drawing Marathon! Stop by and watch artists live as they attempt to complete a full-size figure drawing in 24 hours!

Head to the Union for the Late Nite Carnival

Ride a mechanical bull, play carnival games, and enjoy popcorn, pizza, and snow cones at the Late Nite Carnival! This is definitely the best event to end a great Family Weekend.

Wind down at the Family Fun Bonfire

After a long day exploring campus, head to Newing for a family bonfire! Fall officially starts this week, so get in the spirit, toast some marshmallows and enjoy one of the first evenings of the season.

For a full list of events and to register, go online.

Jillian McCarthy is an intern for the Office of Media and Public Relations, and a junior majoring in English. She hopes to become an entertainment journalist. In her free time she loves to play guitar, watch movies and read.