While it may not yet feel like fall in Blacksburg, it’s beginning to look like it. Fans are watching football games, leaves are changing, and families are planning their campus visit for Virginia Tech’s annual Fall Family Weekend.

Scheduled events will begin Friday at 12:45 p.m. with an Athletic Facilities Tour and will continue through Sunday afternoon. Throughout the weekend, families will have the opportunity to participate in various open houses, tours, and information sessions.

“We’re excited to welcome our families to campus this weekend,” said Bobbie Webster, associate director for Family and Alumni Relations. “Our campus and community partners have worked hard to plan and organize events and activities that our families can enjoy with their students. There really is something for everyone.”

Friday’s open houses include the Joseph F. Ware Advanced Engineering Laboratory and the Cultural and Community Centers. Optional tours include the Signature Engineering Building, DREAMS Lab, Blacksburg National Weather Service, Kentland Farm, Dairy Science Complex, and Brewhouse in the Pilot Plant. Additionally, families can learn about fraternity and sorority life, study abroad experiences, second-year housing options, and career development resources. Many of these information sessions will also be offered Saturday.

After a full day of touring and learning, families can choose from many different entertainment options to wrap up their Friday on campus. Interested in sports? Catch the men’s soccer game or the women’s volleyball game at Cassell Coliseum. Enjoy theater? Watch the play “Distracted,” by Lisa Loomer at the Haymarket Theatre. Just want to hang out with your student? Relax at BreakZONE or flash back to the ‘90s at GobblerNights.

Off-campus events and activities include Saturday’s Blacksburg Farmers Market, Michael B. Perry 5K MADD Dash, Downtown Blacksburg Tour, and a canoeing trip hosted by Venture Out. Opportunities to learn Virginia Tech history and traditions include a tour of the Upper Quad and a presentation about Skipper, the Corps of Cadets cannon (selfies encouraged).

Two exhibitions will be open at Moss Arts Center featuring painter, sculptor, and mixed media artist Radcliffe Bailey and internationally acclaimed artist Pia Fries. Virginia Tech Community Day, hosted by the Virginia Tech Police Department, will take place Saturday afternoon, and a Hokie Game Watch Party will start at 6:15 p.m. for fans interested in cheering on the football team as they take on Boston College.

For the dinosaur enthusiasts (or teachers) in the family, the GeoFair and Mineral Sale will include a fossil “dig” and full-size dinosaur skeleton, as well as an augmented reality sandbox. Mineral specimens will be available for purchase.

The fun will continue Sunday with a historical walking tour of campus, a Stand Up Paddle Board Trip hosted by Venture Out, a First-Generation Reception, a Hokie Legacy Brunch, and several exhibits and performances.

The Department of Recreational Sports invites all families to take advantage of free fitness classes at McComas Hall throughout the weekend. Families can also explore the Hahn Horticultural Garden any day from dawn to dusk.

On-site registration will start at noon on Friday along with check-in for pre-registered families at the Fall Family Weekend Check-in and Information Center, located in the Old Dominion Ballroom at Squires Student Center. Nametags provided at check-in will serve as a “ticket” to all Fall Family Weekend events.

For more information, check out the Fall Family Weekend Signature Event Schedule.

Written by Tiffany Woodall

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