STUDENT AFFAIRS

All day - The Great Game Digital Adventure: Northwestern Edition

• The Great Digital Adventure is back! Learn more about campus by creating a team and using your smartphones to scan a QR code and solve a series of puzzles that will take teams to the most interesting parts of campus. This activity is self-guided and can be done anytime during Family Weekend. All families who complete the adventure will be entered into a drawing and five families will receive a $100 gift card to the Campus Bookstore. See The Great Game Instructions below for more information on how to get started!

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10:00 am – 6:00 pm - Family Weekend Hospitality Room (Wildcat Room 101, Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Dr.)

• Families are invited to the Wildcat Room to connect with Family Engagement staff, pick up an “at a glance” schedule book, collect a coupon for the bookstore and Evanston Farmer’s Market, and enjoy some complimentary coffee, tea and water.

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10:00 am – 11:30 am - Chicago Architecture Center Northwestern Tour - SOLD OUT
(Meet outside Segal Visitors Center, 1841 Sheridan Rd., Evanston, IL)

• See Northwestern University through a new lens during Family Weekend! Join Chicago Architecture Center guides for a free walking tour of the Evanston campus, exploring more than 150 years of architectural history, from Collegiate Gothic landmarks to bold Brutalist buildings and contemporary designs. Along the way, discover the stories behind some of Northwestern’s most distinctive buildings and learn how the campus has evolved alongside the university. Spaces are limited and must have been reserved on the Family Weekend Registration form.

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11:00 am – 12:00 pm - Faculty Lecture Series: Round 1 

Northwestern’s world-class faculty showcase their teaching expertise during various lectures for families. Space is limited, so seats are first come, first served.

• When Anyone Can Create Anything, How Do We Know What's True? What journalism can teach us when information is everywhere and certainty is easy to manufacture 
  Presented by Jill Blackman, Medill School of Journalism (McCormick Auditorium, 1st Floor Norris) 
  
  Your student is entering a world where a fake can look real, a machine can sound certain and the truth can be buried beneath an avalanche of convincing information. In that world, the advantage won’t belong to the person who can find the fastest answer – but to the person who knows what to question, what to verify and what to trust. This talk explores why journalism education – with its emphasis on evidence, skepticism, investigation and judgment – may be one of the most powerful ways to prepare students for the age of AI. 
  
  
• Writing the Dramedy Television Series 
  Presented by Brett Neveu, School of Communication (Northwestern Room, 2nd Floor Norris) 

  The Dramedy series, defined as a show that combines serious dramatic storytelling with character-driven comedic elements, is spread heavily across the landscape of modern television. Through past and current examples, observations, story elements and personal insight, Professor Neveu discusses why and how the Dramedy series works and the reason for their rise and popularity.

• Plastic on the Menu: The Surprising Appetites of Microbes
  Presented by Ludmilla Aristilde, McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science (2-204 Louis Room North) 

  Could some bacteria consider plastic a snack? What happens when these tiny diners encounter the material in your water bottle? Join Professor Ludmilla Aristilde to discover how bacteria found in our wastewater have the ability to break down a common plastic and use its building blocks as food. Follow the molecular detective work that reveals how they do it, from capturing images of tiny plastic fragments to tracking carbon inside living cells. Explore what these surprising appetites could mean for the future of plastic waste and how nature might help us rethink how to engineer recycling.

• Sacred Spaces in the Ancient Mediterranean
  Presented by Sarah A. Eisen, Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences (2-180 Lake Room) 

  Religion permeated every aspect of life in the ancient Mediterranean. Even though it was believed that one could encounter the gods anywhere in antiquity, some places were more sacred than others, and over time the concept of a sanctuary formed. Sanctuaries were religious spaces, but they were also intertwined with the social, political, and economic realities and imaginations of ancient life; they influenced polities, empires, and interconnected cultures. In this lecture, we will consider the following questions: What made one place more sacred than others? How can we recognize an ancient sanctuary archaeologically, and how were they discussed in ancient literature? What activities and rituals occurred in a sanctuary, and why were there spaces so entangled with every facet of life in Ancient Greece? 

• Three Tales, One Motor: Minimal Actuation for Flight, Locomotion, and Pointing
  Presented by Michael Rubenstein, McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science (232 Louis Room South, Norris) 

  What can a robot do with just one motor? Quite a lot, it turns out. In this talk, I’ll share a few stories from my lab about robots that can be quite capable with very little hardware. I’ll discuss flying robots that use only 1 motor, such as MP3 and Phantom Twist, drones designed for swarms and a drone designed to be hard for people to notice. Rollbot, a spherical robot that gets around with a single motor; and finally a swarm of tiny spacecraft designed to study the rings of Saturn. Across all of these projects, the theme is the same: instead of solving every problem by adding more motors, sensors, and electronics, we ask whether mechanics, dynamics, and computation can do the job instead. 

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1:30 pm – 2:30 pm - Faculty Lecture Series: Round 2 

Northwestern’s world-class faculty showcase their teaching expertise during various lectures for families. Space is limited, so seats are first come, first served.

• Breaking the Bottleneck: How Research Changed the Law on Autism Diagnosis in Illinois 
  Presented by Meg Roberts, School of Communication (2-264 Arch Room, Norris) 

  For many Illinois families, getting a toddler evaluated for autism has meant waiting up to two years, during the very window when early support makes the biggest difference. Why were families waiting so long, and what would it take to fix it? In this talk, I will share how we used data to document the problem, identify a solution, and make the case to lawmakers. The result was Public Act 104-0561, a new Illinois law that allows trained speech-language pathologists to diagnose autism in young children. Families will see how research moves beyond the lab to change the systems that shape children's lives, and how students learn to turn evidence into real-world impact. 

• Early Intervention and Risk for Serious Mental Illness: A developmental perspective
  Presented by Vijay A. Mittal, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (Northwestern Room, 2nd Floor Norris)    

  Serious mental illnesses are prevalent, chronic and devastate individuals, families, and communities. Most forms of serious mental illness begin or worsen during the adolescent and young adult period- a time when many are facing challenges and novel stresses and also undergoing significant developmental changes. This is also a developmental period characterized by positive stressors including growing independence, overcoming barriers, and learning the skills to set the foundation for a lifetime. This places a unique lens on adolescence and young adult as a unique time for understand, predicting, and intervening mental illness. A new field is dedicated to identifying and intervening early, and a growing body of evidence suggests that this approach may lessen clinical course or prevent onset entirely. In this lecture we will learn about forms of serious mental illness and then go back into early development discussing vulnerability indicators, the progression of risk, as well as period of viable intervention. 

• Tiny Trails: Bringing Theatre Bedside in Children’s Hospitals 
  Presented by Elizabeth Brendel Horn, School of Communication (2-204 Louis Room North) 

  Bedside theatre can transform a child’s hospital room into a space of whimsy, imagination, and play. Learn about Northwestern’s course “Bedside Pediatric Theatre,” recipient of the 2025 Alumnae Award for Curriculum Innovation. Explore two bedside shows, “Let’s Go Camping!” (for 2 to 5-year-olds) and “[your name here] and Captain Buttonsmash SAVE THE WORLD!” (for 6 to 10-year-olds) created specifically with hospital patients in mind.

• Preparing for a Curious Life, Not Just a Career: The Northwestern Personal Development StudioLab 
  Presented by Joe Holtgreive, McCormick School of Engineering (2-232 Louis Room South) 

  Learn more about this new Northwestern opportunity – “The Curious Life Certificate (CLC)”.  We want to help all students engage with the world in unique, productive, and open ways. Managing the stresses of contemporary life is a journey we are all on, but students, more than most, are at a time of great life changes, mounting challenges, and clashing priorities. The Personal Development StudioLab is committed to helping students cultivate healthy connections, accurate awareness, and intentional attention to help them find their best path forward. 

• The Music No One Musician Can See: What Does a Conductor Really Do? 
  Presented by Shawn Vondran, Bienen School of Music (McCormick Auditorium, 1st Floor Norris)

  When every musician onstage already knows how to play, what is left for the conductor to do? Join Northwestern Associate Director of Bands Dr. Shawn Vondran for an engaging, interactive exploration of one of music’s most visible yet least understood roles. Through storytelling and live demonstration, discover how a conductor brings many individual musicians into a shared musical world—shaping not only tempo and coordination, but listening, expression, and meaning. You may never watch a conductor, hear an ensemble, or understand your student’s musical experience in quite the same way again. 

• Politics without Politicians: Open Democracy Northwestern’s Participatory Budgeting Process Presented, by Matt Easterday, School of Education and Social Policy (2-180 Lake Room, Norris)

  People have become increasingly disillusioned with political systems that don’t seem to represent our interests — is there a way to do politics better?  Come see how students in the Civic Engagement Certificate program are implementing open democratic processes that give community members a say in policy. In this participatory budgeting idea collection workshop, we’ll discuss how to improve our community and how to make democracy work. This interactive session will be limited to the first 30 people.

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 Afternoon with the Undergraduate Schools

Bienen School of Music 

In lieu of formal programming, Bienen families are invited to observe student rehearsals at various times throughout the afternoon. Room locations will be added at a later date. .

• University Chorale, 2:00-3:20 pm (RCMA McClintock 1-190)
• Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, 2:10 pm - 4:10pm  (Pick-Staiger Rehearsal Room)
• Symphonic Wind Ensemble, 2:10 pm - 4:10 pm  (Pick-Staiger Concert Hall Stage)
  There’s a SWE concert Friday evening, too!
  https://www.music.northwestern.edu/events/symphonic-wind-ensemble-10
• University Singers, 3:30 pm - 4:50 pm (RCMA McClintock 1-190)
• Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble 5:00 pm - 6:20 pm (RCMA McClintock 1-190)
• Northwestern University Marching Band, 4:00 pm - 6:00pm (Long Field)
  •   Check the online schedule or bit.ly/NU-FW for rain location if needed

McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm (McCormick Auditorium, 1st Floor of Norris)

• McCormick family members are invited to this presentation and Q&A with Dr. Burghardt, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Engineering, and current engineering students.  

Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm (McCormick Foundation Center Forum, 1870 Campus Dr.) 

• A welcome from our Dean, and a brief showcase of student work, and time with advisers.

School of Communication

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm (Wirtz Center for Performing Arts, Room 102, Wallis Theatre,1949 Campus Drive) 

• Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Advising Lori Barcliff Baptista will speak briefly, and academic advisors will mingle with guests.

School of Education and Social Policy (SESP)

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm (2001 Sheridan Road, room 1205) 

• An open house and conversation with SESP faculty and advising team will take place in the SESP Student Affairs Office. Light refreshments will be served.

Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm (Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St.)

• Presentation and panel discussion on resources and opportunities for Weinberg students.  

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4:30 pm –6:30 pm:  Family Weekend Happy Hour (Luna’s Pub & Grill & Kahn Plaza, Norris University Center)

• Kick-off Family Weekend in style! Join us at Luna’s for an afternoon of appetizers and beverages amongst friends. Mix and mingle with other Wildcat families in a casual atmosphere featuring live music! People of all ages can attend. Tickets can be purchased on the Family Weekend Eventbrite. They cost $5 each and include appetizers, and water or lemonade. Please note, all ticket sales are final; no refunds will be given. You must purchase a ticket for your Northwestern student as well. Beer and wine for those guests 21 years of age and older may be purchased at the bar.   

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7:00 pm – 10:00 pm - Family Bisque Painting - SOLD OUT (Lake Room 203, Norris University Center)

• Celebrate Family Weekend through creativity! Join Artica Studios for a free bisque painting event. Participants may choose a bowl or a mug to create a piece of functional ceramics unique to you! All underglazes, supplies, and firing will be included. Your piece will be completed once it is fired in the studio. Please allow 1-2 weeks for your piece to be completed. Once ready, all participants will be notified via email for pick up in Artica Studios at Norris. Space is limited to 25 people per session (7:00 pm, 8:00 pm or 9:00 pm) and you must have reserved your spot in the Family Weekend Eventbrite.

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8:30 pm – 10:00 pm - Video Music Bingo (Louis Room, Norris University Center)

• Whether you’re reliving your MTV era, discovering a new favorite artist, or celebrating the soundtrack of your life, Video Music Bingo is an easy, interactive night out that’s just as much about the shared family experience as it is about winning! The event is free for families and up to 300 people can be accommodated. Drop in and out when you'd like and as space opens up at a table! Prizes from the Norris Bookstore will be awarded to the winner of each round.

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8:00 pm – 10:00 pm - Dearborn Observatory (2131 Tech Drive) 

• Families are invited to drop in and tour the Observatory free of charge. Weather permitting, you will be able to view the night sky with our historic Dearborn Telescope.

8:00 am – 5:00 pm - Break Right Through That Line: Football at Northwestern (Riggs Gallery, Deering Library)

• With photographs, footballs, uniforms, and other materials drawn from University Archives, this exhibit turns Deering Library into a sideline seat for a retrospective of 150 years of football pageantry on campus. From our roots as a 19th century tug-of-war powerhouse to the nationally known Cardiac ’Cats of modern times, the story of football at this University is a colorful tale of red Roses, a blue streak, and a whole lot of purple pride. 

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12:00 pm – 8:00 pm - Block Museum of Art (40 Arts Circle Drive)  

• Visit Northwestern’s campus art museum! The Block is an engine that drives questioning, experimentation, and collaboration across fields of study, with visual arts at the center. The Block is always free and open to all. For more information, please visit www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu.  

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12:30 pm – 10:30 pm - Visit the Norris Game Room (Norris University Center)   

• Visit the Game Room in the underground of Norris University Center for some family fun! The Norris Game Room has six Brunswick Gold Crown billiards tables, and a variety of video games on Xbox One, Playstation 4, and the Nintendo Switch, as well as several board games and a foosball table. All activities are free for NU Families.   

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1:10 pm – 2:00 pm -  Ju’mah (Muslim Friday Prayer) (Parkes Hall, Room 122, 1870 Sheridan Road) 

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2:00 pm – 4:00 pm -  Family Weekend Post Jumuah Lunch (Center for Muslim Life, 1940 Sherman Ave.)

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4:30 pm – 6:30 pm - Northwestern University Black Alumni Association (NUBAA) Prayer Walk & Social (The Black House, 1914 Sheridan Rd.) 

• Come pray for all our students! Families are invited to join NUBAA at the Black House for conversation and connection. Praise and worship + Meet and Greet will start at 4:30 pm, and the Prayer Walk will step off at 5 pm. Light refreshments will follow. All are welcome! If you have any questions, please direct them to nubaa@alum.northwestern.edu. We look forward to connecting with you then! 

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5:00 pm – 6:00 pm - Northwestern Hillel Open House (629 Foster St.) 

• Schmooze with students and families at Hillel featuring a performance by ShireiNU, NU's premier Jewish a capella group! Light bites provided. 

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6:00 pm – 7:00 pm - Shabbat Services  (629 Foster St.) 

• Join Hillel for student-led Conservative and Reform services! Services are open to all. 

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7:00 pm – 9:00 pm - Shabbat Dinner (629 Foster St.) 

• Join Northwestern Hillel for a Shabbat meal, prepared by Hillel’s wonderful chef – kosher and delicious!

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7:00 pm – 8:30 pm - Piece By Piece: The Freshman Cabaret by The Dolphin Show (Lutkin Hall, 700 University Place)

• Join us for a night of incredible talent, as a "Fresh" mix of voices come together for the performance of a lifetime! Space is limited so click here to reserve a seat. 

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7:30 pm – 9:30 pm - Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive) 

• Marking the centennial of Northwestern University Bands, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble opens the 2026-27 concert season with cherished music that has shaped the ensemble’s history and identity. Featured composers include Richard Strauss, Darius Milhaud, Jaromír Weinberger, and Malcolm Arnold, with arrangements by former Northwestern Directors of Bands Glenn Cliffe Bainum and John P. Paynter. Tickets are $8 general public / $5 students with valid ID, and you can purchase tickets online at Concerts@Bienen. 

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7:30 pm - Contemporary Music Ensemble (Galvin Recital Hall, 70 Arts Circle Drive)

• The ensemble offers a collaborative performance with Chicago-based percussion duo Beyond This Point. Percussionists John Corkill and Adam Rosenblatt explore the intersections between theater, movement, film, non-traditional music forms, sculpture, text, and static and performative installations. Their respective collaborations have included Third Coast Percussion, Eighth Blackbird, Ensemble Dal Niente, and Belgium’s Ictus and Spectra Ensembles. Tickets are $8 general public / $5 students with valid ID. You can purchase tickets online at Concerts@Bienen. 

All day - The Great Game Digital Adventure: Northwestern Edition

• The Great Digital Adventure is back! Learn more about campus by creating a team and using your smartphones to scan a QR code and solve a series of puzzles that will take teams to the most interesting parts of campus. This activity is self-guided and can be done anytime during Family Weekend. All families who complete the adventure will be entered into a drawing and five families will receive a $100 gift card to the Campus Bookstore. See The Great Game Instructions below for more information on how to get started!

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10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Campus Tours led by Family Ambassadors (Leaves from Norris West Lobby) 

• Not heading to the game? Family Ambassadors will be available to lead a campus walking tour, which will leave from the Norris West Lobby next to the main doors.

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11:00 am - 3:00 pm Northwestern Football vs. Rutgers University (Ryan Football Field) 

The Northwestern Wildcats will battle the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for an exciting Big Ten matchup. If you want your student to sit with you at the game, you must buy them a ticket. Students can claim a free ticket to the game to stand in the student section, but those are not guaranteed. For more information on the student claims process, check out the Athletics website.

If you are still interested in purchasing Family Weekend priced football tickets, please refer to the email sent to the Parent & Family Email list by Family Engagement on 10/9/26 or you can buy tickets for the general public at Northwestern Football Tickets.

If you are going to the game, be sure to download The New Ryan Field app which is required for entry into the game. Also check out the New Ryan Field Map below to understand the stadium set up and information about pregame festivities. Brunch from the Legends in Residence will be available for purchase starting at 9:00 am and typically closes when the game begins so arrive early. Alcohol and regular concessions inside the stadium will be available throughout the game.

For any issues or questions about game tickets, parking or season tickets, please email newryanfield@northwestern.edu or call (888) 467-8775. Go 'Cats!

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11:00 am – 5:00 pm - Visit the Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL) 

• Northwestern undergraduates always enjoy free access to the museum when they present their Wildcard. During Family Weekend, only on Saturday, October 24, this benefit extends to up to two guests who will be allowed free entry when they visit either the Michigan Ave or Modern Wing ticketing counter with a Wildcard-wielding undergraduate! Information about visitor policies, special exhibits and more available at: artic.edu This program is supported by the Division of Student Affairs and managed by Student Organizations & Activities.  

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• See Northwestern University through a new lens during Family Weekend! Join Chicago Architecture Center guides for a free walking tour of the Evanston campus, exploring more than 150 years of architectural history, from Collegiate Gothic landmarks to bold Brutalist buildings and contemporary designs. Along the way, discover the stories behind some of Northwestern’s most distinctive buildings and learn how the campus has evolved alongside the university. Spaces are limited and must have been reserved on the Family Weekend Registration form.

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6:45 pm – 8:15 pm - Acapalooza Show #1

9:00 pm – 10:30 pm - Acapalooza Show #2

• Join Northwestern University Dance Marathon (NUDM) and Family Engagement for a night of incredible a cappella performances! Enjoy music from Northwestern’s premier a cappella groups while learning about NUDM 2026’s life-changing primary and secondary beneficiaries.
  
  Please Note: There will be two separate shows, one at 6:45 pm and another performance at 9:00 pm. Each performance costs $12 (plus processing fees), which is donated to NUDM and will feature half of Northwestern’s a cappella groups.
  
  
• GROUPS PERFORMING AT THE 6:45 PM SHOW (not necessarily in this order, subject to change):  
  
  • X-Factors
  • Freshman 15
  • Soul4Real 
  • THUNK 
  • Extreme Measures 
  • ShireiNU 
    
    
• GROUPS PERFORMING AT THE 9:00 PM SHOW (not necessarily in this order, subject to change):  
  • Asterik
  • Treblemakers
  • Undertones
  • Sig-O (Significant Others)
  • Brown Sugar
  • Purple Haze 

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8:00 pm – 10:00 pm - Dearborn Observatory (2131 Tech Drive) 

• Families are invited to drop in and tour the Observatory free of charge. Weather permitting, you will be able to view the night sky with our historic Dearborn Telescope.

For information regarding Hillel’s shabbat morning services, please contact Jessica Lott, Campus Rabbi. 

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7:30 am – 1:00 pm - Evanston Farmer’s Market – NU Spirit Day! (University Place & Oak Avenue, behind the Hilton Garden Inn)

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10:00 am – 5:00 pm - Break Right Through That Line: Football at Northwestern (Riggs Gallery, Deering Library)

• With photographs, footballs, uniforms, and other materials drawn from University Archives, this exhibit turns Deering Library into a sideline seat for a retrospective of 150 years of football pageantry on campus. From our roots as a 19th century tug-of-war powerhouse to the nationally known Cardiac ’Cats of modern times, the story of football at this University is a colorful tale of red Roses, a blue streak, and a whole lot of purple pride. 

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11:00 am – 12:15 pm - Walking Tour of Downtown Evanston Murals (Starting location provided upon registration)

• Did you know that Evanston is home to over 35 extraordinary street art murals painted by world-renowned artists? If you want to see them up close and get the scoop about how they came to be, take a break from campus and join Art Encounter, the non-profit in charge, for this special guided tour to learn all about the public artworks that have transformed Downtown Evanston over the past eight years. Hear behind-the scenes stories about the artists, the artworks, and how the murals are made.  For more information and registration, go to Art Encounter- Downtown Evanston Mural Tour.

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12:00 pm – 5:00 pm - Block Museum of Art (40 Arts Circle Drive)  

• Visit Northwestern’s campus art museum! The Block is an engine that drives questioning, experimentation, and collaboration across fields of study, with visual arts at the center. The Block is always free and open to all. For more information, please visit www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu.  

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12:30 pm – 1:30 pm - BMSA Art Talks! (Block Museum of Art, 40 Arts Circle Drive)

• Get to know the Block Museum and what's on view through the eyes of our students. Led by undergraduate members of the Block Museum Student Associate program, these talks offer an introduction to the museum, a close look at selected works on view, and a chance to hear how students engage with art as part of their Northwestern experience. These drop-in, discussion-based talks are free and open to all. No registration required — just meet us in the Block Museum lobby. 

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12:30 pm – 10:30 pm - Visit the Norris Game Room (Norris University Center)   

• Visit the Game Room in the underground of Norris University Center for some family fun! The Norris Game Room has six Brunswick Gold Crown billiards tables, and a variety of video games on Xbox One, Playstation 4, and the Nintendo Switch, as well as several board games and a foosball table. All activities are free for NU Families. 

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3:00 pm – 5:00 pm - Drop in for Kitty Kart at the Norris Game Room! (Norris Underground) 

• Enjoy some lighthearted Mario Kart fun — perfect for families, friends, and casual racers of all ages.  No registration is needed, just show up, grab a controller, and get ready to race! 1st place racers will receive a small prize.  Prizes available while supplies last.  Please note: Participants will rotate in and spots are limited as we have two Nintendo Switch consoles available.

All day - The Great Game Digital Adventure: Northwestern Edition

• The Great Digital Adventure is back! Learn more about campus by creating a team and using your smartphones to scan a QR code and solve a series of puzzles that will take teams to the most interesting parts of campus. This activity is self-guided and can be done anytime during Family Weekend. All families who complete the adventure will be entered into a drawing and five families will receive a $100 gift card to the Campus Bookstore. See The Great Game Instructions below for more information on how to get started!

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8:00 am – 11:00 am - Family Weekend Jazz Brunch (Luna’s Pub & Grill, Norris University Center)

Wrap up your Family Weekend with great food and the sounds of Chicago Diamond Trio at Luna's Family Weekend Jazz Brunch!

Join us for a relaxed and delicious morning featuring a brunch menu crafted by Luna's chefs, complete with savory favorites, sweet treats, fresh coffee, juice, and more. Enjoy live jazz throughout your meal while spending quality time with your Wildcat and family. Due to limited space, we ask that you plan to dine for one hour and then make space for the next round of seating.

Choose from one of three seating times:

• 8:00 a.m.
• 9:00 a.m. SOLD OUT
• 10:00 a.m. SOLD OUT

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9:00 am - 10:00 am - Donut 5K (Southern End of Northwestern Lakefill)

• A Family Weekend tradition has returned! The Donut 5K is a typical 5K with a twist as every donut you eat takes time off your run! It’s a fun way to combine everyone’s love of donuts with friendly competition while raising money for the Triathlon Club. Click on this link to register!  

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10:00 am - 11:00 am – Campus Resource Sessions Round 1 (Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Dr.)

Career Services for Northwestern Students (2-232 Louis Room South, Norris) 

• Northwestern Career Advancement (NCA) will offer an overview of the career resources available to your student including career counseling and advising services, internships and summer experiences, and the post-graduation success of our students. Come learn about how Northwestern prepares its students for life after graduation.  

Fraternity & Sorority Life Panel Presentation (Wildcat Room 101, Norris) 

• Families are invited to a presentation provided by the Fraternity & Sorority Life staff that will overview the values of our community, benefits of membership, and pathways to joining across our four councils: the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and the Panhellenic Association (PHA). Families will also have a chance to ask questions and engage with a panel of upper-class student leaders within the FSL community about their experiences. 

Global Learning (McCormick Auditorium, 1st Floor of Norris) 

• Explore how study abroad can complement the student experience at Northwestern. The Global Learning Office will provide insight into the process and possibilities of studying abroad, highlighting academic, practicum, and language immersion opportunities. 

Office of Fellowships Session (2-180 Lake Room)

• The Office of Fellowships helps students find and apply for external sources of funding to do many different things, including research, internships, language study, and tuition support, with international options available for all opportunities.  

Smart strategies for stretching dollars (2-264 Arch Room)

• Join this session to empower yourself to maximize your dollars with strategies around budgeting, saving, managing debt, accessing resources, and building positive financial habits. We’ll share practical tips and also help you discover where you can find additional support. This session is hosted by U.S. Bank and is geared towards students and their families. 

Engaging Across Difference via the Litowitz Center (2-204 Louis Room North)

• Recognizing the importance of effective communication in today's polarized discourse, the Litowitz Center for Enlightened Disagreement promotes skills and mindsets for connecting meaningfully across difference. In partnership with the Division of Student Affairs, the Center offers a year-long, co-curricular program through which undergraduates can earn a certificate in enlightened disagreement sponsored by the Kellogg School of Management. Students who earn the certificate and wish to advance the Litowitz Center’s mission can pursue paid leadership experience as undergraduate fellows. Join representatives of the Litowitz Center for an overview of offerings and an interactive introduction to enlightened disagreement. 

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11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Campus Tours led by Family Ambassadors (Leaves from Norris West Lobby) 

• Family Ambassadors will lead a campus walking tour, which will leave from the Norris West Lobby next to the main doors.

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11:00 am – 12:30 pm - Chicago Architecture Center Northwestern Tour - SOLD OUT 
(Meeting Location is outside Segal Visitors Center, 1841 Sheridan Rd., Evanston, IL)

• See Northwestern University through a new lens during Family Weekend! Join Chicago Architecture Center guides for a free walking tour of the Evanston campus, exploring more than 150 years of architectural history, from Collegiate Gothic landmarks to bold Brutalist buildings and contemporary designs. Along the way, discover the stories behind some of Northwestern’s most distinctive buildings and learn how the campus has evolved alongside the university. Spaces are limited and must have been reserved on the Family Weekend Registration form.

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11:15 am - 12:15 pm – Campus Resource Sessions Round 2 (Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Dr.)

Career Services for Northwestern Students (2-232 Louis Room South, Norris) 

• Northwestern Career Advancement (NCA) will offer an overview of the career resources available to your student including career counseling and advising services, internships and summer experiences, and the post-graduation success of our students. Come learn about how Northwestern prepares its students for life after graduation.  

Fraternity & Sorority Life Panel Presentation (Wildcat Room 101, Norris)

• Families are invited to a presentation provided by the Fraternity & Sorority Life staff that will overview the values of our community, benefits of membership, and pathways to joining across our four councils: the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and the Panhellenic Association (PHA). Families will also have a chance to ask questions and engage with a panel of upper-class student leaders within the FSL community about their experiences. 

Global Learning (McCormick Auditorium, 1st Floor of Norris) 

• Explore how study abroad can complement the student experience at Northwestern. The Global Learning Office will provide insight into the process and possibilities of studying abroad, highlighting academic, practicum, and language immersion opportunities. 

Office of Fellowships Session (2-180 Lake Room)

• The Office of Fellowships helps students find and apply for external sources of funding to do many different things, including research, internships, language study, and tuition support, with international options available for all opportunities.  

Smart strategies for stretching dollars (2-264 Arch Room) 

• Join this session to empower yourself to maximize your dollars with strategies around budgeting, saving, managing debt, accessing resources, and building positive financial habits. We’ll share practical tips and also help you discover where you can find additional support. This session is hosted by U.S. Bank and is geared towards students and their families. 

Engaging Across Difference via the Litowitz Center (2-204 Louis Room North)

• Recognizing the importance of effective communication in today's polarized discourse, the Litowitz Center for Enlightened Disagreement promotes skills and mindsets for connecting meaningfully across difference. In partnership with the Division of Student Affairs, the Center offers a year-long, co-curricular program through which undergraduates can earn a certificate in enlightened disagreement sponsored by the Kellogg School of Management. Students who earn the certificate and wish to advance the Litowitz Center’s mission can pursue paid leadership experience as undergraduate fellows. Join representatives of the Litowitz Center for an overview of offerings and an interactive introduction to enlightened disagreement. 

9:30 am - Sheil Catholic Center Sunday Mass (2110 Sheridan Road)  

• All families are invited to join the Catholic campus community for Mass, followed by hospitality and an opportunity to connect with the campus ministry team. If you are not in town for Family Weekend, you are welcome to join the Mass at 9:30 a.m. CST via livestream here. 

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10:00 am – 12:00 pm - Lutheran Campus Ministry Brunch & Worship (2204 Orrington Avenue)    

• All students and families are invited to a brunch at 10:00-10:45 am followed by 11:00 am worship with Holy Communion.  

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10:00 am – 12:00 pm - Northwestern Hillel Bagel Brunch Open House (629 Foster St.)  

• Stop by Hillel for a quick bagel and lox before you head home! 

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10:00 am – 5:00 pm - Break Right Through That Line: Football at Northwestern (Riggs Gallery, Deering Library)

• With photographs, footballs, uniforms, and other materials drawn from University Archives, this exhibit turns Deering Library into a sideline seat for a retrospective of 150 years of football pageantry on campus. From our roots as a 19th century tug-of-war powerhouse to the nationally known Cardiac ’Cats of modern times, the story of football at this University is a colorful tale of red Roses, a blue streak, and a whole lot of purple pride. 

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11:00 am – Sheil Catholic Center Sunday Mass (2110 Sheridan Road)   

• All families are invited to join the Catholic campus community for Mass, followed by hospitality and an opportunity to connect with the campus ministry team. 

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12:00 pm – 5:00 pm - Block Museum of Art (40 Arts Circle Drive)  

• Visit Northwestern’s campus art museum! The Block is an engine that drives questioning, experimentation, and collaboration across fields of study, with visual arts at the center. The Block is always free and open to all. For more information, please visit www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu.  

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2:30 pm – 10:30 pm - Visit the Norris Game Room (Norris University Center)   

• Visit the Game Room in the underground of Norris University Center for some family fun! The Norris Game Room has six Brunswick Gold Crown billiards tables, and a variety of video games on Xbox One, Playstation 4, and the Nintendo Switch, as well as several board games and a foosball table. All activities are free for NU Families.

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3:00 pm - 5:00 pm – BLAST Quickstep + Rumba beginner lesson (Chicago Ballet Arts, 915 Foster St, Evanston, Il, 60201) 

• Join NU BLAST, Northwestern’s ballroom dancing team. Learn two fun dance styles! No experience is necessary! Make sure to bring socks and enter through the back door. 

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5:00 pm – Sheil Catholic Center Sunday Mass (2110 Sheridan Road)   

• All families are invited to join the Catholic campus community for Mass, followed by hospitality and an opportunity to connect with the campus ministry team. 

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Dining   

If you are looking for a quick bite during the weekend, check out the Norris University Center for dining options:    

• Friday   

Starbucks: 8am - 10pm  
ShakeSmart: 8am - 6pm  
The Market: 10am - 6pm  
Wildcat Deli and Buen Dia: 11am - 3pm  
Chicken & Boba: 10:30am-7pm
847 Burger: 11am - 7pm  
Forno Pizza Co: 11am - 8pm   

• Saturday   

Buen Dia, 847 Burger, and ShakeSmart: closed 
The Market: 9am - 7pm 
Starbucks: 9am – 8pm 
Chicken & Boba: 10:30am - 7pm 
Forno Pizza Co: 11am - 8pm   

• Sunday   

Wildcat Deli, Buen Dia, 847 Burger, ShakeSmart, and Chicken & Boba: closed 
The Market: 10am - 7pm 
Starbucks: 10am - 8pm 
Forno Pizza Co: 11am - 8pm 

Visit the University Bookstore on the Ground Floor of Norris.   

 Family Weekend Bookstore Hours:   

• Friday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm   

• Saturday:  9:00 am – 5:00 pm   

• Sunday:  10:00 am – 2:00 pm   

Some families choose to stay at hotels in downtown Chicago but for a list of area hotels, check out this site. Please note that we do not reserve blocks of rooms for Family Weekend or offer any hotel discounts. We provide this list to help you with your planning, but Northwestern University does not endorse any of the hotels included on it.