Family Weekend Schedule

6 a.m. - 8 p.m. Student Fitness Center Tours, Location: Student Fitness Center

Take a self-guided tour of the 170,000 square-foot facility through the weekend. Staff will be on hand to provide Campus Recreation information and answer questions.

6 a.m. - 8 p.m. Student Fitness Center Workout (Free with pre-registration), Location: Student Fitness Center

Free workouts are available to family members aged 18 and older with pre-registration. You must be accompanied by an Illinois State University student during your workout. To pre-register, please contact Campus Recreation at (309) 438-7529 by Wednesday, September 28. Individuals that do not pre-register may work out for a $10 daily guest pass sponsored by the ISU student.

4 - 6 p.m. University Galleries Exhibition Tours, (Free Event), Location: 11 Uptown Circle, Suite 103, Normal

Join University Galleries' staff for tours of solo exhibitions by Nazafarin Lotfi and Jess T. Dugan. A self-guided tour and exhibition scavenger hunt is also available.

6 - 8 p.m. University Galleries Art-making Workshop, (Free Event), Location: 11 Uptown Circle, Suite 103, Normal

Stop by University Galleries for a free art-making workshop connected to Nazafarin Lotfi's exhibition. Materials and instruction provided by University Galleries' staff.

6 p.m. Illinois State Volleyball vs Valparaiso--Pack the Arena (Free Event), Location: Redbird Arena

Illinois State volleyball invites students and their families to Pack The Arena against the Valparaiso Beacons. Admission to this match is free, and the first 200 students in attendance with an Illinois State University ID will receive an exclusive Illinois State t-shirt. Redbird Arena doors open at 5 p.m. and parking is available at no cost in lots G53 and G82.

7 - 8:30 p.m. Dueling Pianos (Ticket Required), Location: Prairie Room, Bone Student Center

Dueling Pianos is a fun, interactive evening of entertainment featuring the dueling piano talents of Cool 2 Duel and an hors d'oeuvres buffet. This musical comedy experience will have you singing along to favorites from classic rock to country, hard rock to R&B, oldies and show tunes to the newest Top 40 hits. You provide the direction for the show by requesting your favorite songs and then watch how these two sharp-witted, incredibly talented musicians perform your requests. Tickets are $30 per person and include the show as well as a taco/nacho bar and dessert. Cash bar available. General admission seating. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

Tickets are on sale at the Braden Box Office, located in the Bone Student Center, 100 N. University St. in Normal, and at  ticketmaster.com . This event is not intended for young children.

10 a.m. - 11 a.m. OC101: An Orientation to Living Off-Campus (Free Event), Location: Old Main Room, Bone Student Center

Leases. Roommates. Location. Rent. There is a lot to think about when your student moves off-campus. Staff from the Dean of Students Office will provide an overview of the apartment search and lease process as well as information about living off-campus. This information is extremely helpful to have before your student signs a lease.

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. University Gallieries Exhibitions (Free Event), Location: 11 Uptown Circle, Suite 103, Normal

Solo exhibitions by artists Nazafarin Lotfi and Jess T. Dugan will be on view at University Galleries.

10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Student Fitness Center Tours, Location: Student Fitness Center

Take a self-guided tour of the 170,000 square-foot facility through the weekend. Staff will be on hand to provide Campus Recreation information and answer questions.

10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Student Fitness Center Workout (free with pre-registration), Location: Student Fitness Center

Free workouts are available to family members aged 18 and older with pre-registration. You must be accompanied by an Illinois State University student during your workout. To pre-register, please contact Campus Recreation at (309) 438-7529 by Wednesday, September 28. Individuals that do not pre-register may work out for a $10 daily guest pass, sponsored by the ISU student.

Noon-1:30 p.m. Dueling Pianos (Ticket Required), Location: Prairie Room, Bone Student Center

Dueling Pianos is a fun, interactive evening of entertainment featuring the dueling piano talents of Cool 2 Duel and an hors d'oeuvres buffet. This musical comedy experience will have you singing along to favorites from classic rock to country, hard rock to R&B, oldies and show tunes to the newest Top 40 hits. You provide the direction for the show by requesting your favorite songs and then watch how these two sharp-witted, incredibly talented musicians perform your requests. Tickets are $30 per person and include the show as well as a taco/nacho bar and dessert. Cash bar available. General admission seating. Doors open at 11:45 a.m.

Tickets are on sale at the Braden Box Office, located in the Bone Student Center, 100 N. University St. in Normal, and at  ticketmaster.com . This event is not intended for young children.

4:30-6:30 p.m.  Parent and Family Services Open House Tent, Location: Sidewalk south of Hancock Stadium

Have any questions about your student’s Illinois State experience? Want to meet the staff from the Dean of Students office who help you when you call Parent and Family Services? Stop by the Parent and Family Services Open House tent for information and snacks!  While at the tent, be sure to gather your group together for a photo to commemorate Family Weekend.

6:30 p.m. Redbird Football vs. Southern Illinois, Location: Hancock Stadium (Ticket required)

Cheer on the Redbird football team as they play Southern Illinois at 6:30 p.m. Order tickets and parking passes now through the Family Weekend pre-sale by visiting GoRedbirds.com/tickets and entering the promo code FAMILY22. Families wishing to sit with students should purchase west side general admission tickets. For this game, general admission and student sections will be merged to allow families to sit together. If you have questions about the special Family Weekend ticket pre-sale or purchasing a parking/tailgate pass, please call the Illinois State Athletics Ticket Office at 309-438-8000.

For more information on available parking or tailgating during Family Weekend, or to view other parking locations on campus, contact the Office of Parking and Transportation.  The tailgating lots will open at noon. Please be sure to follow all regulations for athletic tailgating events.

If your student is a Red Alert member, they just need to swipe their student ID at any gate to Hancock Stadium to receive admission to the game. Red Alert members do not need to claim a ticket ahead of time. For non-Red Alert members, single-game student tickets to regular-season football games are $5. Students must purchase that ticket directly because they are required to provide their student ID number. Students may purchase tickets online at GoRedbirds.com/students or in-person at either the Hancock Stadium or Redbird Arena ticket offices.

7 p.m. Michael Carbonaro: Lies on Stage, Location: Braden Auditorium (Ticket required)

Enjoy the unbelievable magic and hysterical offbeat shenanigans from trickster Michael Carbonaro. Best known as the star and executive producer of the hit series The Carbonaro Effect, Carbonaro has also made frequent television appearances in shows such as Happily Divorced, 30 Rock, Grey’s Anatomy, and CSI Miami. A performing magician since his youth, Carbonaro went on to study experimental theater at New York University with the aspirations of entertaining audiences through a variety of theatrical mediums, including hidden-camera magic, which he later showcased frequently on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Following Carbonaro’s frequent late-night appearances, Carbonaro was presented with the opportunity to launch his hit comedic series, The Carbonaro Effect, which has run for over 100 episodes on truTV. 

This event is a collaboration between NiteLite Promotions and the University’s Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality.

Prices run $30 to $50 per ticket. Tickets are on sale at the Braden Box Office, located in the Bone Student Center, 100 N. University St. in Normal, and at ticketmaster.com.

 

9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Illinois State University Legacy Brunch, (Reservation required) Location:  Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center 

Cost: $15 per person

The ISU Legacy Brunch recognizes families for their continued generational support.  An Illinois State University legacy is a student or alumnus who has a parent, guardian, grandparent, or sibling who is a graduate of Illinois State. Brunch will be served during a program featuring President Terri Goss Kinzy. A legacy pinning ceremony exclusive to current legacy families is also planned.

Register online by 4:30 p.m. September 26 or by calling Alumni Engagement at (309) 438-2586. 

Noon - 4 p.m. University Galleries Exhibitions, (Free event),  Location: Univeristy Galleries, 11 Uptown Circle, Suite 103, Normal

Visit University Galleries to view solo exhibitions by artists Nazafarin Lotfi and Jess T. Dugan. Exhibition scavenger hunts will be available.

Noon - 8 p.m. Student Fitness Center Tours, Location: Student Fitness Center

Take a self-guided tour of the 170,000 square-foot facility through the weekend. Staff will be on hand to provide Campus Recreation information and answer questions.

Noon - 8 p.m. Student Fitness Center Workout (Free with pre-registration), Location: Student Fitness Center

Free workouts are available to family members aged 18 and older with pre-registration. You must be accompanied by an Illinois State University student during your workout. To pre-register, please contact Campus Recreation at (309) 438-7529 by Wednesday, September 28. Individuals that do not pre-register may work out for a $10 daily guest pass, sponsored by the ISU student.

4 p.m. Illinois State Volleyball vs UIC (Ticket Required), Location:  Redbird Arena 

Join Illinois State volleyball as it welcomes UIC into Redbird Arena for the first time as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Doors open at 3 p.m. and parking is available with no cost in lots G53 and G82. Non-students will need to purchase general admission tickets. Students are free with their Illinois State University ID. Tickets will be available for purchase in mid-August at GoRedbirds.com/tickets.