Family Weekend Schedule

Following Illinois State University policy, face coverings are required in all University public indoor spaces.

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

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

8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. SOCKtober, Location: Center for Civic Engagement

One of the biggest needs in our community is socks! The Center for Civic Engagement is collecting new, in the package, socks for the Holiday Helper gift drive. The are collecting sizes baby-adult to give to over 250 kids in Bloomington-Normal. Drop off new socks at the Center for Civic Engagement anytime on Friday!

9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. University Galleries Exhibitions, Location:  11 Uptown Circle, Suite 103, Normal

Exhibitions by Chicago-based alumna Caroline Kent and Iowa-based artist T.J. Dedeaux-Norris will be on view. See more information about each exhibition at www.Galleries.IllinoisState.edu.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. School Street Food Pantry Food Drive, Location: Alamo II

The School Street Food Pantry is holding a drive for needed items during Family Weekend.  Unexpired food and personal hygiene items will be accepted at the Alamo II.  Items of high need include tomato or pasta sauce, canned chicken, canned tuna, canned tomatoes or beans, baking mixes, boxed cereal (20 oz. or smaller), and gluten-free items. Also needed are personal care items like shampoo, soap/body wash, and deodorant.  For more information about the food pantry, visit SchoolStreetFoodPantry.org.

6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. "Big Astronomy:  People, Places, Discoveries," Location:  Illinois State University Planetarium, (white domed building at the end of Felmley Hall of Science, corner of College Avenue and School Street); Free parking is available in parking lot F-67, located on the east side of School Street (Ticket required)

This full-dome planetarium show explores Chile’s rugged Andes Mountains and arid Atacama Desert -- remote, extreme regions that offer perfect conditions for astronomical research.  There, visit the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) and Gemini South Observatory, which use optical telescopes to collect and magnify visible light with giant mirrors.  Then, trek to the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), a radio telescope with sixty-six networked antennae that collect radio waves from deep space.  Along the way, you’ll meet an inspiring cast of astronomers, engineers, technicians, and support staff who keep these incredible telescopes running. After each program, we point out highlights found in the current evening sky; including the bright stars, constellations, and planets visible from Central Illinois.

Tickets may be purchased in the Planetarium Gift Shop, next to the Planetarium, beginning 20 minutes before the show.  Seating is limited and is first come, first served.  Cash and personal checks only; no debit or credit cards.  Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-12, ISU students (with ID), and seniors; and $3 for preschoolers ages 3 - 4.  Children younger than 3 are free. For more information please call the Planetarium's Skyline at (309) 438-5007.

7 p.m. Movie Night: Luca, Location:  Bone Student Center, Braden Auditorium

Join Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality at Illinois State  as they present a free showing of Disney and Pixar’s Luca in Braden Auditorium. Rated: PG

7:30 p.m. "Bulrusher" by Eisa Davis, Location: Centennial East, Westhoff Theatre (Ticket required)

Passionate, lyrical, and chock full of down-home humor, Eisa Davis's play Bulrusher was a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Drama. In the redwood country north of San Francisco, a multiracial girl grows up in a predominantly white town whose residents pepper their speech with the historical dialect of Boontling. Found floating in a basket on the river as an infant, Bulrusher is an orphan with a gift for clairvoyance that makes her feel like a stranger to those around her. Just when she thought her world might close in on her, she discovers an entirely new sense of self when a black girl from Alabama comes to town.

Tickets required. Call the Center for the Performing Arts Box Office at 309-438-2535 to purchase tickets. Be sure to mention the discount code “Davis” to receive the Family Weekend discount of $5 per ticket. Regular ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

Following Illinois State University policy, face coverings are required in all University public indoor spaces.

Throughout the weekend  Men's Tennis Redbird Invitational, Location: Gregory Street Tennis Courts

Cheer on men’s tennis as they host a multi-team event at the outdoor Gregory Street Tennis Courts. Admission is free for all. For more information, contact the Illinois State University Athletics Ticket Office at 309-438-8000.

8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.  College of Business Family Weekend Open House, Location: State Farm Hall of Business - Lower level Atrium

Join the College of Business leadership team for breakfast featuring presentations on study abroad and internships!

8:30 a.m. Breakfast with the Dean and Leadership Team - Country Financial Atrium in State Farm Hall of Business
9:30 a.m.- Study Abroad Presentation - SFHB 366
10:30 a.m.- Internship presentations:  • MQM/BUA | SFHB 357; • International Business | SFHB 354; • Marketing | SFHB 369; • Accounting/Business Information Systems | SFHB 366; • Finance and Insurance | SFHB 368

Please RSVP by Friday, September 24.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. School Street Food Pantry Food Drive, Location: Alamo II

The School Street Food Pantry is holding a drive for needed items during Family Weekend.  Unexpired food and personal hygiene items will be accepted at the Alamo II.  Items of high need include tomato or pasta sauce, canned chicken, canned tuna, canned tomatoes or beans, baking mixes, boxed cereal (20 oz. or smaller), and gluten-free items. Also needed are personal care items like shampoo, soap/body wash, and deodorant.  For more information about the food pantry, visit SchoolStreetFoodPantry.org.

10 a.m.-Noon Chemistry Department Open House Tours and Demonstrations, Location: Science Lab Building, First Floor Atrium

Tour both the Chemistry Department's teaching and research labs, and enjoy some hands-on experiments and demonstrations.

10 a.m.-Noon  Sociology and Anthropology:  Vision and Knowledge for the Future, Location: Schroeder Hall, Room 219

Hear from students and faculty about the value of a degree in Sociology and Anthropology, our personalized and experiential learning-centric programs, and the diversity of opportunities that are open to students graduating with these degrees. RSVP preferred:  Please confirm number of attendees in your group to Ryan Gray at krgray2@IllinoisState.edu.

10 a.m.-Noon  Mennonite College of Nursing Open House, Location: Nursing Simulation Lab

The Nursing Simulation Lab will be open for tours. Lab assistants will show families around the lab and talk about the state-of-the-art equipment.

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

Free workouts are available to family members age 18 and older with pre-registration by September 27. You must be accompanied by the Illinois State University student during your workout.  To pre-register, please contact Campus Recreation at 309-438-7529 by September 27. Individuals that do not pre-register may work out for a $10 daily guest pass, sponsored by the ISU student.

11 a.m.-1 p.m.  Parent and Family Services Open House Tent, Location: Sidewalk south of Hancock Stadium, near College/Main underpass and Turner Hall

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.

11 a.m.-1 p.m.  Be a Sustainable Redbird Family, Location: Sidewalk south of Hancock Stadium, near College/Main underpass and Turner Hall

Your student is learning how to live a sustainable lifestyle on campus - learn how can you implement some of these same practices at home to support your student and the planet. Information with tips, resources, and giveaways of how to be a sustainable family will be available.

11 a.m.-1 p.m.  Reggie's Fun Zone Location: Hancock Stadium

Reggie's Fun Zone offers a place for kids of all ages to come and play prior to kickoff.  Reggie's Fun Zone features a variety of activities such as crafts, coloring, face painting, inflatable jump houses, and special visits by Reggie Redbird!

Noon-1 p.m.  Geography, Geology, and the Environment Open House, Location: Felmley Hall of Science, Room 209

The Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment welcomes students and their families for an open house. Join us for an overview of our programs in Geography, Geography Social Science Teacher Education, Geology, Earth and Space Science Education, Environmental System Science and Sustainability, and Hydrogeology. You will have the opportunity to meet our students including members of our RSOs, and our faculty to learn about recent student club activities and faculty-led research opportunities. You will also have the option to tour our facilities including our Learning Resource Center and Laboratory for Environmental Analysis.  RSVP preferred:  Please confirm number of attendees in your group to Dagmar Budikova at dbudiko@IllinoisState.edu.

Noon-2 p.m. Art making activity at the University Galleries, Location:  11 Uptown Circle, Suite 103, Normal

Enjoy a drop-in Family Weekend art making activity related to the exhibitions on view at the University Galleries.  Materials and instructions will be provided by University Galleries' curator of education and graduate assistants.

Noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. "Big Astronomy:  People, Places, Discoveries," Location:  Illinois State University Planetarium, (white domed building at the end of Felmley Hall of Science, corner of College Avenue and School Street); Free parking is available in parking lot F-67, located on the east side of School Street (Ticket required)

This full-dome planetarium show explores Chile’s rugged Andes Mountains and arid Atacama Desert -- remote, extreme regions that offer perfect conditions for astronomical research.  There, visit the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) and Gemini South Observatory, which use optical telescopes to collect and magnify visible light with giant mirrors.  Then, trek to the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), a radio telescope with sixty-six networked antennae that collect radio waves from deep space.  Along the way, you’ll meet an inspiring cast of astronomers, engineers, technicians, and support staff who keep these incredible telescopes running. After each program, we point out highlights found in the current evening sky; including the bright stars, constellations, and planets visible from Central Illinois.

Tickets may be purchased in the Planetarium Gift Shop, next to the Planetarium, beginning 20 minutes before the show.  Seating is limited and is first come, first served.  Cash and personal checks only; no debit or credit cards.  Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-12, ISU students (with ID), and seniors; and $3 for preschoolers ages 3 - 4.  Children younger than 3 are free. For more information please call the Planetarium's Skyline at (309) 438-5007.

Noon-4 p.m. University Galleries Exhibitions, Location:  11 Uptown Circle, Suite 103, Normal

Exhibitions by Chicago-based alumna Caroline Kent and Iowa-based artist T.J. Dedeaux-Norris will be on view. See more information about each exhibition at www.Galleries.IllinoisState.edu.

1 p.m. Redbird Football vs. Missouri State, Location: Hancock Stadium (Ticket required)

Cheer on the Redbird football team as they play Missouri State at 1 p.m. Order tickets and tailgate parking passes now by visiting GoRedbirds.com/tickets.  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.

Tailgate/parking permits are now on sale online at www.GoRedbirds.com/tickets. Tailgate/parking permits will also be available in the following lots for day of game sales only:  F43 and S103. Permits can be purchased at the lot entrance the day of the game. Lot closes when all tickets are sold. Parking is available at the North University Street Garage (parking only, no tailgating).  If you’re coming from the north, Lot S103 is located off of Main St. just 2 blocks north of the stadium. If you’re coming from the south, Lot F43 is located off of Main St.  Tailgating lots will open at 7 a.m. on game day. 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.

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.

4:30 p.m. (Doors open at 4:15 p.m.) Dueling Pianos, Location: Bone Student Center, Brown Ballroom (Ticket Required)

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 include the show as well as a baked potato bar, nacho bar and dessert.  General admission seating.  This event is not intended for young children. 

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.

6 p.m. Redbird Volleyball vs. Southern Illinois, Location: Redbird Arena (Ticket Required)

Cheer on the three-time defending Missouri Valley Conference volleyball team as they play Southern Illinois. Illinois State students do not need to purchase a ticket and receive admission by presenting their valid student ID card. All other patrons must purchase a game ticket by visiting GoRedbirds.com/tickets. All seating is general admission so families can sit with students. For more information, contact the Illinois State University Athletics Ticket Office at 309-438-8000.

6-7:30 p.m. "Minute to Win It" Family Challenge, Location:  Student Fitness Center (Registration required)

Think you have what it takes to compete…and win? If so, then get in the game and show Illinois State University what you can do! Two-person teams (all ages are welcome) will use everyday household items and have just 60-seconds to complete the assigned tasks. These challenges take just a minute to play, but will provide a lifetime of laughter! Sponsored and hosted by Campus Recreation.

Team registration takes place on Saturday, October 2 from 5:00 - 5:45 p.m. at the Student Fitness Center and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Space is limited to 40 two-person teams.

7:30 p.m. Justin Willman from "Magic for Humans", Location: Braden Auditorium (Ticket required)

Magic for Humans, with three seasons on Netflix, became one of the most streamed shows on Netflix with clips from the show garnering over 150 million views to date across social media, even sparking a viral meme. Prior to Magic for Humans, Willman was known for his multiple appearances on The Tonight Show, Ellen, and Conan. He also performed live at the White House for the Obama family. His debut comedy/magic special Sleight of Mouth premiered on Comedy Central in 2015 to rave reviews. This event is a collaboration between NiteLite Promotions and the University’s Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality department.

Prices run $29 to $39 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.

7:30 p.m. "Bulrusher" by Eisa Davis, Location: Centennial East, Westhoff Theatre (Ticket required)

Tickets required. Call the Center for the Performing Arts Box Office at 309-438-2535 to purchase tickets. Be sure to mention the discount code “Davis” to receive the Family Weekend discount of $5 per ticket. Regular ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

Passionate, lyrical, and chock full of down-home humor, Eisa Davis's play Bulrusher was a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Drama. In the redwood country north of San Francisco, a multiracial girl grows up in a predominantly white town whose residents pepper their speech with the historical dialect of Boontling. Found floating in a basket on the river as an infant, Bulrusher is an orphan with a gift for clairvoyance that makes her feel like a stranger to those around her. Just when she thought her world might close in on her, she discovers an entirely new sense of self when a black girl from Alabama comes to town.

8 p.m. (Doors open at 7:45 p.m.) Dueling Pianos, Location: Bone Student Center, Brown Ballroom (Ticket Required)

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 include the show as well as a baked potato bar, nacho bar and dessert.  General admission seating. This event is not intended for young children.

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.

Following Illinois State University policy, face coverings are required in all University public indoor spaces.

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

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 ISU. President Kinzy will speak at the brunch, and all first time attendees will receive a special legacy pin.

Register online by 4:30 p.m., September 28 or by calling Alumni Engagement at (309) 438-2586. 

Noon and 2 p.m. "Big Astronomy:  People, Places, Discoveries," Location:  Illinois State University Planetarium, (white domed building at the end of Felmley Hall of Science, corner of College Avenue and School Street); Free parking is available in parking lot F-67, located on the east side of School Street (Ticket required)

This full-dome planetarium show explores Chile’s rugged Andes Mountains and arid Atacama Desert -- remote, extreme regions that offer perfect conditions for astronomical research.  There, visit the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) and Gemini South Observatory, which use optical telescopes to collect and magnify visible light with giant mirrors.  Then, trek to the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), a radio telescope with sixty-six networked antennae that collect radio waves from deep space.  Along the way, you’ll meet an inspiring cast of astronomers, engineers, technicians, and support staff who keep these incredible telescopes running. After each program, we point out highlights found in the current evening sky; including the bright stars, constellations, and planets visible from Central Illinois.

Tickets may be purchased in the Planetarium Gift Shop, next to the Planetarium, beginning 20 minutes before the show.  Seating is limited and is first come, first served.  Cash and personal checks only; no debit or credit cards.  Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-12, ISU students (with ID), and seniors; and $3 for preschoolers ages 3 - 4.  Children younger than 3 are free. For more information please call the Planetarium's Skyline at (309) 438-5007.

Noon to 4 p.m. University Galleries Exhibitions, Location:  11 Uptown Circle, Suite 103, Normal

Exhibitions by Chicago-based alumna Caroline Kent and Iowa-based artist T.J. Dedeaux-Norris will be on view. See more information about each exhibition at www.Galleries.IllinoisState.edu.

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

Free workouts are available to family members age 18 and older with pre-registration by September 27. You must be accompanied by the Illinois State University student during your workout.  To pre-register, please contact Campus Recreation at 309-438-7529 by September 27. Individuals that do not pre-register may work out for a $10 daily guest pass, sponsored by the ISU student.

2 p.m. "Bulrusher" by Eisa Davis, Location: Centennial East, Westhoff Theatre (Ticket required)

Passionate, lyrical, and chock full of down-home humor, Eisa Davis's play Bulrusher was a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Drama. In the redwood country north of San Francisco, a multiracial girl grows up in a predominantly white town whose residents pepper their speech with the historical dialect of Boontling. Found floating in a basket on the river as an infant, Bulrusher is an orphan with a gift for clairvoyance that makes her feel like a stranger to those around her. Just when she thought her world might close in on her, she discovers an entirely new sense of self when a black girl from Alabama comes to town.

Tickets required. Call the Center for the Performing Arts Box Office at 309-438-2535 to purchase tickets. Be sure to mention the discount code “Davis” to receive the Family Weekend discount of $5 per ticket. Regular ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.