Family Weekend Schedule

Saturday, October 1

10-11 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.

10-12 p.m.  Mennonite College of Nursing Simulation Lab Open House (Free Event)
Location: Corner of West Locust Street and Normal Avenue
The Nursing Simulation Lab will be open for tours. Learn about the lab and its state-of-the-art equipment. Face coverings are required while in the Nursing Simulation Lab.

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. University Galleries 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. - 5 p.m. A Little Celebration on the Prairie (Free Event), Location: Letcher Basin Preserve in Woodford County
Bring your picnic lunch and enjoy the day at Letcher Basin! The day's events include hiking, s'mores, music, Plein air artists, bird and bee viewing, family pictures on the prairie, and train rides through the basin. Also with meet prairie enthusiasts Ken Horn and Ken Kashian. The Letcher Basin Land and Water Reserve is approximately a 30-minute drive from the Illinois State campus.

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.

11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Austin Studio Recital (Free Event), Location: Centennial East - Kemp Recital Hall
Members of Debra Austin's voice studio will present a recital of vocal repertoire from classical to musical theater.

Noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. "Undiscovered Worlds: The Search Beyond our Sun," (Ticket Required)
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
“Undiscovered Worlds” explores a timeless question: Do other planets like Earth exist?  Through the discovery of exoplanets, the hundreds of planets that have been found orbiting stars beyond the Sun, we have learned that our solar system is not alone in the universe.  This has led astronomers to redefine our understanding of planets and solar systems.

With rapidly improving technology, like the Kepler Telescope, the discovery of exoplanets brings us one step closer finding an Earth-like world.  How will this change the way we view our place in the universe?  After each program, we explore the highlights found in the evening sky. These highlights include the bright stars, constellations, and planets currently 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 or visit their website. 

(SOLD OUT) 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. This event is not intended for young children.

2:30-6:30 p.m. Redbird Row, Location: Lot G73, East of Hancock Stadium
Join in the fun at Redbird Row. This area includes a college football video wall, Reggie's Fun Zone, Hy-Vee Beer Garden, the Sustainability Zero Waste Tent, and the Alamo II.

2:30-6:30 p.m.  Reggie's Fun Zone (Free Event), Location: Redbird Row, Lot G73, East of Hancock Stadium
Reggie's Fun Zone offers a place for kids to come and play prior to kickoff. Reggie's Fun Zone features a variety of free activities including face painting and inflatable bounce houses.

3 p.m.  Redbird Row Concert (Free Event), Location: Lot G73, East of Hancock Stadium
Enjoy a free concert by performer Jeff Woods.

4 p.m.  Bird Walk (Free Event), Location: Redbird Row, Lot G73, East of Hancock Stadium
Join Redbird Athletics in Redbird Row to support the football team prior to them heading to the locker room. The Bird walk is led by the Big Red Marching Machine, Redbird Cheerleading, and Coach Spack.

4-5 p.m.  Wonsook Kim School of Art Scholarship Recognition Reception, Location: University Galleries

4:30-6:30 p.m.  Parent and Family Services Open House Tent (Free Event)
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 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. If you have questions about purchasing tickets or 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.  Tailgating lots will open at 1:30 p.m. Please be sure to follow all regulations for athletic tailgating events. A limited number of tailgate/parking passes will be available in F43 for day of game sales. Permits can be purchased at the lot entrance the day of the game. The lot closes when all of the passes are sold. If you are coming from the south, Lot 43 is located off of Main St.

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 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.