This weekend (Sept. 8-10) will be a real family affair at West Virginia University as hundreds of parents and siblings descend on campus to become Mountaineers for a weekend.

During annual Fall Family Weekend activities, parents will spend time with their sons and daughters, learn about their academic curriculum, enjoy some world-class entertainment and take in a Mountaineer football game.

And that is just for starters.

This traditional weekend on campus is a great time for families to visit their students and take part in the life of the University,said Sabrina Cave, director of the Mountaineer Parents Club.Activities range from class visits and open houses to a concert by Grammy Award-winning trio Nickel Creek, WVU -Eastern Washington football game and Mountaineer Idol performances.

We know that after families visit, they will understand that WVU truly is a familyone in which students find a place to fit in and their own unique ways to stand out,added Susan Hardesty, wife of WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. and national chair of the Mountaineer Parents Club.

Highlights will include the festive Fall Family Weekend Welcome Center at 5 p.m. Friday (Sept. 8) at the Creative Arts Center, where families will be greeted by the Hardestys.

There visitors can attend a Division of Art pottery sale, take in College of Creative Arts entertainment and enjoy light refreshments, said Stephanie Ballard Conrad, senior special events coordinator.

Also, gold-and-blue merchandise from the WVU Bookstore and official class rings will be available for purchase, and the first 1,000 guests to stop by will receive complimentary limited-edition lapel pins and commemorative T-shirts.

That evening, families can catch a concert by Nickel Creek, a contemporary bluegrass trio with a rock edge, at 7:30 p.m. in the CAC s Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre. This eclectic band has amassed a fan base that includes those who love the music of Alison Krauss, Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, the Dixie Chicks, Cold Play and Bob Dylan. Their latest albumWhy Should the Fire Die?was produced by Eric Valentine, who has worked with Smash Mouth and Third Eye Blind.

Limited tickets are still available and range from $32-$38, depending on seat location. For tickets, call 304-293-SHOW.

Also Friday, families are invited to experience WVU s nationally acclaimed WVUp All Night weekend entertainment program from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. in the Mountainlair and activities such as scuba from 6-9 p.m. and Flick-N-Float (watch a movie while you float in a pool) at 9 p.m. in the Universitys award-winning Student Recreation Center.

Saturdays (Sept. 9) lineup, meanwhile, will have every true gold-and-blue fan cheeringLets go, Mountaineers!

The Mountaineer Family Tailgate will get rolling at 11 a.m. at Tent City III (also known as the light blue lot) at Mountaineer Field. For tickets, contact 304-293-SHOW or ffw@mail.wvu.edu .

After the tailgate, many families will head over to Milan Puskar Stadium to cheer on the Mountaineers as they play Eastern Washington. Kickoff is at 1 p.m., but parents and students will want to get to the stands 45 minutes before kickoff so they can enjoyThe Pride of West VirginiaMountaineer Marching Band pregame show.

A special halftime tribute to parents will featureThe Prideperforming the theme from the hit television showThe Family Guy”;My Home Among the Hills,a traditional favorite; and an up-tempo medley of patriotic music to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11.

In addition, the Mountaineer Parents Club will present outstanding club awards to its Ohio/Marshall County and Southern New Jersey clubs.

For those who would like to relax and wait for the traffic to disappear, they may want to attend the All-American Postgame Dinner Buffet in the Milan Puskar Center Thomas Room. Families will enjoy a traditional Mountaineer meal with a great view of the football field at this popular event. Ticket information: 304-293-SHOW or ffw@mail.wvu.edu .

Looking for a fun way to unwind? WVUp All Night activities resume at 8 p.m. in the Mountainlair with Mountaineer Idol, WVU s version of the popular singing contest, taking place at 8:30 p.m. in the commons area.

Sponsored by”American Idol,”Coca-Cola and FOX 46 , the event will shine the spotlight on WVU s brightest student talent. Twelve finalists will perform before University and communitycelebrityjudges in the first elimination round. At the conclusion of the six-week competition, Coca-Cola will award $2,000 to the top three performers.

Finally, families can round out their weekend with free activities from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 10) at the Student Recreation Center or the College of Creative Arts Community Music Recital at 7 p.m. at the Bloch Learning and Performance Hall.

More on the Net:http://www.wvu.edu/ffw/