West Virginia University’s Mountaineer Parents Club is gearing up for the 2009 annual Fall Family Weekend Oct. 2-4.

The weekend gives families an opportunity to get an inside look at life as a WVU student through academics, recreation and the campus community.

“Fall Family Weekend is a wonderful time for the whole family to experience campus life with their WVU student,” said Sabrina Cave, executive director of the Mountaineer Parents Club. “There are activities for the whole family showcasing academics, our state-of-the-art facilities, the arts and athletics. There is something for everyone.”

Weekend highlights include the Welcome Reception, Family Night Dinner, women’s soccer game, downtown Morgantown’s ArtsWalk, Mountaineer Experience, a performance by RAIN and WVUp All Night activities.

On Friday (Oct. 2), parents can attend class with their student. A Welcome Reception will be held from 5-8 p.m. in the Vandalia Lounge in the Mountainlair student union.

Families can eat a Rock-n-Roll themed dinner at Hatfields Diner in the Mountainlair from 6-8 p.m. The menu includes LaBamba burgers, Porky Pig Pork Barb-B-Q, root beer floats, fresh baked apple and cherry pie. Pre-registration is required. Tickets are available online at http://familyweekend.wvu.edu.

The nationally ranked women’s soccer team will take on Notre Dame at Dick Dlesk Stadium at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate. All WVU students with a valid Mountaineer Card are admitted free.

Students and their families can watch WVU students’ talent in action during Mountaineer Idol at 8:30 p.m. in the Mountainlair ballrooms. Mountaineer Idol Gives Back will partner with WVU Children’s Hospital and Jessi’s Pals.

The mission of Jessi’s Pals is to provide every child at WVU Children’s Hospital with a stuffed animal. Each family is encouraged to bring at least one stuffed animal to donate to Jessi’s Pals. Chair of Jessi’s Pals, Jessica Lynch will be a celebrity judge for Mountaineer Idol that night.

At WVUp All Night, families can enjoy discounted movies, comedians, caricatures, half-priced billiards, bowling and free food. WVUp All Night is held Friday and Saturday night from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the Mountainlair.

Throughout the weekend, WVU families can also take advantage of activities at the Student Recreation Center on the Evansdale Campus. Families will be invited to explore and use the recreation center with free access and special activities such as Discover Scuba from 6-9 p.m. on Friday. Visitors may also participate in any group exercise class.

Saturday’s (Oct. 3) schedule includes numerous residence hall activities in which families and students are encouraged to meet with resident faculty leaders.

An event called Mountaineer Experience will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center. Activities range from pick-up basketball games to Zumba. There will be a special appearance from the women’s soccer team, coaches and Mountaineer mascot at 2 p.m. Parents will have a chance to win a Dell notebook valued at over $1,200; sign up is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

RAIN: The Beatles Experience will take place at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Creative Arts Center. Tickets can be ordered by calling the box office at 304-293-SHOW or by downloading an order form at http://events.wvu.edu/uas/09-10/rain/index.shtml and following the instructions.

On Sunday (Oct. 4), families can join other WVU parents, students, faculty, staff and Morgantown residents to give back to the community. Volunteers will be assisting with a community revitalization project in Sunnyside. The projects will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. To register, please visit http://simpleforms.scripts.wvu.edu/sf/makeovermorgantown/.

For more information and to view a complete schedule of events, visit http://familyweekend.wvu.edu.

All parents are welcome to come a day early and attend the WVU vs. Colorado football game at Milan Puskar Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Information about tickets is available at http://www.wvugame.com.

-WVU-
cd/09/24/09

CONTACT: Sabrina Cave, Mountaineer Parents Club
304-293-2506, Sabrina.Cave@mail.wvu.edu

What is your favorite memory from a past Fall Family Weekend?