Family Weekend 2024 Schedule

Image of Benefactors Circle overlooking Cayuga Lake
Schedule Update: Family Weekend Fireworks Display Canceled

Dear Ithaca College Community, Families and Other Supporters,

I wanted to provide you with an important update to our planned activities for Family Weekend. Out of an abundance of caution, in light of a recent large brushfire that broke out in nearby Lansing on Friday night, we have made the decision to cancel the fireworks display that was scheduled to be part of our Family Weekend celebrations on Saturday night.

While the fire did not directly impact the Ithaca College campus, a burn ban has been placed in effect in Tompkins County due to the extremely dry conditions and we do not believe that it is prudent at this time to launch a fireworks display.

Please reach out to families@ithaca.edu if you have any questions.

I thank you for your understanding on this change to our plans.

Warm regards,

Stanley A. Bazile, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life

Schedule of Events

  • Catholic Mass, Muller Chapel, 12:10 p.m.
    • Join your student for mass.
  • Welcome Reception, Emerson Suites, Campus Center, 4-7 p.m.
    • Check in for the weekend, enjoy complimentary refreshments, a cash bar, and meet members of the IC community. President La Jerne Terry Cornish, members of her cabinet, representatives from each of the five schools, and staff from across campus will be present to welcome you to Family Weekend.
  • Unity Friday: S'mores on the Quad hosted by the BIPOC Unity Center, Campus Center Quad, 5-7 p.m.
    • Join the BIPOC Unity Center for their First Friday event and enjoy hot chocolate and s'mores while creating connections with other students and families.
  • Family Weekend Shabbat Services & Dinner hosted by Hillel at IC, Muller Chapel, 6:00-8:15 p.m. (limited to the first 100 registrants)
    • Enjoy a warm and cozy kosher Shabbat meal following services with Hillel students and staff
  • Symphony Orchestra, "Forging New Paths," Ford Hall, Whalen Center for Music, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
    • The ICSO's November concert brings to the Ithaca audience two world premieres in one concert, including IC faculty Jorge Grossmann’s brand-new Guitar Concerto featuring Brazilian guitarist Luiz Mantovani. The concert finishes with Beethoven’s monumental Third Symphony, the “Eroica”.
  • Theatre Production: Stupid F**king Bird, Hangar Theatre (downtown Ithaca), 8 p.m.
    • Loosely based on Anton Chekov’s The Seagull, this contemporary adaptation explores the timeless struggles between generations, art, love, and growing up. Stupid F##king Bird will be performed in rotation at Hangar Theatre, along with Fever/Dream.


Home Athletic Events

  • Women's Rowing at Cornell's Autumn Classic, Cayuga Inlet (downtown Ithaca), 2 p.m.
  • Men's Wrestling Invitational, Athletic & Events Center, 2 p.m.
  • Women's Volleyball vs. RIT, Ben Light Gymnasium, Hill Center, 6 p.m.


Available All day

  • Saturday Morning Arrival Check-In, Emerson Suites, Campus Center, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
    • For families who can’t make it to Friday’s Check-In and Welcome Reception, this provides another opportunity to sign in, pick up your Family Weekend materials, and drop off any donations for the food pantry or Student Emergency Relief Fund. Coffee will be provided a few buildings over, in Textor Hall (outside of the Study Abroad session).
  • Study Abroad Through IC, Textor Hall 101 & 102, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
    • Join us for an informative introduction to the study abroad opportunities available to your student.
  • Family Weekend Lunch, Emerson Suites, Clark & Klingenstein Lounges, Campus Center,  11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
    • Enjoy a complimentary buffet luncheon in one of three locations in the Campus Center: Clark or Klingenstein Lounges, or Emerson Suites.
      • *Note: The Football game vs. Union College will be live-streamed during lunch in Emerson Suites beginning at noon.
  • Theatre Production: Fever/Dream, Hangar Theatre (downtown Ithaca), 2 p.m.
    • Based on Pedro Calderón de la Barca's 1636 play Life is a Dream, Fever/Dream chronicles a man's rise from customer service representative to CEO, satirizing corporate America.
  • Fall Fun & Craft Spectacular: Family Games & Crafts, Clark & Klingenstein Lounges, Campus Center, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
    • Bring the whole family for an afternoon filled with fun and creativity! Dive into a variety of board games, from timeless classics to modern favorites, and get crafty with our fall-themed projects with IC’s Maker Space and Library.
  • Open Gaming in the Esports Lounge, Friends Hall 110, 2:30-4:30pm
    • Stop by the Esports Lounge for open gaming hours! Two console gaming areas will be open for playing on the Nintendo Switches, the Xbox X and the PlayStation 5. With a wide variety of games to choose from, you could level the playing field with a Mario Kart competition, step it up with co-op games like It Takes Two, or stir up some family drama with a round of Overcooked! 2. For the retro gamer, try out classic arcade games like Space invaders, Pac-Man, Streetfighter, and 4000 more titles on the arcade cabinet.
  • Catholic Mass & Reception, Muller Chapel, 4 p.m.
    • Join your student for mass, followed by a reception with light refreshments.
  • One World Concert with IC International Club, Ford Hall, Whalen Center for Music, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
    • Join the Ithaca College International Club in celebrating the diversity and talent of IC students. As part of International Education Month, this concert is dedicated to the appreciation of arts, music, dance, and other performances representing different cultures in the United States and internationally. Enjoy desserts before the show from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

  • Theatre Production: Stupid F**king Bird, Hangar Theatre (downtown Ithaca), 8 p.m.

    • Loosely based on Anton Chekov’s The Seagull, this contemporary adaptation explores the timeless struggles between generations, art, love, and growing up. Stupid F##king Bird will be performed in rotation at Hangar Theatre, along with Fever/Dream.


Home Athletic Events*

  • Sculling at Cornell's Autumn Classic, Cayuga Inlet (downtown Ithaca), 9 a.m.
  • Men's Wrestling Invitational, Athletic & Events Center, 9 a.m.
  • Field Hockey vs. Ursinus College, Higgins Stadium, 1 p.m.
  • Women's Soccer vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Carp Wood Field, 1 p.m.
  • Women's & Men's Swimming & Diving vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Kelsey Partridge Bird Natatorium, Athletics & Events Center, 2 p.m.
  • Women's Volleyball vs. Bard College, Ben Light Gymnasium, Hill Center, 2 p.m.
  • *Please note the Football game vs. Union College will be live-streamed during lunch in Emerson Suites beginning at noon


Available All day

*Daylight Savings occurs Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m., when clocks will go back an hour*


Available All day

  • For other Ithaca area activities and attractions, please see: Visit Ithaca
file-outline Family Weekend 2024 Program - 240925-family-weekend-program.pdf (21.95 MB)

Download the program and start enjoying the weekend's activities. 

On-Campus Services
Support the Food Pantry & SERF During Family Weekend

The on-campus food pantry provides food, personal care, and household paper products for campus community members in need. During Family Weekend, we will be collecting donations at the Campus Center Info Desk in Egbert Hall and hope to beat last year's collection of more than 700 physical items – please consider bringing a donation!  For more information about IC's food pantry, including donation ideas, click here.

The Student Emergency Relief Fund was established to provide financial assistance to students who have emergency financial needs. Typical uses for this financial assistance includes support for emergency travel, medical expenses, housing, food, and utilities. Prior to the start of each semester, students can also request textbook vouchers to purchase their required course materials. In 2023, more than $10,000 was raised for the food pantry - this year we'd like to focus fundraising efforts on this Student Emergency Relief Fund. 

This will be the third consecutive year that IC Family Council has championed collecting donations for students in financial need. Thank you, ICFC, for your caring, generous efforts that have directly impacted countless people!

Supporting Financial Security