It’s Family Weekend! Whether you’re from Colorado or out of state, students at CU Boulder are welcoming their families onto campus for the weekend. With the university’s new coach Deion Sanders taking the college football scene by storm, the sport has practically overtaken campus, and game days are crazy! Personally, I’ve never been a big fan of sports games and my parents feel similarly. These are my top picks of things to do with your family this weekend if football isn’t really your thing.
Starting off strong, there are multiple shows happening Thursday evening. At The Connection from 7-10 p.m. there will be live music provided by the CU Jam Society! There is also an array of shows at the Fiske Planetarium. From 7-8 p.m., “Shining a Light” on Astronomical Alignments will satisfy the parents who love all things science and space. For the Swifties, there is an 8:30-9:30 p.m. Taylor Swift laser show. From 10-11 p.m. there is the “Lasers and Depeche” mode show for the parents who like a fun visual with their music! Find Tickets for Fiske here.
Friday offers more informational sessions throughout the day, along with open houses for most areas of study. Starting off bright and early, at 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the UMC in Glenn Miller Ballroom, there will be an Off-Campus Living informational event to help students start thinking about the next steps for moving off campus. Similarly, “What to Know Before Signing a Lease” will also be at the UMC from 2-3 p.m. in the East Ballroom. Thinking about moving again and signing a lease can be really stressful, so you might want to make a stop at the Visual Arts Complex between 1-3 p.m. to talk with Take Care Street Fair. This is the event I’m personally most excited for, as there will be music, trivia, crafts and more! This is a great way to start the conversation about mental health and wellness with your family. To end Friday the 13th with a spook, the Secret Midnight Screening will play at midnight in the Visual Arts Complex in room 1B20.
On Saturday from 2-6 p.m., Midium, an immersive experience that uses augmented reality, will be in the ATLAS Center, Black Box Experimental Studio (B2 Level). I don’t know too much about this or even what it is, but it looks super cool. The CU Museum of Natural History has exhibition galleries open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the CU Art Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., showcasing beautiful pieces in its current exhibit Lush: Prolific Nature and Faculty Exhibition: 2023. The museums are open throughout all of Family Weekend, but I recommend going to the Art Museum on Saturday, as the Second Saturdays program is hosting an interactive craft in the lobby. The museums are free but appreciate donations.
At night, there will be two shows featuring some sick tunes that any rock lover will enjoy! Laser Van Halen and Liquid Sky Floyd Dark Side of the Moon will be playing at 8:30-9:30 p.m. and 10-11 p.m.. Fiske tickets can be found here. If music and lasers isn’t your thing but you still want to check out the eclipse, stop by Norlin Quad from 9:30am-12pm to view the partial Solar Eclipse with Fiske Planetarium and check out the Space Resource Fair. Each attendee will receive special eclipse-viewing glasses! If you’re near the Planetarium around 8-10 p.m., you should make the walk over the Kittredge Central multipurpose rooms and have a good old Family Game Night!
On Sunday, there will be more space-related shows at Fiske, and for the family that can’t help but bring up politics during the holidays, you can take them to see The Revolutionists: A Play by Lauren Gunderson at 2 p.m. at the Loft Theatre. Take the trip back to Paris 1793– it will totally make good conversation for Thanksgiving. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at tickets.cupresents.org.
Family weekend is a beloved CU event that brings students are their families together every fall. Whether you’re interested in football, music, space, or academics, University of Colorado has something for you to do with your family this weekend.