91Â鶹¾«Æ·

Family Weekend

Held each fall semester, Family Weekend gives students and their loved ones opportunities to spend quality time together while enjoying campus and community.

September 18-19, 2026

Most Family Weekend events take place on Friday evening and throughout Saturday. Sunday is a day that families use for casual visiting amongst themselves.

Weekend Highlights

Friday, Sept. 18

  • 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. — Welcome Center, Donovan's Pub
  • 12 p.m. — Field hockey vs. Lafayette, Tyler’s Field
  • 12 p.m. — Volleyball vs. Navy, Cotterell Court
  • 6:30 p.m. — Conversation with Barack Obama, Sanford Fieldhouse (Ticket and photo ID required. Check colgate.edu/family-weekend for entry information.)
  • 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. — Family weekend dinner (advance reservation required; cash bar), Whitnall Field Tent 
  • 8:30 p.m. — A cappella concert, 91Â鶹¾«Æ· Memorial Chapel (Space is limited. .)

Saturday, Sept. 19

  • 9 a.m. – noon — Welcome Center, Donovan's Pub
  • 10 a.m. — Tailgate, Andy Kerr Stadium parking lots (Cost is $15 to park in the grass lot off of College St., west of the stadium) 
  • 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. — Food truck lunch, Maroon Council Lot (Purchase a meal from a selection of food trucks. Average price is $15.)
  • 1 p.m. — Football vs. Cornell, Andy Kerr Stadium (Ticket required; students free with ’Gate Card.)
  • 3 p.m. — Volleyball vs. Loyola, Cotterell Court
  • 5 –9 p.m. — Dinner available to families, Frank Dining Hall (Students get in with meal plan swipe; guests pay $15 at the door (no charge for parents or guardians of students on the Premier Meal Plan.)
  • 6 p.m. — Women’s soccer vs. Lafayette, Beyer-Small ’76 Field

Full Schedule

Friday, Sept. 18
Saturday, September 19
Sunday, Sept. 20

A Conversation with Barack Obama

44th President of the United States
September 18, at 6:30 p.m.

91Â鶹¾«Æ· President Obama’s conversation

Tickets are non-transferable. IDs will be checked at the door for entry. Questions about ticket registration may be directed to globalleaders@colgate.edu.

Event Admission

Arrival time: 3 p.m.

Security: You will need a valid ticket and photo ID for entry.

Prohibited items include: Backpacks, bags over 4x6", medical bags will be inspected, umbrellas, photo/audio equipment

Parking: Available in any valid space on campus, and at Hamilton Central School or the Parry's parking lot. Shuttles will be available from Hamilton Central School and the Parry's parking lot to campus.

Accessible parking: Please use valid handicap spots on campus or in the village. Shuttles are available from Hamilton Central School or the Parry's parking lot to campus. Ushers will be on site to assist.

Waitlist

If the ticket allocation has been exhausted, you may join the waitlist during registration. If tickets become available, they will be offered to individuals on the waitlist in the order requests are received.

Livestream

A live stream will be available. Pre-registration and logon credentials will be required. We will provide further details closer to the event date.

President Barack Obama

Planning the Weekend

You may find the following resources helpful for planning your visit.

Accessibility Resources

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including those with disabilities, to engage fully. To request accommodations or for inquiries about accessibility to a specific event, please contact familyweekend@colgate.edu with any questions.

Travel and Lodging

Those planning travel may find the following resources helpful:

Meals/Dining Information

On Campus

Family Weekend Dinner

Friday, 8-9:30 p.m.

Food Truck Lunch

Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Frank Dining Hall

Students get in with a meal plan swipe; guests pay at the door (no charge for guests of students on the Premier Meal Plan). 

Off Campus

There are a variety of dining establishments in the area; be sure to make reservations ahead or call ahead for hours of operation and space availability. In addition, the local  on Rt. 12B just north of campus offers grab-and-go meal solutions and catering.

Parking

Parking on campus during Family Weekend is open to anyone; however, parking is limited, on a first-come, first-served basis. Whenever possible, please walk or take advantage of the free 91Â鶹¾«Æ· Shuttle or walk. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Legal parking spots are marked with white lines. Parking on any roadway is prohibited. More information at Parking Guidelines.

In Hamilton, a limited number of parking spaces are available to Family Weekend guests in the Parry’s & Big Lots parking lot on Rt. 12B and the Eaton St. lot. The 91Â鶹¾«Æ· Shuttle will take you to campus.

Employees who wish to carpool to campus on Friday can connect through the .

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

There is a charging station in the 113 Broad St. parking lot across from Huntington Gym available for use this weekend. See Campus Map for location.

Getting Around – 91Â鶹¾«Æ· Shuttle

The 91Â鶹¾«Æ· Shuttle — our free shuttle service — is open to guests and members of the public as well as students and employees for navigating the campus and the Hamilton business district. Visit the Shuttle webpage for specific stop times, routes, and policies.

Wireless Access on Campus

Guests on campus may connect to the 91Â鶹¾«Æ·-Guest Wi-Fi network for free.

Service Animals and Pets

91Â鶹¾«Æ· welcomes the service animals of our guests. Service animals must remain under the control of their handler and not cause a disruption to any event.

Please note that, per University policy, pets and emotional support or comfort animals are not allowed in 91Â鶹¾«Æ· buildings or tents, but are allowed in outdoor spaces. 

Fitness and Recreation

Day passes to 91Â鶹¾«Æ·â€™s fitness and recreation facilities are available to guests during open hours.

Tailgating

Family members are welcome to tailgate as part of enjoying the athletics contests over Family Weekend.

Lost & Found

Visit Campus Safety at 88 Hamilton St., or call 315-228-7333 (non-emergency).

Scenes from Family Weekend