With visitors being back on campus this semester, normal activities are beginning to resume on campus again, including Parents Weekend. For some students, this weekend is the first time they’ll see their families since they moved in.
Parents Weekend activities are planned from the beginning of the day until the evening Sept. 25.
Events are being held around the village of Bluffton and on campus this weekend for parents and students to enjoy together. While families have downtime, students can show their families where they hang out and have fun with friends.
Students can enjoy the village of Bluffton with their families for the last Bluffton Discovery day of the year. The day starts with a car show at Masterpiece Signs & Graphics at 8 a.m. The farmers market is then from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Citizens National Bank parking lot on Main Street.
The first university event will be the alumni baseball game at Memorial Field at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Because visitors were not allowed on campus due to the Protect the Dam protocols in response to COVid-19 last year, this game will return after its disappearance last semester. Many baseball players are excited for the event, including senior intervention specialist major Luke Hanson.
“It’ll be nice to see familiar faces again,” Hanson said. “Especially the guys that graduated last year. Getting to see them on the field again too after being on it with them for three years. I’m looking forward to it.”
The next event being held by the university will be Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is a new event being introduced to 60 in 6 this semester starting at Salzman Stadium at 5 p.m.
MSO group photo provided by Flor Avilez
“We have a lot of root beer, a polka band, and some games,” Metzger said. “It’ll be a really good time with some German food and desserts. We have some free giveaways and free food. We definitely want students to bring their parents and their families.”
At the end of the day, after students say goodbye to their families, the multicultural student organization (MSO) will host a block party for students. The block party will be in front of Burcky gym with games, music, food and time to socialize. Flor Avilez, a senior criminal justice major and President of MSO spoke of how important it is to have events like the block party on parents weekend.
“Parents know that their students are being included,” Avilez said. “In Bluffton, we really try to make everyone feel included. This is their home away from home. We do things like this to help connect people.”
