Parents and Families Weekend 2023 will provide numerous activities for you and your KSU student(s) to participate in and enjoy as a family.
Check-in | Kent State Student Center Lobby | 5 - 7 p.m.
Check-in will take place in the Kent Student Center Lobby, located in the Kent Student Center, from 5:00-7 p.m. There you will receive wristbands for the Tailgate, football game tickets, game day bag, and a la carte activity tickets if purchased. The Annual Black Squirrel Festival will also be held during this time for you to mix and mingle with other families and partake in the fun activities.
41st Annual Black Squirrel Festival | Student Green and Risman Plaza | 4 - 7 p.m.
A Kent State University tradition for 38 years, the annual Black Squirrel Festival will take place on the Student Green and Risman Plaza. The Black Squirrel Festival, which is hosted by the Flash Activities Board, attracts more than 3,000 visitors each year and serves as a great opportunity for students and their families to learn more about the Kent community as a whole! Many of the more than 400 student organizations and local vendors will be set up at the event. Additionally, the event host various student bands, family activities, and more!
Make-and-Take activities in the Reactor | DI HUB Reactor, Room 150 (1st floor) | 5-7 p.m.
Design Innovation welcomes parents, families and students to the DI HUB to participate in some make-and-take activities in the Reactor. Join us for vinyl cutting stickers, 3D printing keychains and laser-cutting magnets. Learn more about our initiative and available tools and technologies in Kent State’s largest makerspace! Space is limited to the first 100 guests.
Family Movie Fun Night | Kent Student Center Kiva Auditorium | 7 - 9 p.m.
RESERVATION IS CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT!
Join in on a family movie fun night with the Flashes Activity Board (FAB)! FAB is a student organization that hosts over 100 fun and exciting events to build a community on campus. The movie shown will be Monster’s University.
Kent State Esport Gaming Demonstration | 2nd Floor, University Library | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. and 7 - 8 p.m.
RESERVATION IS CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT!
Come and learn more about organized competitive video gaming and play games in Kent State’s Esports Complex.
Wick Poetry Creative Writing Experience | 2nd Floor, University Library | 7 - 8:30 p.m.
RESERVATION IS CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT!
Get in touch with your creative side through the Wick Poetry Center at Kent State. Our center offers programs advancing creative self-expression. From our local community to our global collaborators, to intimate in-person workshops to innovative online digital platforms, we believe that every person benefits from exercising their voice. Join an interactive workshop with our Teaching Artists and learn how to get involved in our work.
Legacy Tailgate | Dix Stadium | 1 - 2:30 p.m.
We’re showing our appreciation for all Kent State families! Whether you’re an alumni legacy family with a proud history at KSU or the relatives of a first-generation college student that aims to create a dynasty of future Golden Flashes, we look forward to celebrating with you. The tailgate will honor all loved ones who provide the necessary support and encouragement for our students to be successful. This spirit-filled celebration would not be complete without delicious food and entertainment. Current students and their alumni family members (parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle) will also receive a commemorative legacy pin in honor of their family’s lifelong connection to the university.
Kent State vs. Miami University Football Game | Dix Stadium | 2:30 p.m.
Let’s root for the home team as they battle Miami University in a conference rival showdown. The game is destined to be full of surprises.
Family Dessert Halftime Social | Dix Stadium | Halftime of the football game
Come join Residential Housing and Culinary Services for a halftime dessert social! Meet with staff, play some games, and learn more about campus living!
These events are not included in the weekend registration fee. Tickets are limited.
Blue and Gold Paint and Sip - Friday, Sept. 29 | KSC 306ABC | 7 - 9 p.m. | $45.00 per person
Join in on the fun while you follow along with our step-by-step painting instructions. Create lasting memories with your Kent State student as you sip and let your creativity soar! The cost for this event is $45 per person. Ticket cost includes one free drink ticket. Must be 17 years of age or older to attend. Tickets to this event are limited to the first 100 guests.
Golden Flash Wine and Food Pairing Workshop - Friday, Sept. 29 | 7 - 9 p.m. | $45.00 per person
Join us for an evening of wine and appetizers as you learn what pairs them so well together. Led by Chef Andrew Eith, an associate lecturer and chef instructor in Hospitality and Event Management at Kent State, guests will be artfully guided through the ins and outs of wine and food pairings. Guests must be at least 21 years of age to attend. Tickets to this event are limited to the first 50 guests.