The annual Family Weekend, which usually takes place at the end of September, will now be held earlier in the month, Sept. 11 through Sept. 13.

Family Weekend will follow Marywood’s Centennial Week, when alumni and current Marywood students will come together to celebrate the 100 year anniversary. Centennial week will feature many activities throughout the weekend to get past students, current students, and families involved in the celebrations.

“We asked alumni how they would want to see the Centennial celebrated, and they wanted some type of big celebration,” said Ann Williams, director of alumni engagement. “A lot of our younger alums said that Family Weekend was a tradition that they really felt connected with at Marywood.”

According to Callie Frieler, director of student activities, there will be an improvisational comedy show on Friday, Sept. 11. The fall carnival will take place on Saturday with activities including face painting, character artists, balloon artists, and jugglers. The event is free to all students.

“We try to make sure that everything is family friendly and flexible. Events are fun for all ages whether it is families of college students or students bringing their younger siblings,” said Frieler.

Frieler said that there will be a dance team performance and alumni games on Saturday afternoon in addition to the Liturgy that will be take place at 5 p.m. On Saturday night, students can participate in Bingo Night with prizes such as televisions and iPads.

“We just want to make sure it is a relaxing time away. A lot of first-year students are proud and want to show their parents where they are living, how their dorm room is set up, or where they have different classes,” said Frieler.

In addition to visiting Marywood’s campus, Frieler said families get an opportunity to explore the Scranton area and get to know the area where their child is attending school.

Alumni will also be participating in the Family Weekend activities. According to Williams, there will be alumni volunteers helping out during the Fall Carnival.

The Liturgy Mass is also a combination for alumni and current students. Williams said that there will be a cocktail reception in the new Learning Commons building specifically for alumni.

“That is the celebration that most alumni said they wanted,” said Williams.

Williams plans to incorporate an alumni art project during the weekend that may include a mural with fingerprints of past and current students.

“We want to make sure everything is integrated so everyone feels welcome,” said Williams. “We are bringing decades of generations together. It is going to be a nice blend, and it is really going to be the living Marywood community that we always talk about.”

Contact the writer: [email protected]