Families Weekend

September 26–28, 2025.

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Friday, September 26, 2025

10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center

Aerial view of the exterior of the The Loeb Art Center

For current and ongoing exhibits please visit vassar.edu/theloeb


10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Check-In

College Center / Main Building
Campus Activities Office, Information Window

Located off the North Atrium of the College Center, stop by to let us know you are here, pick up information and swag.

James W Palmer Gallery

College Center

Sean McCarty: Creature Features

Illustration / painting of a monster's head.

A survey of twenty years of artist and educator Sean McCarthy’s work in drawing, painting, and comics, all featuring delicately drawn tragicomic monsters.


12:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

Haitian Art Event

Main Building / College Center, Multi-Purpose Room (CC223)

A somewhat surrealistic painting of boats, birds, and flower-covered hills in vibrant colors.

1:20 p.m. 

Jummah Prayers

Pratt House

Join us for a student-led Jummah service and learn more about Vassar's Muslim community. The weekly prayer service is a collaboration between the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices/Muslim Life and the Vassar Muslim Students Association.


3:00 p.m.

Highlights Tour

The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center

Highlights from the permanent collection. The collection of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center charts the history of art from antiquity to the present and comprises over 21,000 works. (Hours of operation, daily, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.)


6:00 p.m.

Off Campus Sporting Event

Women’s Volley Ball vs Mt. Saint Mary College

Newburgh, NY


Shabbat Services

6:00 p.m.

The Bayit (Vassar’s Home for Jewish Life)
51 Collegeview Avenue (just outside of the North Gate)

Vassar Jewish Union (VJU) invites all students and their families to Shabbat Service followed by a vegetarian dinner. Please RSVP by emailing rsl@vassar.edu (Vassar’s Office of Religious & Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices).

  • Service: 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
  • Dinner: 7:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Chabad House
150 College Ave

Join the Chabad Jewish Community (CJC) for a warm, family style shabbat experience! All dietary requirements accommodated. Please fill out the Families Weekend Jewish Life RSVP Form by Sept. 19.


Saturday, September 27, 2025

8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Check-In

Bridge for Laboratory Sciences

Coffee, tea and other refreshments will be served.


9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Panel Discussions

Vogelstein Center for Drama & Film, Martel Theater

  • 9:00–10:00 a.m.
    Academic Life: A Faculty Panel for Families
    The Dean of First-Year Students, Mary Ellen Czesak, hosts a discussion with faculty members about Vassar's three general academic requirements: the First-Year Writing Seminar (Nick DeLeeuw), Quantitative Analysis (Jen Herrera), and Foreign Language proficiency(Silke von der Emde). Q&A to follow.
     
  • 10:15–11:15 a.m.
    Oh, The Places They'll Go: A Very Vassar Summer
    Learn more about how students spend their summer breaks and hear from a panel of students to discover what Vassar can do to support an unforgettable summer experience. Hosted and moderated by Stacy Bingham, Associate Dean of the College for Career Education.
     
  • 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
    Conversation with the President and the Deans
    A Conversation with Elizabeth H. Bradley, President of the College, Carlos Alamo-Pastrana, Dean of the College, Marianne H. Begemann, Dean of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources and Demetrius Eudell, Dean of the Faculty.

10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center

For current and ongoing exhibits please visit vassar.edu/theloeb

James W Palmer Gallery

College Center

Sean McCarty: Creature Features

A survey of twenty years of artist and educator Sean McCarthy’s work in drawing, painting, and comics, all featuring delicately drawn tragicomic monsters.


10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Haitian Art Event

Main Building / College Center, Multi-Purpose Room


10:30 a.m.

Highlights Tour

The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center

Highlights from the permanent collection. The collection of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center charts the history of art from antiquity to the present and comprises over 21,000 works. (Hours of operation, daily, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.)


12:00 p.m.–3:00p.m.

Sporting Events, On Campus

  • 12:00 p.m., Women’s Volleyball v Russell Sage College, Kenyon Hall
  • 12:30 p.m., Field Hockey v Vermont State University, Weinberg Turf Field
  • 1:00 p.m., Women’s Soccer v Ithaca College, Prentiss Gordon Field

12:45–2:00 p.m.

Walking Tour of the Vassar Arboretum

Main Building

Families taking a tour of the Vassar campus.
Photo credit: Karl Rabe

Wander through central campus to learn about the history of the Vassar Arboretum and information on some of the interesting trees in our 220 species collection, plus enticing bits of campus history. The tour includes visiting some of the most recently planted trees and learning about Vassar’s second oldest tradition: the class tree. The tour begins at the statue of Matthew Vassar, located at the south lawn of Main Building. Hosted by Mark Schlessman, Emeritus Professor of Biology and Laura Graceffa ‘87.


1:00–4:00 p.m.

Music on the Half

Chamber Music

The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center

Music on the Half featuring, each half hour, a selection of the college’s many different ensembles and soloists.

  • 1:00 p.m.: Chamber Music
  • 1:30 p.m.: Chamber Music
  • 2:00 p.m.: Treble Choir
  • 2:30 p.m.: Chamber Singers
  • 3:00 p.m.: Vassar College Choir

2:00–4:00 p.m.

Fall Fest

Celebration of Vassar Student Music

Blodgett Courtyard

Come support Vassar student music at one of their first performances of the semester! Sponsored by the Outing Club and Families Weekend. More details to follow.

Walking Tour of the Ecological Preserve

The Environmental Cooperative at the Vassar Barns, 50 Vassar Farm Lane

Join the Environmental Cooperative and Preserve staff for a two-hour tour of Vassar’s 400-plus acre Preserve at Vassar. The tour will start and end at the Environmental Cooperative Barn (50 Vassar Farm Lane). This tour covers easy to moderate terrain and includes many opportunities for wildlife viewing. Come learn some history about The Preserve at Vassar and get up to date on our current research and monitoring projects. Please wear comfortable footwear suitable for hiking and long pants to protect against ticks and poison ivy.


5:00–6:30 p.m.

Families Weekend Reception

Library Lawn Tent (Rain Location: Main Building, Villard Room)

You and your student are invited to join a very casual Vassar Families Weekend Reception. Featuring food by Twisted Soul and live music.


8:00 p.m.

Barefoot Fireflies Fire Show

Residential Quad

The Barefoot Fireflies is Vassar’s one and only circus and fire-arts club! The Fall Fire Show features juggling, dancing, spinning, and lots of flames! Come support Vassar students as they put on their first performance of the semester! For more information, visit pages.vassar.edu/barefoot-fireflies or email exec.barefootfireflies@gmail.com.


9:30 p.m.–11:59 p.m.

Late Night Pub Food Experience

Gordon Commons

The Vassar Dining team invites you and your student to enjoy a fun, flavorful evening of favorite pub-style bites—sliders, soft pretzels, pizza bagels, mozzarella sticks, parmesan truffle fries, fish & chip cones, charcuterie boards, hummus and crudité. Plus a Vassar student DJ will be spinning tunes all night long. Families are welcome to join in for just $9 per person (payable at the door—sorry, no cash), or by using one of the 4 guest swipes students receive each semester.


Sunday, September 28, 2025

9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Families Weekend Brunch

Gordon Commons

The Vassar Dining team is hosting an all-you-care-to-eat brunch with traditional favorites from the omelet bar to quiche, frittatas and Monte Cristos. Plus a “frenched” steamship ham carved to order. A scrumptious bagel bar with a selection of shmears and a side of fresh juices, mimosas and Bloody Mary’s. $15 per person (payable at the door—sorry, no cash). $8 additional for a wristband to be able to drink alcohol including mimosas and Bloody Mary’s. Guest swipes are not an option for brunch.


10:00–11:15 a.m.

Walking Tour of the Vassar Arboretum

Main Building

Wander through central campus to learn about the history of the Vassar Arboretum and information on some of the interesting trees in our 220 species collection, plus enticing bits of campus history. The tour includes visiting some of the most recently planted trees and learning about Vassar’s second oldest tradition: the class tree. The tour begins at the statue of Matthew Vassar, located at the south lawn of Main Building. Hosted by Mark Schlessman, Emeritus Professor of Biology and Laura Graceffa ’87.


10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. 

Haitian Art Event

Main Building / College Center, Multi-Purpose Room

(See Friday’s schedule for complete information)


10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center

For current and ongoing exhibits please visit vassar.edu/theloeb

James W Palmer Gallery

College Center

Sean McCarthy: Creature Features

A survey of twenty years of artist and educator Sean McCarthy’s work in drawing, painting, and comics, all featuring delicately drawn tragicomic monsters.


12:00 p.m.

Field Hockey vs Roger Williams University

Weinberg Turf Field


12:30–2:30 p.m.

Bagel Brunch Chabad

Jewish Community Chabad House
150 College Avenue

Gather for a traditional Jewish Sunday experience and a great opportunity to connect with others. Featuring yard activities, crafts and much more. Please fill out the Families Weekend Jewish Life RSVP Form by Sept. 19.


1:00 p.m.

Women’s Rugby vs Marist University

Poughkeepsie, NY

Highlights Tour

The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center

Highlights from the permanent collection. The collection of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center charts the history of art from antiquity to the present and comprises over 21,000 works. (Hours of operation, daily, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.)


1:30 p.m.

Roman Catholic Mass

Vassar Chapel

Hosted by the Vassar Catholic Community.


4:00 p.m.

Episcopal Church at Vassar College

Gathering Pratt House


General Weekend Information

Exciting offers and activities for Vassar families from our friends at Destination Dutchess (formerly Dutchess Tourism)

REGISTER NOW

Check-in Dates and Locations

Friday, September 26, 2025

  • 10:00 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Place: College Center (North Atrium) / Main Building

Saturday, September 27, 2025

  • 8:00 a.m.–Noon
  • Place: Bridge for Laboratory Sciences

Campus Dining

vassar.cafebonappetit.com


Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center

September 26–28, 2025: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.


James W. Palmer Gallery

September 26–28, 2025: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.


Athletic Events

Please note start times are subject to change. Please check vassarathletics.com for up to date information.


Vassar College Store

Located in the “Juliet” building at the corner of Raymond and Collegeview Avenues

  • Friday and Saturday, September 26–27, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, September 28, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.