Families Weekend
Families Weekend 2025 is scheduled for September 26–28, 2025.
Please return to this page for the complete schedule of events, which will be posted soon.
Check out more images from the 2024 Families Weekend in our Flickr photo album.
Schedule
Friday, September 27, 2024
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
James W. Palmer Gallery
College Center
Creativity is Contagious: The Artists of Rhinebeck Fine Art. Palmer Gallery Website
(Artists’ Reception, 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.) .
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
For current and ongoing exhibits please visit The Loeb website.
1 p.m.
Jummah Prayer
Pratt House
Vassar Muslim Students Association (VMSA) invites students and family to a student-led Jummah prayer. Families are also welcome to come to Pratt House to pray throughout Friday and limited hours on the weekend.
3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
The Haiti Project: Sale of Haitian Art
Main Building / College Center, Multi-Purpose Room
Over 300 original Haitian paintings and hundreds of handicrafts. The Haiti Project engages students in a life-changing experiential education in global citizenship, fosters sustainable development in Haiti, and promotes Haitian art. (All purchases are 50% tax deductible.)
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.)
5:00 p.m.
James W. Palmer Gallery
College Center
Creativity is Contagious: The Artists of Rhinebeck Fine Art.
Artists’ Reception, 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
Shabbat Services
At 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 (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.
Shabbat with Chabad Jewish Community
Chabad House, 94 Fulton Avenue
Join the Chabad Jewish Community (CJC) for a warm, family style shabbat experience! A home cooked meal will be served complete with vegan and vegetarian options. All are welcome! Please RSVP by emailing rsl@vassar.edu.
9:00 p.m.
Not Mad…Just Disappointed
Sanders Auditorium, Sanders Classroom Building
Comedy Normal presents a Families Weekend stand-up comedy show. For more information email comedynorm.vsa@vassar.edu.
Saturday, September 28, 2024
8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Check-In
The Vogelstein Center for Drama & Film
Coffee, tea and other refreshments will be served.
Panel Discussions
9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
Academic Life: A Faculty Panel for Families
The Vogelstein Center for Drama & Film, Martel Theater
The Dean of First-Year Students, Lioba Gerhardi, hosts a discussion with faculty members Nicholas A. de Leeuw, Senior Lecturer in Psychological Science, and Jennifer Herrera, Lecturer in Chemistry, about Vassar’s three general academic requirements: the First-Year Writing Seminar, Quantitative Analysis, and Foreign Language proficiency. Q&A to follow.
10:15 a.m.–11:15 a.m.
Oh, The Places They’ll Go: A Very Vassar Summer
The Vogelstein Center for Drama & Film, Martel Theater
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
The Vogelstein Center for Drama & Film, Martel Theater
A Conversation with Elizabeth H. Bradley, President of the College; Carlos Alamo-Pastrana, Dean of the College; Brian Daly, Interim Dean of the Faculty; and Kelli Duncan, Associate Dean of the Faculty and Academic Resources.
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
For current and ongoing exhibits please visit The Loeb website.
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
James W. Palmer Gallery
College Center
Creativity is Contagious: The Artists for Rhinebeck Fine Art. Palmer Gallery Website
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Haiti Project: Sale of Haitian Art
Main Building / College Center, Multi-Purpose Room
4 p.m. Guest Speakers, Pere Wildaine and Sarah Planton (See Friday’s schedule for complete information)
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.)
11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Vassar College Ski Team Car Wash Fundraiser
Lathrop and Strong parking lot
11:30 a.m.
Field Hockey
Weinberg Turf Field
Vassar vs. Christopher Newport
12:45 p.m.–2:00 p.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, our native plants, and Ecological Preserve, 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 front entrance to Main Building. Hosted by Mark Schlessman, Emeritus Professor of Biology and Laura Graceffa ’87.
1:00 p.m.
Campus Arts Tour
Meet in front of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
Learn more about the works of art found throughout campus that enrich the lives of the Vassar community, from stained glass to sculpture.
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
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. Schedule: TBA.
2:00 p.m.
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 The Preserve at Vassar, a 525-acre multi-use space situated just south of Vassar’s campus, across Hooker Avenue. 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. Please RSVP for the Tour.
2:00 p.m.
Vassar College Men’s Soccer
Prentiss Gordon Field
Vassar vs. Union
2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
The Powerhouse Theater
Pre-curtain Reception, 1 p.m., Powerhouse Theater lobby
A reading of a play by Foster Schrader ’25, recipient of the Marilyn Swartz Seven ’69 Annual Playwriting Award, Spring ’24. The Boy Who Cried Wolf is a play about trauma, how it is inflicted on us, and how we move forward from it. The two main characters take turns playing each other’s legal representation, while the chorus acts as an incredibly biased slew of bystanders. The play asks, How do we forgive ourselves? How do we forgive each other? And should we?
Reservations required: please contact boxoffice@vassar.edu.
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
Families Weekend Reception
Frances Daly Fergusson Quad (Rain Location: Bridge for Laboratory Sciences)
You and your student are invited to stop by and sample some of the Hudson Valley’s bounty at a very casual Vassar Families Weekend Reception.
8:00 p.m.
Barefoot Fireflies Fire Show
Residential Quad
The Barefoot Fireflies is Vassar’s one and only circus and fire arts club! Our fall fire show is a great event for families to attend; we have juggling, dancing, spinning, and lots of flames! Come support Vassar students as we put on our first performance of the semester! For more information, email exec.barefootfireflies@gmail.com or visit pages.vassar.edu/barefoot-fireflies.
Inclement Weather Date: Sunday, September 29, 8 p.m.
Sunday, September 29, 2024
10:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.
Walking Tour of the Vassar Arboretum
Main Building
A ramble through central campus to learn about the history of the Vassar Arboretum, Andrew Jackson Downing’s campus landscape influence, information on some of the interesting trees in our 220 species collection, our native plants, and Ecological Preserves, plus enticing bits of campus history. The tour begins at the front entrance to Main Building. Hosted by Mark Schlessman, Emeritus Professor of Biology.
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
The Haiti Project: Sale of Haitian Art
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 The Loeb website.
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
James W. Palmer Gallery
College Center
Creativity is Contagious: The Artists for Rhinebeck Fine Art. Palmer Gallery Website
1:00 p.m.
Vassar College Women’s Rugby
Vassar Farm
Vassar vs. Fairfield
1:00 p.m.
Highlights Tour
The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
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.
Sunday Liturgy Celebration
The Chapel
The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practice invite all Families to join members of the Vassar Catholic Community and their friends as they celebrate the Sunday Liturgy. Singers, instrumentalists, lectors. or others who would like to participate in any way, please contact Linda Tuttle at lituttle-affiliate@vassar.edu. Reception to follow.
General Weekend Information
Find exciting offers and activities for Vassar families from our friends at Dutchess Tourism.
Check-In
Location: The Vogelstein Center for Drama & Film
Time: Saturday, September 28, 2024, 8:00 a.m.–12.00 p.m.
Campus Dining
Gordon Commons
Families are welcome to dine in Gordon Commons for $10/person/meal. Visit vassar.cafebonappetit.com for more information.
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
September 27–29, 2024
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
James W Palmer Gallery
September 27–29, 2024
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, September 29, 2024
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: Closed