Families Weekend
Friday, September 25, 2026
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
The Patient Looks Back: Portraits of My Therapist
Joyce Polance
12:00–6:00 p.m.
Haitian Art Event
Main Building / College Center, Multi-Purpose Room (CC223)
1:00–5:00 p.m.
Check-In
College Center / North Atrium
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.
3:00–4:00 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.
Dinner
On your own
We encourage families to check out the local dining scene for dinner! Reservations are suggested. Dine with your student in Gordon Commons for $13 per person or use one of the student’s four guest swipes.
Shabbat Services and Dinner at the Campus Sukkah
Services: 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Dinner: 7:30–9:00 p.m.
Campus Sukkah on Noyes West Lawn (close to Vassar’s main Dining Hall, Gordon Commons)
Rain location: The Bayit, 51 Collegeview Ave
Jewish Life at Vassar and Vassar Jewish Union (VJU) invite all students and their families to Shabbat Services led by VJU students followed by a home cooked vegetarian dinner. You are welcome to joinfor services, for dinner, or for both. Please RSVP by Sept. 19.
Dinner: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Chabad House (150 College Ave)
Rain location: The Bayit, 51 Collegeview Ave
Join Vassar Chabad Student Community and Affiliate Advisors Rabbi Daniel and Rebbetzin Dalia for a home cooked Shabbat dinner. Join us to experience the delight and joy your students experience every week. All dietary requirements accommodated. Please RSVP by Sept. 19.
Saturday, September 26, 2026
8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Check-In
Bridge for Laboratory Sciences
Coffee, tea, and other refreshments will be served from 8:00–11:00am
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 (Krystle J. McLaughlin), 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, Kelli Duncan, 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
The Patient Looks Back: Portraits of My Therapist
Joyce Polance
10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Haitian Art Event
Main Building / College Center, Multi-Purpose Room
10:30–11:30 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.
Lunch
On your own
We encourage families to check out the local dining scene for lunch! Reservations are suggested. You may also dine with your student in Gordon Commons for $12 per person or use one of the student’s four guest swipes.
12:00 p.m.
Women’s Lacrosse Alumni Game
Prentiss Sports Complex
1:00–3:00 p.m.
Walking Tour of the Preserve at Vassar
The Vassar Environmental Cooperative at the Vassar Barn
50 Vassar Farm Lane
The Preserve at Vassar is a 500 acre multi-use space located directly across from the main campus. Once the site of the student-run Vassar Farm, the Preserve is now used as a field station by Vassar classes to learn from the land and is a center for environmental education in Poughkeepsie. Join us for a guided hike to learn more about the many programs taking place at the Preserve and explore some of our trails! The hike will cover 0.5 miles of trail with frequent stops and some hills. Participants should wear sturdy shoes and bring a refillable water bottle.
3:15–4:30 p.m.
Walking Tour of the Vassar Arboretum
Main Building
Wander through central campus to hear about the history of the Vassar Arboretum, to encounter some of the interesting trees in our 220 species collection, and to learn how we are adapting to climate change. The tour includes stories about the role of trees in student life 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.
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 p.m
Men’s Lacrosse Alumni Game
Prentiss Sports Complex
3:00 p.m
Men’s Soccer vs Ithaca
Prentiss Sports Complex
4:30–5:30 p.m.
Families Weekend Cocktail 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 light refreshments by Twisted Soul. Be sure to check out the dining scene for dinner!
5:30 p.m.
Dinner
On your own
We encourage families to check out the local dining scene for dinner! Reservations are suggested. You may also dine with your student in Gordon Commons for $13 per person or use one of the student’s four guest swipes.
9:30–11:00 p.m.
Late Night @ Gordon Commons
Gordon Commons
The Vassar Dining team invites you to a fun flavorful evening of Late Night snacks. Families are welcome to join in for just $12 per person (payable at the door—sorry, no cash), or by using one of the 4 guest swipes students receive each semester.
Sunday, September 27, 2026
9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Families Weekend Brunch
Gordon Commons
The Vassar Dining team hosts an all-you-care-to-eat brunch with traditional favorites. $16 per person paid at the door (sorry, no cash; guest swipes are not an option for brunch).
9:00–11:00 a.m.
Sunday Bagel Brunch with Chabad
Chabad House, 150 College Avenue
Enjoy a traditional Jewish Sunday experience of Bagels and lox with Vassar Chabad Student Community and Affiliate Advisors Rabbi Daniel and Rebbetzin Dalia Sanoff. Please RSVP by Sept. 19
9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Haitian Art Event
Main Building / College Center, Multi-Purpose Room
11:00 a.m.
Women’s Rugby vs Marist
The Preserve at Vassar
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
The Patient Looks Back: Portraits of My Therapist
Joyce Polance
1:00–2:00 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.)
1:30 p.m.
Roman Catholic Mass
Vassar Chapel
Hosted by the Vassar Catholic Community. All are welcome.
2:00 p.m.
Men’s Rugby vs Fairfield
The Preserve at Vassar
General Weekend Information
Exciting offers and activities for Vassar families from our friends at Destination Dutchess (formerly Dutchess Tourism)
Check-in Dates and Locations
Friday, September 25, 2026
- 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
- Place: College Center (North Atrium) / Main Building
Saturday, September 26, 2026
- 8:00 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Place: Bridge for Laboratory Sciences
Campus Dining
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
September 25–27, 2026: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
James W. Palmer Gallery
September 25–28, 2026: 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, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Sunday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.