With October color and cooler weather just around the corner, Lander University is preparing to host its 2018 Family Day from late-morning until almost midnight on October 27.
The annual Saturday event, now nearing its 30-year mark, will last approximately 12-13 hours and is open to all Lander students, faculty and staff, their families, and Lander alumni.
"Family Day is going to have a different look than in past years," said Mike Rapay, director of student activities and engagement. "We want people to be able to come to the event at any time of the day, stay as long as they want, and have more flexibility in choosing what they want to participate in."
Family Day kicks off at 11 a.m. with a three-hour picnic lunch, highlighted with performances by Lander cheer and dance, and a concert by Honey County, an up-and-coming female country music trio.
Mid-day activities will feature a volleyball match at 2 p.m., and The Incredibles 2 movie showing at 4 p.m.
And if you want to make a full day of it, late afternoon/evening includes dinner on your own around town at 5 p.m., a men's soccer match at 7 p.m., and the big fireworks finale at the Jeff May Complex after the match.
"I'd like to see at least 300-400 for this year's event," Rapay said. "And going forward, I hope we can expand this event even further."
The directive for Family Day began in the late 1980s with what was initially called Lander College Parents' Weekend. Then as now, its focus was to give parents a glimpse of college life through the eyes of their sons and daughters and to get to know some of the university faculty, staff and administration.