Family Weekend: October 18-20, 2024
Please check back periodically for more information on the 2024 schedule! Take a look at the sample schedule below to view last year’s programs.
If you have questions, email families@gmu.edu or call (703) 993-2475.
2023 Schedule of Events
| Event Title | Location | Time (ET) | Description | Virtual Option Available | Additional Cost? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Weekend Check-In | Johnson Center, Dewberry Lobby | 11:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. | Check-in and get your Family Weekend Pass to enjoy all the events of the weekend! | No | N/A |
| Family Weekend Welcome | Dewberry Hall | 3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Join us for the official kick-off welcome for the 2023 Family Weekend!! | No | No |
| Faculty Spotlight | Dewberry Hall | 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. | Engage with Dr. Mary Ellen O’Toole who served as an FBI agent for nearly 28 years. For more than half of that time, she worked in the Bureau’s prestigious Behavioral Analysis Unit, which is the unit featured in the hit TV series, Criminal Minds. | No | No |
| Faculty Spotlight | Dewberry Hall | 4:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. | Professor Mary (Missy) Cummings was one of the U.S. Navy’s first female fighter pilots. Her research interests include the application of artificial intelligence in safety-critical systems, assured autonomy, human-systems engineering, and the ethical and social impact of technology. She is a Professor in the George Mason University College of Engineering and Computing and is the director of the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC). She is an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Fellow, and recently served as the senior safety advisor to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. | No | No |
| Faculty Spotlight | Dewberry Hall | 5:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. | Dr. Daigo Shishika is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at George Mason University. His work with other faculty and students currently centers creating lighter-than-air autonomous balloons – “blimps” – that operate with remote control. Students will be present to showcase these blimps following the lecture. | ||
| October Super Smash Bros, Table Tennis, and Corn Hole Tournament | The HUB (Corner Pocket) | 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. | Join us for a night full of fun tournaments of Super Smash Bros, Table Tennis, and Corn Hole for opportunities to win prizes! To register for these events, contact Colin Peacock at cpeacoc@gmu.edu | No | No; To register for these events, contact Colin Peacock at cpeacoc@gmu.edu |
| Women’s Volleyball | Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC) | 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. | Support the Women’s Volleyball team as they take on Loyola University Chicago | No | No |
| Mind-Bending Stories with Ruth Joffre | Fenwick Library (2nd Floor Reading Room) | 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. | Join us for our 25th Annual Fall for the Book event by listening & learning from author Ruth Joffre. | No | No |
| Shabbat Dinner | Johnson Center, Bistro | 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. | Join Mason Hillel and Mason Chabad for Shabbat Services and Dinner! | No | No |
| Mason Madness | Eagle Bank Arena | 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. | Make EagleBank Arena rock by kicking off our Basketball season with opportunities to win prizes! | No | No |
| Fairfax Library Foundation Presents: A Life in Books & Film: Nick Hornby | Stacy C. Sherwood Center, 3740 Old Lee Hwy, Fairfax | 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. | Nick Hornby’s award winning books and screenplays have thrilled readers and movie goers for over twenty-five years. From About a Boy to the cult-classic High Fidelity to Fever Pitch, his novels and memoirs have made their way to the silver screen and television. Hornby’s career has spanned genres with his trademark blend of humor and unsentimental emotion, including his Oscar-nominated screenplays for Brooklyn and An Education, and Emmy-winning work on the short form series State of the Union. His newest book, Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius, is a warm, and entertaining reflection on art, creativity, and the unlikely similarities between Victorian novelist Charles Dickens and modern American rock star Prince. Hornby, in conversation with writer Stephen Goodwin, will discuss his remarkable career and the power of art in this thoughtful and entertaining conversation. | No | No; Register for a FREE ticket here |
| Event Title | Location | Time (ET) | Description | Virtual Option Available | Additional Cost? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Weekend Check-In | HUB 3rd floor | 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | If you didn’t checkin Friday, check-in Saturday and get your Family Weekend Wristband to enjoy all the events of the weekend! | No | N/A |
| Mason Nation Thriving Together 5K | Patriot Circle | 8:00am-11:00am | Interested in running our annual 5K to help fundraise for a special cause here at Mason? Sign up and participate in the Mason Nation Thriving Together 5K. | Yes | Yes. You can register here |
| Mason Observa-TOUR-y | Shenandoah Parking Deck Roof and Research Hall | 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. | Experience the partial solar eclipse with the College of Science. Peak time of when the moon will block the most sunlight will be at 2pm. There will also be tours of Mason’s Observatory happening in Research Hall across the street! | No | No |
| Great Falls Hike | HUB 3rd Floord | 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Buses to leave promptly at 8:45 | Join us and Outdoor Adventures for a beautiful fall hike at the incredible Great Falls. Hike along the Potomac with your family and enjoy some beautiful views along with it. | No | Yes ($25/ per person) |
| Historic Fairfax Bus Tour | HUB 3rd floor | 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Buses to leave promptly at 8:45 | Join us for our historic Fairfax Bus Tour led by a historical tour guide to the Fairfax Historic Courthouse, Fairfax Museum, and Historic Blenheim Estate! Group will be split into separate rotating timed tours. | No | Yes ($25/ per person) |
| Gunston Hall Tour | HUB 3rd floor | 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Buses to leave promptly at 8:45 | Go visit George Mason’s historical home, Gunston Hall. Learn about the history of our namesake and enjoy the property in the peak of fall. | No | Yes ($25/ per person) |
| Fairfax Fall Festival | Downtown Fairfax | 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | Enjoy the Fairfax City Fall Festival and stop by the New Student and Family Programs tent for some goodies and enjoy vendors from all over Northern Virginia | No | No |
| Craft Hour- Design Your Own Dog Mask | Downtown Fairfax, Old Town Hall | 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Author Joan Waites will take you on a magical quest with Bo, the fluffy black dog, as he eagerly explores the New Mexico desert alongside his owner, Georgia O’Keeffe. Unbeknownst to Bo, a clever lizard watches his every move as he sets off to find vibrant flowers in the seemingly barren desert. Could the desert hold hidden treasures that will become the subjects of Georgia’s breathtaking paintings? Immerse yourself in their enchanting journey as you decorate a wearable Bo dog mask, and find inspiration in unexpected places. | No | No |
| Success Coaching: Patriot Families Edition | The HUB; Meeting Rooms 3,4,5 | 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Join Student Success Coaching to learn how to support your students, direct them to mason resources, and participate in a mock coaching experience. Participants will leave with an honorary Success Coach certificate! | No | No |
| Craft Hour- Decorate an áo Dài | Downtown Fairfax, Old Town Hall | 10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. | Decorate your own áo dài, make butterflies, and enjoy a yummy treat at this fun and crafty event with Hanh Bui, author of The Yellow Áo Dài. | No | No |
| Mason Family- Blood Drive with iNova | HUB 3rd floor | 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. | You don’t have to be a doctor to save a life. Donate blood during the course of our Mason Families Give Back program. Schedule an appointment ahead of time by going tohttps://bit.ly/GMU1014 | No | No |
| Start Your Own Graphic Novel Series | Downtown Fairfax, Old Town Hall (Downstairs) | 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. | Jonathan Roth, creator of the Rover and Speck graphic novel series, takes kids aged 6-11 on a ride through creating their own characters and putting them in their own graphic novels. | No | No |
| Making Comics with Laura Lee | Downtown Fairfax, Old Town Hall (Downstairs) | 1:00 p.m.-2:00p.m. | Draw along as Laura Lee Gulledge demonstrates her creative process by drawing live an original character + building a story world co-created on the spot with participants. Plus, learn how to tell your own short comic stories in a mini comic zine format. | No | No |
| Mason Families Give Back | The HUB (Various Locations) | 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. | Give back to the Mason community by participating in a variety of service activities hosted by campus and community partners! | Yes | N/A |
| Women’s Volleyball | Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC) | 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. | Support the Women’s Volleyball team as they take on Loyola University Chicago | No | No |
| Carter School Family Feud | The HUB; Meeting Rooms 3,4,5 | 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. | Join the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution for a fun afternoon of Family Feud! Prizes and food will be provided. | No | No |
| Pickleball with Mason Recreation | The RAC | 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. | Join Mason Recreation for an evening of Pickleball. Snacks provided! | No | No |
| Mason’s Got Talent: Student Performance Showcase | HUB Ballroom | 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. | Enjoy an evening full of live performances from Mason students! | No | Yes |
| Men’s Soccer | George Mason Stadium | 7:00 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. | Support the Men’s Soccer team as they take on University of Dayton | No | Yes (Special Family Weekend price at $5 a person) – Purchase Here |
| Mason by Moonlight | Johnson Center, South Plaza | 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. | Experience Mason under the stars with an assortment of activities hosted by the College of Engineering and Computing and College of Visual and Performing Arts. | No | No |
| Jazz4Justice: Celebrating the Legacy of Anthony Maiello | Center for the Arts | 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. | In our 22nd annual Jazz4Justice we will team up with Legal Services of Northern Virginia to continue our mutual mission to do good in the community. We are honored to have Distinguished Professor of Music Anthony Maiello as our special guest conductor. We will also perform several of Professor Maiello’s arrangements for Jazz Ensemble including “The George Mason Shuffle.” Proceeds from the evening benefit LSNV to continue its mission of service to the Northern Virginia community as well as providing financial support for the Mason Jazz Studies department for scholarships, trips, recordings and student projects. | No | Student tickets are free Click here to purchase additional tickets |
| Event Title | Location | Time (ET) | Description | Virtual Option Available | Additional Cost? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stay Connected: Breakfast and Bingo | The HUB Ballroom | 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Enjoy breakfast on your final day of Family Weekend with opportunities to win prizes and learn how to stay involved in the Mason community post Family Weekend. | No | Yes ($20/ per person) |
| Women’s Soccer | George Mason University Stadium | 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. | Support the George Mason Women’s Soccer team as they take on The George Washington University | No | Yes (Special Family Weekend price at $5 a person) – Purchase Here |
Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is Family Weekend?Since 2003, Mason has welcomed students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, families and chosen families, and supporters to campus for Family Weekend. At Mason, we believe family is made up of many different people – parents, siblings, cousins, roommates, classmates, best friends, significant others, children, and more. Family Weekend is an opportunity to come together to connect, have fun, celebrate, and make new memories, which is why our schedule includes events for people of all ages. Family Weekend features several events that showcase the best of Mason and all it has to offer, including a signature athletic event, faculty spotlights, student performances, bus tours, service opportunities, and much more!
Family Weekend is October 18-20, 2024. Events begin Friday afternoon, so make plans to arrive early so you don’t miss out on the fun!
Pricing
How much does it cost to participate in Family Weekend?Mason student admission is FREE! Pricing for family members and guests has not yet been released for 2024.
- Entrance to all indicated (no-additional fee) on-campus Family Weekend activities (excludes Mason on Location area tours)
- Free parking on the Fairfax campus for the weekend
- Family Weekend T-Shirt for ALL participants
- A Family Weekend Mug (1 per family)
At least three Mason on Location area tours will be offered over Family Weekend. Pricing will vary among the different tours. To be announced.
Yes! Arrive early to the bus tour check-in that you hope to attend. If there are open spots, we will be able to take Visa and Mastercard payments on-site.
Registration
How do I register for Family Weekend?Registration will open in the Summer (to be announced). Registration will be done through the Mason Family Connection. Please note that the Mason on Location area tours fill up quickly and tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
The on-campus Family Weekend activities are free for Mason students, but they must register online in advance. They can register on their own or you are able to register them as part of your family by adding a “Mason Student Ticket” to your cart. If they want to attend a Mason on Location area tour or any of the other additional cost events, those fees apply.
Mason faculty/staff tickets can be purchased through the Mason Family Connection. Visit gmu.CampusESP.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, click “Are you faculty? Log in here” and sign in with your Mason credentials. For detailed pricing information, please review the FAQs above.
Yes! You can log back in any time before Family Weekend registration closes. Once registration closes, you will no longer be able to make changes to your registration. However, you will be able to register additional people as walk-ins when you arrive for the weekend. Please note that Family Weekend fees are non-refundable.
All Family Weekend fees are non-refundable.
Yes! We will be completing walk-in registrations and can accept Visa or Mastercard payments.
There is an accommodation question on the Family Weekend registration form. Please mark the type of accommodation you are requesting, provide specific details in the open text box, and we will do our best to meet your needs.
Visiting Campus
Where can I find information about COVID protocols?All campus visitors are expected to follow the University’s public health and safety precautions and guidelines, as outlined on our Safe Return to Campus website at https://www2.gmu.edu/Safe-Return-Plan.
There are multiple ways to get to the Fairfax campus. Visit https://masonfamily.gmu.edu/where-to-stay/ for directions, entrance locations, and a campus map.
We encourage you to arrive on Friday so you can enjoy the many welcome events planned for that day. Events are scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, so we invite you to stay for the entire weekend! If you need overnight accommodations, take advantage of the discounted rates offered by our Marriott partner hotels in Fairfax by visiting MasonFamilyEvents.gmu.edu/Where-To-Stay.
Lot K and the Rappahannock Parking Deck will be available to park in throughout the weekend. We will have staff and signage on-site to direct you. A parking pass is required, which you can download for free and print here! You must print it and display it on your vehicle’s front dashboard throughout the weekend. You also have the option to park in the other parking decks on campus at your own expense. If you have an ADA decal or license and display the Family Weekend parking pass, you can park in any ADA parking spot on campus throughout the weekend.
GMU is growing and construction is happening in and around our Fairfax campus. Keep up with the latest traffic news by following @MasonParking on Twitter or visiting building.gmu.edu.
If you need overnight accommodations, take advantage of the discounted rates offered by our Marriott partner hotels in Fairfax by visiting MasonFamilyEvents.gmu.edu/Where-To-Stay.
Check-In opens on Friday, October 18 (time TBA) in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall Lobby. Check-In will also be available on Saturday morning. Your Mason student may pick up your registration materials at any point during the Check-In period.
Check-In will reopen at on Saturday, October 19 in the HUB 3rd Floor. Your Mason student may pick up your family’s registration materials for you at any point during the Check-In period.
Yes! All Mason students are welcome to attend Family Weekend events regardless of if their family is registered to attend. The on-campus Family Weekend activities are free for Mason students, but they must register online. If they want to attend a Mason On Location area tour or any of the other additional cost events, those would not be free.
Yes! If you and your family wish to attend Family Weekend but are not registered, we will be opening on-site walk-in registration during both our check-in times (Friday afternoon and Saturday morning). We accept Visa and Mastercard payments.
Events
Are there attendance limits for Family Weekend events?Yes, some of our on-campus activities and Mason on Location area tours will be limited. If tickets for a program you are interested in run out, you may arrive early to inquire about last-minute open spots or a waitlist. Additionally, view our activity guides on our Mason Family Website to see what else there is to do in the area.
When your party was registered for Family Weekend, you were able to purchase tickets to events until they hit capacity. The list of events you are pre-registered for can be found in your confirmation email/receipt. If you pre-registered for an event such as Mason’s Got Talent, Breakfast and Bingo, or one of the Mason On Location Tours, that simply means that you and your family are guaranteed admission. There may be extra tickets to these specific events available for purchase on the day of. Either way, other events are open events for you and your family to enjoy!
If your family is not pre-registered for one of the ticketed events, you may still show up. Those present who were able to pre-register will be admitted first and everyone else will be placed on a waitlist as our staff manages event capacity. You are not guaranteed admission for an event that you did not pre-register for, as the waitlist admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. We will take payment on-site for these events.
Yes! All events that do not indicate an additional ticket purchase are open and do not require you to pre-register.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. at EagleBank Arena, and Mason Madness will begin at 7 p.m.
EagleBank Arena is committed to the well-being of fans, guests, employees, players, and performers. Please review the new health and safety protocols prior to your first visit to the arena at www.eaglebankarena.com.
- A to Z guide: www.eaglebankarena.com/article/eaglebank-arena-a-to-z
- Security policy: www.eaglebankarena.com/article/security-policy
- COVID-19 safety: www.eaglebankarena.com/article/safe-return-to-eaglebank-arena
Accessibility
Is there accessible parking?Yes. If you display your Family Weekend Parking Pass AND ADA parking decal/tag/plate, you can park in ANY accessible parking spot on campus during Family Weekend.
Yes. Visit https://www.eaglebankarena.com/article/accessible-seating for information on accessible services at EagleBank Arena.
The New Student and Family Programs team is hard at work and can be reached Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time. If your family has a question or needs assistance, reach out to us via email at Families@gmu.edu, phone at (703) 993-2475, or our live chat at MasonFamily.gmu.edu.