Family Weekend 2019 is a few short days away. If you did not register online for Family Weekend, you can still join us this weekend! Family Weekend provides families with the opportunity to come together to connect, celebrate and make new memories, which is why our event schedule includes events for everyone. You can walk in and register on-site at Check-In, which begins at noon on Friday in Dewberry Lobby on the ground floor of the Johnson Center. Special events fill up quickly and tickets are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis (cash, credit card, or check accepted).
Donations for the Patriot Pantry will be collected at Check-In. We will sort and store the donations at the Mason Families Give Back event from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday in the Johnson Center Atrium. Most needed items are cereal, oatmeal cups (variety packs), chips (variety packs), fruit cups (peaches, mixed fruit, pears), dried fruit (raisins, dates, banana chips, cranberries), Hormel complete meals, pasta (variety), bathroom tissue, paper towels, and tuna (pouches and cans). Your support of our students is appreciated!
Join Mason Student Government, Patriot Activities Council, Resident Student Association and Mason Spirit Squad at Gold Rush on November 8 from 6-7 p.m. at EagleBank Arena. This Mason tradition is filled with games, giveaways and lots of Mason spirit and energy. The first 300 Family Weekend participants with their access pass and basketball ticket get a free Gold Rush t-shirt!
Below are some important notes to ensure a smooth check-in process:
Parking
Where can my family park during Family Weekend? You must print out and place the parking pass in the front dashboard of your vehicle. Families should park in Lot K. Parking is also available in the Rappahannock Parking Deck in the General Permit Area on Levels 1 & 2 (not Visitor). This pass is not valid at parking meters or in the Shenandoah or Mason Pond parking decks. We do NOT validate parking in any parking decks. To keep abreast of any street closures or construction that may impact your travel on campus, visit building.gmu.edu.
Check-In
When should my family plan to arrive?
Check-In begins at noon on Friday, November 8 and will be open until 6 p.m. Check-in will reopen at 8 a.m. on Saturday, November 9 and will close at 1 p.m. When you arrive at Check-In, you will receive your access passes, a packet with a schedule of events, and any special event tickets your family purchased. Your Mason student may pick up your family’s registration materials for you any time during the Family Weekend Check-In period. View the full Family Weekend schedule at sched.com
Are tickets needed for every event?
Your access pass grants you entrance to more than 50 Family Weekend events. Please wear it throughout the weekend, so we know you are part of Family Weekend! The schedule of events you will receive at Check-In lists which events are included in your access pass and which events require special event tickets. For a complete list of events, visit gmu.edu/weekend-schedule.
On-Site Ticket Sales
If you would like to attend any special events, we will sell a limited number of tickets for the following events during Check-In:
- Access Passes
- Family Weekend Kickoff Celebration (Friday, 5 p.m.)
- Men’s Basketball vs. Longwood (Friday, 7 p.m.)
- Mason on Location Bus Tours: Gunston (Saturday, 8:15 a.m.) and D.C. (Saturday, 8:45 a.m.)
- Mason Uncorked (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.)
- Mason’s Got Talent (Saturday, 6 p.m.)
- 5K Run/Walk (Sunday, 9 a.m.)
- Breakfast & Bingo with the Patriot (Sunday, 10 a.m.)
*Special events fill up quickly and tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. On-site registrations can be paid in cash, credit card, or check.
General Event Questions
What should we bring?
- Building and racing a cardboard boat at Regatta de Cardboard on Saturday? Pack swimwear.
- Planning to run or walk the 5K on Sunday? Pack athletic apparel.
- Donations for the Patriot Pantry! Most needed items are cereal, oatmeal cups (variety packs), chips (variety packs), fruit cups (peaches, mixed fruit, pears), dried fruit (raisins, dates, banana chips, cranberries), Hormel complete meals, pasta (variety), bathroom tissue, paper towels, and tuna (pouches and cans).
Can my student go to Family Weekend events even if our family can’t attend? Yes! All Mason students are welcome to attend Family Weekend events regardless if their family is registered. It is free for students to obtain an access pass, but they must come to Family Weekend Check-In to pick it up. Send a little love from home and make Family Weekend extra special for your student by ordering a care package from Campus Survival Kits! Learn more at campussurvivalkits.com/mason.
We look forward to welcoming you and your family for Family Weekend! Watch this video to see what Family Weekend 2019 has in store – youtube.com/watch?v=hEU3QdMnFjU.
Follow our George Mason Family Programs Facebook page for updates, mark attending on our Family Weekend 2019 Facebook event, view our schedule of events at masonfamilyevents.gmu.edu, and download our app at masonfw19.sched.com to create your custom schedule.
Questions about Family Weekend? Call (703) 993-2475 or email families@gmu.edu.
*To receive more articles like this straight to your inbox, sign up for the Mason Family Association at masonfamily.gmu.edu/mason-family-association.