KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Parents Association is expecting more than 2,000 parents and family members of UT students to attend its annual Family Weekend Sept. 25 – 27.
Highlights of Family Weekend include entertainment in the UC Down Under, tours of the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy and James A. Haslam II Business Building, as well as a historical tour of the campus. The deadline for registering for Family Weekend events is Friday, Sept. 11.
New to the Family Weekend lineup is the historical tour, which will take place at 8 p.m. on Friday. During this walking tour, participants will learn the background of historical buildings on campus and hear about a the great Volunteers who have shaped the university during the past two centuries.
The weekend kicks off at 3 p.m. Friday with check-in and a silent auction in rooms 221–224 in the University Center, benefiting the Parents and Families Fund, which allows the Division of Student Affairs to respond to unanticipated student needs without having to wait for the next budget cycle.
Also on Friday, the UT Bookstore will stay open until 8 p.m. and offer a 20 percent discount (some exclusions apply) to association members. Debby Schriver, author of “In the Footsteps of Champions: The University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers, the First Three Decades,” and UT Women’s Athletic Director Joan Cronan will meet fans and sign books from 4 to 7 p.m. at the bookstore.
On Saturday, the Parents Association will host the Big Orange Tailgate from 3 to 6 p.m. in Circle Park, for family members, students and UT faculty and staff before the Vols take on the University of Ohio Bobcats. The UT cheerleaders and members of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band will be on hand to provide entertainment while everyone enjoys the one-of-a-kind Southern barbecue celebration. During the tailgate, attendees will see the Vol Walk begin from its new starting location at the Torchbearer. The tailgate will make its way to Neyland Stadium for the 7 p.m. kickoff.
Sunday’s activities include the Lady Vol volleyball team taking on Ole Miss and a lantern-and-carriage tour around Old Gray Cemetery.
Throughout the weekend, Family Weekend registrants will enjoy discounted or free admission to many events and Knoxville venues, such as the Knoxville Museum of Art, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sunsphere.
Registration for Family Weekend is $30 for adults and $20 for UT students and children under 12. Registration fees include admission to most Friday evening programs as well as the Big Orange Tailgate, and a Family Weekend T-shirt. The cost does not include a ticket to Saturday’s football game. Football tickets must be purchased separately through the Family Weekend Group Football Ticket Window online. The Family Weekend Group Football Ticket Window is accessible once you have completed online registration for the weekend. To register, and for a complete schedule of events including locations, times and costs, visit http://parents.utk.edu/weekend.
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C O N T A C T :
Rebekah Winkler, UT Media Relations, (865-974-8304, rwinkler@utk.edu)
Emily Parker, UT Parents Association, (865-974- 4546, eparker@utk.edu)