Family Weekend Schedule

Family Weekend has a wonderful variety of activities for families to enjoy. We hope you will join us on campus September 18-20 for Family Weekend 2026.

All events are free and included in your Family Weekend registration unless otherwise stated in the individual event description.

Check out this year's Family Weekend 2026 draft schedule (pdf) to explore the events throughout the weekend. All events listed are confirmed, and more are added weekly!

Headquarters & Check-In

Day, time and location of Headquarters & Check-In
Day	Time	Location
Friday	8:00am-6:00pm	Tidewater, Sadler Center
Saturday	8:00am-6:00pm	Tidewater, Sadler Center

Welcome to Family Weekend Headquarters! This is your first stop for an unforgettable Family Weekend experience. Here’s what you can expect:

Check-In: Begin your Family Weekend adventure by checking in with our friendly volunteers. They’ll provide you with all the information and materials you need to make the most of your visit.
Ask Questions: Have any questions? Our knowledgeable volunteers are here to help! Whether you need directions, event details, or recommendations, feel free to ask.
Commemorative Photo Booth: Capture the memories of Family Weekend at our commemorative photo booth! Snap fun photos with your family and friends to remember this weekend for years to come.
More Activities: Discover additional activities and surprises we have in store for you throughout the weekend.

Check out the full schedule !

Open Classes

Friday, September 18

Want to experience a day in the life of a W&M student? Attend a class! You are welcome to attend any open class on the list on Friday, September 18, even if your student is not in the class. No registration required.

Please do not attend a class that is not on the list. The classes listed are those designated by the faculty to receive visitors.

Remember to observe appropriate classroom etiquette—turn off cell phones and refrain from having private conversations during class. Allow students registered in the course any available seats first; then seat others if open seats remain. If no seats remain open, please stand near the back of the room.

A list of open classes will be published one week before Family Weekend.

Featured Faculty Lectures

Saturday, September 19, in Commonwealth Auditorium, Sadler Center

Choose from a selection of presentations from nationally recognized faculty and staff across many disciplines. Experience life at W&M through the eyes of your student and enjoy one-hour presentations centered around W&M's Year of Civic Leadership.

Collapsible list
10:00am-11:00am, Jefferson on Rights, Happiness, & Persuasion: The Declaration in Context In this semiquincentennial year of the Declaration of Independence, Humanities Professor Adam Potkay has been giving many public lectures and talks on Jefferson's great work. Hear him discuss Jefferson's original version of the Declaration—which the Continental Congress cut by a third, much to Jefferson's dismay! Explore the work by tracing the concepts of natural rights, the etymology of happiness, and the impact of oratory from antiquity and the seventeenth century to Jefferson's day and onward. Read more from Professor Adam Potkay in his newest book, .
11:15am-12:15pm, Civic Leadership Starts Here: Inside W&M's We the Teachers Initiative Across the nation, K–12 teachers shape how young people understand history, engage complex issues, and participate in civic life. We the Teachers supports this work through a national initiative at �鶹�ƽ�� that brings teacher leaders together for immersive learning with museums, historic sites, and scholars. Families will see how educators use primary sources and place-based inquiry to design meaningful classroom experiences that foster critical thinking, informed dialogue, and active participation in a democratic society.
1:30pm-2:30pm, Living and Learning Democracy What is the role of citizens in a democratic society? How do democratic ideals connect to everyday life? How do citizens use the public sphere and public space as settings for open dialogue and collective action? In the new Democracy Scholars program, first-year students explore these questions together in a shared residential community – a microcosm of the democratic public sphere. Join Professor Rebekah Sterling to learn about �鶹�ƽ��’s newest living-learning community.
2:45pm-3:45pm, Wait ... Conflict Can Be Good? Conflict is an inevitable (and often dreaded) part of life. What is it that makes conflict bad? Does it have to be that way? Come hear from Emily Gerst, �鶹�ƽ��’s inaugural director of Conflict Resolution & Education on what makes our conflicts go wrong and the practical tools from mediation, psychology, and restorative practices that turn conflicts into real opportunities for individual growth and community change. This interactive workshop will explore personal conflict style, campus conflict dynamics, and conflict as a leadership practice.

Additional Registration

All events are free and included in your Family Weekend registration unless otherwise stated in the individual event description.

Some weekend events will require separate registration or tickets. In addition, some student-run events may ask for an additional fee at the door. We will post additional registration links below as they become available.

Questions? Contact familyweekend@wm.edu or call 757-221-2508.

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