Family Weekend

October 24th - 26th

2025

Residential & Hospitality Services

Weingarten Center

Thank You Families, Friends, and Guests!

If you were able to join us for Family Weekend this year, we hope you enjoyed your time on-campus! (The perfect weather was an added benefit!) If you weren’t able to join us, we missed you!

It is not too early to save the dates for next year: October 24-26, 2025. General registration will open in July 2025, so please check back then for more details along with a tentative schedule of events. In the interim, you can review the schedule of events that were offered this year below.

Helpful Links for the Weekend

Tentative Schedule of Events and Workshops:

Click the drop down next to each event to see an overview of sessions and more information about each event! Check back often as this page is frequently updated in the event of any cancellations or changes.

Thursday, October 24th, 2024

Join Penn Rec and others for rock-climbing, yoga, yard/board games (including pickleball!) and access to our recovery room.

Location: Pottruck Fitness Center, 3701 Walnut Street

Time: 3:00pm – 6:00pm

Contact: dria-pennrec@pobox.upenn.edu

Friday, October 25th, 2024

Stop by the Houston Hall Lobby to ask any questions about the weekend, pick-up a Proud Penn Parent pin, and enjoy complimentary light refreshments and purchase merchandise thanks to Penn Student Agencies.

Location: Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street

Time: 10:00am – 6:00pm

Browse and shop for crafts and gifts from local artists and vendors. Located on Locust Walk between 36th and 37th streets.

Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm

The Weingarten Center and Wellness at Penn will co-present strategies and resources for managing academic stress, incorporating self-care into students’ busy schedules, and studying more efficiently and effectively to allow for more balanced and sustainable habits and routines. We invite students and their families to attend this interactive session in the beautiful Multipurpose Room in Gutmann College House.

Please note, this event is open to all and can be attended in person or virtually.

Location: Guttman College House, 211 S 40th St., Multipurpose Room

Time: 10:00am – 11:30am

Contact: Ryan Miller: 215-573-7347, marmill@upenn.edu

Watch the recording HERE

Directors Pamela Lampitt and Patrick Killilee invite you to join them for an information session about how Residential Services and Penn Dining support your students during their time at Penn. Presentation will be held at 11am.

Location: Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street, Ben Franklin Room

Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm

Contact: living@upenn.edu

Learn how Penn students enhance their career potential, earn academic credit, and deepen their understanding of the world on short- and long-term programs abroad. Penn Abroad will be joined by past program participants to share information and answer questions regarding semester and academic year programs, the Global Research & Internship Program, and Penn Global Seminars. Presentations will be at 1:00pm and again at 2:00pm.

Location: Perry World House, 3803 Locust Walk

Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Contact: goabroad@upenn.edu

Join Penn MSA for Friday prayers with two times available, 1pm & 2pm.

This event is open to all.

Location: ARCH 208, 3601 Locust Walk

Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Contact: board@pennmsa.com

Join us for the return of campus tours, departing from the Houston Hall Lobby at 1:45pm. However, please note that this is limited to 100 guests on a first-come first-serve basis.

Location: Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St.

Time: 1:45pm

Learn how Penn students enhance their career potential, earn academic credit, and deepen their understanding of the world on short- and long-term programs abroad. Penn Abroad will be joined by past program participants to share information and answer questions regarding semester and academic year programs, the Global Research & Internship Program, and Penn Global Seminars. Presentations will be at 1:00pm and again at 2:00pm.

Location: Perry World House, 3803 Locust Walk

Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Contact: goabroad@upenn.edu

Stop by to meet the career and pre-graduate/professional school advisors from Career Services. A presentation beginning at 2:15 will help you learn about the services the office provides, the “First Destinations” for our most recent graduating class, and how you can connect with Penn students if you have internship or post-graduate opportunities available with your employer. There will be plenty of time afterwards to chat with the individual advisors and get your questions answered.

Location: Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street, Bodek Lounge

Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Contact: Barb Hewitt – hewittb@upenn.edu

Please join ICA for a curator-led tour of ICA’s Fall 2024 exhibitions: Where I Learned to Look: Art from the Yard, Joanna Piotrowska: unseeing eyes, restless bodies, and Entryways: Nontsikelelo Mutiti. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about these exciting exhibitions and get insight from Denise Ryner, ICA’s Andrea B. Laporte Curator. Read more about the exhibitions at icaphila.org. ASL interpretation will be provided for this program. If you require any accessibility accommodations or have any questions about the program, please contact ctweedy@ica.upenn.edu. This tour is free for all—open to Penn students, alumni and their families! Read more about the current exhibitions here.

Please note, RSVP is requested for the tour.

While the tour is 2-3pm, the gallery will be open for view from 12-6pm.

Location: Institute of Contemporary Art, 118 S. 36th Street

Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Contact: ctweedy@ica.upenn.edu

Register HERE

Ethan Mollick is an Associate Professor at the Wharton School where he studies and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship and examines the effects of artificial intelligence on work and education. Join us as Dr. Mollick leads a discussion on the rise and importance of Large Language Models, how they are already being used to disrupt work and education, and what they might mean for our future

Please note, this event is intended for Wharton families. Registration is required.

Location: Jon M. Huntsman Hall, 3730 Walnut St, G06

Time: 2:30pm – 3:20pm

Register HERE

Join Penn Interim President J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD and a special faculty panel which will provide and inside view of Penn today. 

Please note, registration is required.

Registration confirmation and ID will be required for entry. No bags will be permitted inside Irvine Auditorium. For more information, contact the Office of Penn Parent and Family Giving.

Location: Irvine Auditorium, 3401 Spruce St.

Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm

Contact: 215-746-4646 or DARProudParents@dev.upenn.edu

Register HERE

Join Penn Athletics for the Family Weekend Tailgate in The Kickoff Zone at 5:30pm, followed by the Penn vs Yale game at 7pm! Family Weekend attendees will also receive complimentary access to Pottruck Health & Fitness Center and Fox Fitness Center.

Please note, registration and ticket are required.

Location: Kickoff Zone (enter via Ticket Office Driveway), 235 South 33rd St

Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Contact: tickets@pobox.upenn.edu

Register HERE

Join at Penn Hillel for Friday night services beginning at 5:45 and or Shabbat dinner beginning at 6:45 (please RSVP for dinner) in Falk dining. More information on Hillel’s Family Weekend events can be found on the Hillel Website

Please note, reservation is required.

Location: Penn Hillel, 215 South 39th Street

Time: 5:45pm – 9:00pm

Contact: 215-898-7391

To RSVP, please email lcarrington@pennhillel.org

Known for “acts that don’t seem humanly possible,” (The New York Times) Canada’s FLIP Fabrique returns with SLAM!, an electric Philadelphia premiere that amplifies the jaw-dropping acrobatics and theatrical flair of wrestling, taking inspiration from the sport in its many forms from around the world. For more info, click here.

Please note, tickets are required. Penn Students can get $10 tickets. All ages/families are encouraged to attend.

Location: Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut Street, Zellerbach Theater

Time: 8:00pm – 9:30pm

Contact: 215-898-3900

Purchase Tickets HERE

The University of Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1878 and is comprised of musicians from throughout the University community, primarily non-music majors.

This event is open to all.

Location: Irvine Auditorium, 3401 Spruce Street, Main Hall

Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm

Contact: pennmusic@sas.upenn.edu

Saturday, October 26th, 2024

Come enjoy Shabbat Services, a Kiddush (snacks) and Open House. Services will begin at 9:00AM followed by Kiddush at 11:00AM. Open House will continue until 1:00 PM.

Please note, this event is intended for Jewish families.

Location: Penn Hillel, 215 South 39th Street

Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm

Contact: 215-898-7391

Penn Cinema & Media Pioneers IX, 2024 Alumni talk about their careers as novelists, directors, producers, and media lawyers. Faculty faculty will talk about new books. Students will discuss internships and clubs. The symposium is free and open to the public. No registration required.

Location: Fisher-Bennet Hall, 3328 Walnut Street, Room 401

TIme: 9:30am – 5:30pm

Contact: 215-898-8782, ngentili@upenn.edu, pdecherney@gmail.com

Stop by the Houston Hall Lobby to ask any questions about the weekend, pick-up a Proud Penn Parent pin, and enjoy complimentary light refreshments and purchase merchandise thanks to Penn Student Agencies.

Location: Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street

Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm

Browse and shop for crafts and gifts from local artists and vendors. Located on Locust Walk between 36th and 37th streets.

Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is Penn’s home for daring contemporary art from all around the world. Visit ICA during Family Weekend 2024 and immerse yourself in ICA’s Fall 2024 exhibitions: Where I Learned to Look: Art from the Yard, Joanna Piotrowska: unseeing eyes, restless bodies, and Entryways: Nontsikelelo Mutiti. Admission is free! Read more about the current exhibitions here.

Location: ICA, 118 S. 36th Street

Time: 12:00pm – 6:00pm

Contact: ctweedy@ica.upenn.edu

Known for “acts that don’t seem humanly possible,” (The New York Times) Canada’s FLIP Fabrique returns with SLAM!, an electric Philadelphia premiere that amplifies the jaw-dropping acrobatics and theatrical flair of wrestling, taking inspiration from the sport in its many forms from around the world. For more info, click here.

Please note, tickets are required. Penn Students can get $10 tickets. All ages/families are encouraged to attend.

Location: Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut Street, Zellerbach Theater

Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Contact: 215-898-3900

Purchase Tickets HERE

Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life 175th Anniversary: Family & Friends Festival Join us as we celebrate 175 years of fraternity and sorority life at Penn with our Family & Friends Festival! Enjoy a festival filled with community, culture, and camaraderie as we honor the rich history and vibrant future of our Greek lettered organizations. Don’t miss this special occasion to connect with fellow members, alumni, and supporters!

Please note, this event requires an additional registration and ticket from OSFL. 

Location: Penn Commons, Outside of 3417 Spruce Street

Time: 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Contact: vpul-ofsl@pobox.upenn.edu

Register HERE

Hosted by Penn’s Performing Arts Council (PAC), Family Performing Arts Night (or FamPAN) serves up a sampling of performances from some of Penn’s 60+ student-run performing arts clubs. Join us to watch family and friends take the stage for this favorite annual showcase of music and dance, spoken word and theatre, bands and comedy – all in one!

Please note, tickets are required. Tickets will be available pre-sale and at the door.

Location: Irvine Auditorium, 3401 Spruce Street

Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Contact: platthouse@pobox.upenn.edu

Get Tickets HERE

Sunday, October 27th, 2024

Penn Parents and Family Members! You’re invited to our annual Family Weekend Breakfast here at the Penn Newman Center after the 9am Mass in our Church Hall. Our students and campus ministers are excited to share the joy of our Catholic community with all of you! Mass starts at 9am, Breakfast is immediately following at 10am

Location: Newman Center, 111 S 38th St.

Time: 9:00am – 11:30am

Contact: ptravers@saintsaj.org

Browse and shop for crafts and gifts from local artists and vendors. Located on Locust Walk between 36th and 37th streets.

Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Join Penn’s Hindu & Jain Association for their weekly pooja gathering.

This event is open to all.

Location: Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St, Golkin Room

Time: 10:00am – 11:00am

Contact: pennhja@gmail.com

Get to know other Penn families and Enjoy a Penn Hillel Bagel Brunch. Delicious bagels and shmears, and updates on Jewish life at Penn.

Please note, this event is inteded for Jewish families. Reservation and ticket are required

Location: Penn Hillel, 215 South 39th Street

Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm

Contact: 215-898-7391

Register HERE

Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is Penn’s home for daring contemporary art from all around the world. Visit ICA during Family Weekend 2024 and immerse yourself in ICA’s Fall 2024 exhibitions: Where I Learned to Look: Art from the Yard, Joanna Piotrowska: unseeing eyes, restless bodies, and Entryways: Nontsikelelo Mutiti. Admission is free! Read more about the current exhibitions here.

Location: ICA, 118 S. 36th Street

Time: 12:00pm – 6:00pm

Contact: ctweedy@ica.upenn.edu

One of the largest active flute choirs in the United States, Penn Flutes is open to flutists of virtually all levels. Repertoire spans a variety of genres from the Renaissance through Modern eras, and select members may be offered the opportunity to perform on piccolo as well as bass and alto flutes.

This event is open to all.

Location: Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street, Hall of Flags

Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm

Contact: pennmusic@sas.upenn.edu

 

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, beloved a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock is internationally renowned for its vibrant blend of gospel, R&B, jazz and lively ASL interpretation, all rooted in uplifting African American history and culture. Penn Students can obtain tickets for $10, open to all families and ages.

Please note, tickets are required.

Location: Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut Street, Zellerbach Theatre

Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Contact: 215-898-3900

Register HERE