Family Weekend 2026

Allen Dining Hall Grand Reopening
11 a.m. | Allen Dining Hall
Discover new stations, exciting flavors, and a fresh dining experience while enjoying games and activities with prizes and giveaways.

Parents Council Meeting – Invitation Only
2:30-3:30 p.m. 
The Shenandoah University Parents Council serves as a bridge between families and the university. Through philanthropic support, volunteer leadership, and active engagement, the Parents Council helps sustain the traditions, programs, and student-centered opportunities that make a Shenandoah education extraordinary. Want to learn more or are interested in joining the Parents Council? Visit su.edu/parentscouncil or email parentscouncil@su.edu.

Welcome Table
3-5 p.m. | Brandt Student Center
Swing by the Brandt Student Center welcome table to gather information about weekend activities and enter a raffle to win Shenandoah swag! Register using this Google Form.

Collections for Food Drive
3- 5 p.m. | Brandt Student Center
Help Buzzy’s Food Pantry feed people in need right here at Shenandoah University. Bring donations (canned goods, individually packaged milk/juice/snacks, pasta, ramen, mac & cheese, and crackers or donate using our Amazon Wishlist or monetary donation form.

Goody Bag Packing
3-5 p.m. | Brandt Student Center
Create a personalized care package filled with a variety of snacks (courtesy of the Parents Council) to be delivered to students during finals week!

James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center (WAEC) Expansion Groundbreaking
4:30 p.m. | Wilkins Athletics & Events Center
Celebrate the next chapter of the Wilkins Athletics & Events Center! This expansion will support student-athletes across 23 NCAA Division III teams with dedicated locker rooms for the football program and additional space for track and field and cross country.

Parents Council Reception
5-6 p.m. | Wilkins Athletics & Events Center
Start your homecoming and family weekend off with a casual reception in the Wilkins Athletics & Events Center where you can meet current Parents Council members, chat with senior administrators, and enjoy light refreshments. Let us know you plan on coming using this Google Form.

Faculty & Guest Artist Recital (Akemi Takayama, violin & Richard Masters, piano)
7:30 p.m. | Goodson Chapel-Recital Hall
Join us for an extraordinary collaborative recital featuring the brilliant violinist Akemi Takayama and acclaimed guest pianist Richard Masters (Virginia Tech faculty). Renowned for their individual technical prowess and deep musical sensitivity, these two exceptional artists join forces for a powerhouse performance that promises to inspire and captivate.

Homecoming Kickoff
7:30-10 p.m. | PHLSB Lawn
Celebrate homecoming with an evening of food trucks, a Mario Kart video game tournament, picture frame craft,  lawn games, s’mores, fireworks, and a concert featuring Enslow!

Coffee Walk
9-10:30 a.m. | Meet at the Brandt Student Center
Meet at the Brandt Student Center to walk with other families along the Winchester Green Circle Trail and visit the city’s charming coffee shops along the way.

Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre
9 a.m. & 10 a.m. | Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre
Join Elizabeth Albert, Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre Managing Director, on a tour of Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre. See how the magic comes together in the scene and costume shops and get a sneak peek at the set for the fall mainstage musical, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” 

SU FAQ x Tailgate
10 a.m.-noon | Wilkins Athletics and Events Center Lawn
Refresh yourself on resources available to students with informational tables and ask questions of staff. Families attending will be able to enter a raffle for Shenandoah swag. Questions? Contact Tamiya Earley at tearley@su.edu

Homecoming & Family Weekend Tailgate
11 a.m. | James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center | Onsite registration – Adults $10; Children 12 & Under Free
Get into the game day spirit at the Homecoming tailgate! Purchase an array of food from local food trucks, enjoy a drink at the beer and wine garden, jam to live music, and let the kids play before the Hornets take the field.
Registered guests receive a commemorative Homecoming & Family Weekend gift, a sweet-treat pass, and two drink tickets for the beer and wine garden. Plus, registered alumni receive an exclusive alumni gift to mark the occasion!

Homecoming Football Game vs. Hampden-Sydney
1 p.m. | Glo Fiber Field at Shentel Stadium
Wear your SU red and show your Hornet pride at the Homecoming football contest against Hampden-Sydney!
To ensure event safety and expedite entry into the Homecoming football game, only clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags no larger than 12″x 6″x12″ (or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag) will be allowed into Glo Fiber Field/Shentel Stadium on Saturday. This applies to all individuals entering Shentel Stadium. Exceptions for medical reasons may be considered. Please reach out to Campus Safety (safety@su.edu) prior to the event for consideration of your request.

Saturday Vigil Mass & Reception 
5 – 6:30 p.m. | Goodson Chapel-Recital Hall
Come to Catholic Mass on campus to fulfill your Sunday obligation! Afterwards, join the Catholic Campus Ministry staff, student leaders, and members for a reception.  All are welcome! Contact Michael Filamor michael.filamor@su.edu for more information.

POSTPONED: Women’s Soccer vs. Averett
6 p.m. | Glo Fiber Field at Shentel Stadium

Symphony Orchestra Concert
7:30 p.m. | Armstrong Concert Hall | Tickets, $18; purchase online
Join the Symphony Orchestra for an evening of orchestral masterworks that span the elegance of the Classical era, the drama of early Romanticism and the virtuosic brilliance of the 20th century. The program opens with Carl Maria von Weber’s exhilarating “Overture to Der Freischütz,” a cornerstone of German Romanticism whose vivid orchestration and dramatic storytelling helped shape the future of opera and concludes with Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 101 in D Major, known as “The Clock.” Together, these works offer a captivating journey through some of classical music’s most imaginative and enduring musical voices.

Murder Mystery
7 p.m. | Smith Library

Think you can spot a liar? Put on your detective hats and test your sleuthing skills at an evening of suspense, intrigue, and friendly competition.

The scene is set, a mysterious crime has occurred, and everyone is a suspect. After listening to the dramatic opening story, you and your family will step into the role of lead investigators. Interview the suspects face-to-face, grill them on their alibis, probe for motives, and figure out who is telling the truth—and who is hiding a killer secret. For more information, contact  Kristy Fedyk at kristy.fedyk@su.edu.

University Family Chapel with Eucharist
11:30 a.m.-noon | Goodson Chapel-Recital Hall
Each Sunday during the academic year, students, employees, families, and the Winchester community worship together at a dynamic, ecumenical service. This special service for Family Weekend at 11:30 a.m. combines ancient and emerging, diverse and unified, safe and challenging, artful and thoughtful, playful and profound elements.

Family Lunch with the Chaplain
12:15 p.m. | Allen Dining Hall
Immediately following Sunday Chapel, please join Chaplain DeLyn Celec and her family at the Allen Dining Hall for lunch and conversation. If you do not have a meal plan, Spiritual Life will cover the cost of your lunch. Questions? Contact DeLyn Celec at dcelec@su.edu.

Women’s Volleyball vs Montgomery College-Rockville
11 a.m. |Wilkins Athletics & Events Center

Guest Artist Recital (An Tran, guitar)
2:30 p.m. | Goodson Chapel-Recital Hall
Experience an afternoon of captivating artistry with Vietnamese guitarist An Tran. Praised by The Boston Globe for his “subtle, graceful virtuosity” and by Soundboard magazine for an “exquisite sense of space, touch, and mood,” Tran approaches performance with purpose, guided by a belief in music as a shared human experience. Known for his expressive musicianship and innovative approach to the classical guitar, Tran presents a compelling program that blends technical brilliance with emotional depth, showcasing the instrument’s remarkable range and beauty.

Women’s Volleyball vs Richard Bland College
3 p.m. | Wilkins Athletics & Events Center

Club Soccer vs Towson University
5 p.m. | Glo Fiber Field at Shentel Stadium