Family Weekend Events

Roman Catholic Mass, Fr. Peter El Hachem presiding. Confession before or after Mass available by appointment by contacting pelhache@hamilton.edu. All are welcome. 

Stop by our Family Weekend Welcome & Information Center! Friday: 2 - 5 p.m.  Saturday: 9 - 2 p.m. 

Join us for Pet Therapy! Brought to you in partnership with Pet Partners of CNY. If inclement weather, we'll move to McEwen Cafe FoJo.

How does Hamilton allocate its donations? Could you do it better? Come play a one-of-a-kind roleplaying game that helps players understand the complexity of distributing funds across the college. Hosted by Common Ground. No preparation or prior role-playing experience required. Open to families and students. Refreshments will be served.

Join us at the Wellin Museum for a student-led tour! Wellin docents will lead a tour of the museum and the current exhibition Storytelling, featuring photography drawn from the collection. As a teaching museum, the Wellin engages the curiosity of students, faculty, and the community through our internationally recognized exhibitions and globally representative collection, introducing new ideas and perspectives to classroom conversations and beyond. 

Come explore research at Hamilton and beyond as students present their summer research findings in the sciences. Join us to learn about their work, meet the researchers, and enjoy refreshments. Research posters will remain on display throughout the weekend in the Taylor Science Center.

Levitt Summer Researchers will display their poster presentations showcasing their summer research projects. Fellows spend up to ten weeks over the summer conducting independent research on public affairs questions of their own choosing, working full-time in close collaboration with a faculty adviser. Students come from every concentration, and the posters represent the culmination of that work.

Cinema and Media Studies students showcase work in through video essays.    Presented by Professor of Cinema and Media Studies Scott MacDonald. 

Join Hillel at the Azel Backus House for Shabbat. We come together to celebrate our community, enjoy a Kosher meal, and to begin the Jewish day of rest. All are welcome. You don't need to be Jewish to join us for Shabbat.

Festive dinner in the sukkah at Chabad, kickoff of Family Weekend at Sands Chabad House, 108 College Street.

Everyone is invited to the Peters Observatory for a Family Weekend stargaze. We will be viewing the Moon and Saturn through our many telescopes, including our 20" PlaneWave telescope, the HCVCT. Please stop by and show your family our extraordinary campus observatory!Peters Observatory is located at 13 Peter's Lane, just 0.3 miles up the hill from the bronze map on College Hill Road. If you are walking, follow the sidewalk indicated by the blue dotted line on the map included with this announcement.

Classes without Quizzes: "This is Awkward" Professor Alex Plakias   Come experience a Hamilton course taught by Hamilton faculty, but without the quizzes! Special Assistant to the Dean, NY6 Fellow and Associate Professor of Philosophy, Alex Plakias will give a lecture on "This is Awkward." Coffee and breakfast refreshments will be served.

Stop by our Family Weekend Welcome & Information Center! Friday: 2 - 5 p.m.  Saturday: 9 - 2 p.m. 

Join former Hamilton College Natural Resources Manager Mike Mahanna as he talks about the trees at Hamilton. Hamilton's official arboretum features more than 2,200 inventoried campus trees and the 7.5-acre historic Root Glen, home to roughly 65–75 tree species (maple is the most dominant across campus), along with dozens of shrubs and specialty gardens such as the Hemlock Enclosure and the Grant Garden. Join us online by registering for a Zoom link or in person. See Directions and Parking (behind Ferguson House, Map #48). The Arboretum Saturday Speakers Series is free and open to the public. More information about the Hami...

Stop by the Career Center to learn how we support students in exploring careers, connecting with alumni, and preparing for life after Hamilton. Discover how Career Communities help students build connections and access resources, and see where Hamilton graduates go next. Families and students are welcome to drop in, ask questions, and enjoy a sweet treat or hot beverage!

Classes without Quizzes: Ocean Acidification   Come experience a Hamilton course taught by Hamilton faculty, but without the quizzes! Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Aaron strong will give a lecture on the acidification of our oceans. Coffee and breakfast refreshments will be served. 

Sukkot Yom Tov morning service at Sands Chabad House, 108 College Street.

Hamilton College is pleased to sponsor lunch for all visiting families. Families are invited to dine together at any of the campus dining halls—Commons, McEwen, or the Howard Diner—at no cost. Enjoy a delicious meal, experience student life firsthand, and make lasting memories on the Hill with your Continental. Commons Dining Hall Brunch: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Lunch: 1–4 p.m. Enjoy a wide variety of menu items, including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Commons offers an all-you-care-to-eat experience perfect for family gatherings. Howard D...

Join President Steven Tepper and members of his Senior Staff for an update on College happenings and plans.  

Festive lunch in the sukkah for day one of Sukkot at the Sands Chabad House, 108 College Street.

Men's Rugby match vs. Clarkson University

Join us in Couper Hall for an open house hosted by ALEX Advising! Stop by anytime during the two hours. ALEX Advisors will be available to chat with you. We'll have autumnal treats and resources for students and families to take with them.

Kids rock climbing is open to kids ages 2+; open to friends and families of Hamilton Family Weekend!

Join us at the Wellin Museum for a student-led tour! Wellin docents will lead a tour of the museum and the current exhibition Storytelling, featuring photography drawn from the collection. As a teaching museum, the Wellin engages the curiosity of students, faculty, and the community through our internationally recognized exhibitions and globally representative collection, introducing new ideas and perspectives to classroom conversations and beyond. 

Watch Live Full Schedule

Men's Club Soccer match vs. LeMoyne

Come and watch performances from all five of Hamilton's acapella groups (The Buffers, the Hamiltones, Special K, Tumbling After, and Duelly Noted) as we perform new songs, classics, and even some comedic skits!

Dessert and schmooze in the sukkah, open house for Family Weekend at Sands Chabad House, 108 College Street.

Join us at the Wellin Museum for a student-led tour! Wellin docents will lead a tour of the museum and the current exhibition Storytelling, featuring photography drawn from the collection. As a teaching museum, the Wellin engages the curiosity of students, faculty, and the community through our internationally recognized exhibitions and globally representative collection, introducing new ideas and perspectives to classroom conversations and beyond. 

Prizewinners from the Department of Literature and Creative Writing's annual creative writing prizes will read from their works. 

Members of 1812 Leadership Circle & Joel Bristol Associates, because of your special relationship with Hamilton, President Tepper cordially invites you to an exclusive reception during Family Weekend ’26 at his home located at 11 College Hill Road. You're welcome to bring your student; you and your family will enjoy this opportunity to connect with Hamilton's president. Whether you're attending the whole weekend, or would like to drop by just for the reception, please take a moment to let us know if you plan to attend this event.

Join La Vanguardia for our annual Latin Festival! Enjoy good food, music, and a space with your community!

Join the Department of Music with a joint concert by the Hamilton College Jazz Ensemble, Choir, and Orchestra.  

Come join Hillel for New York bagels and a complete brunch spread. Enjoy a shmear, some lox, and hang out with your family before they head home! Brunch will be held in the Sukkah, weather permitting. 

Sukkot Yom Tov morning service at Sands Chabad House, 108 College Street.

Women's Rugby matches

Festive lunch in the sukkah for day two of Sukkot. Sands Chabad House, 108 College Street.

Roman Catholic Mass, Fr. Peter El Hachem presiding. Confession before or after Mass available by appointment by contacting pelhache@hamilton.edu. All are welcome. 

International Student Services invites all international students to join us for a special social gathering celebrating the global community at Hamilton College. This event is designed to ensure that every international student feels connected and supported during Family Weekend, especially those whose families are unable to be on campus. Students will be joined by their International Friendship Program hosts, who serve as an extension of the Hamilton family by providing friendship, mentorship, and a welcoming connection to the local community....

The HQ is a brand-new platform developed exclusively for the Hamilton community, with an easy-to-use alumni directory, volunteering info, giving history, events, news, groups, and countless ways to connect. You have to see it for yourself! Stop by to check out the features and sign up.  

The HQ is a brand-new platform developed exclusively for the Hamilton community, with an easy-to-use alumni directory, volunteering info, giving history, events, news, groups, and countless ways to connect. You have to see it for yourself! Stop by to check out the features and sign up.