Family Weekend Events

Make plans to join us on the Hill for a full weekend of events for Hamilton families.  We recommend that you make reservations as soon as possible as local hotels fill quickly during major campus events. You may refer to Hamilton’s list of local and regional places to stay.

Stop by our Family Weekend Welcome & Information Center! Specific times to be announced soon.

Coffee with the Writing Center for families.

What can we see about Star Wars when we look at it through religious studies lenses? Join the Religious Studies Faculty for a panel discussion on this and related questions--and bring your own questions! All are welcome; lunch will be provided.

Join us for Pet Therapy, in partnership with Pet Partners of CNY. Inclement Location: KJ Commons

Drop in time for families to learn more about International and Language Study, co-hosted by the Office of Global Learning and the Language Center. 

Come meet the offices that support Engaged Learning at Hamilton through experiential learning, public affairs, and community engagement. Visit the Office of Experiential Learning (KJ 248) Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center (KJ 251) Community Outreach & Opportunity Project (KJ 222E) This event is going to be held at the same time as Oral Communication Center (KJ 222) Health Professions Advising (Outside KJ 248/249) These support programs are part of the ALEX Division.

Stop by to learn more about how Hamilton supports the development of speaking skills in and beyond the classroom. This event coincides with open houses for other student support programs: Office of Experiential Learning (KJ 248) Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center (KJ 251) Community Outreach & Opportunity Project (KJ 222E) Health Professions Advising (Outside KJ 248/249) These support programs are part of the ALEX Division.

Family weekend open house in the Quantitative & Symbolic Reasoning Center!

Join the MSA this family weekend in observing the weekly student-led Jummah and Khutbah prayer! 

Join Wellin Museum docents Will Velez '26 and Lily Watts '26 for a tour of the museum and the current exhibitions Jamea Richmond-Edwards: Another World and Yet the Same and EXODUS. *This is a Family Weekend event.

Join students at the annual Summer Science Research Poster Session as they present the results of their research. The posters will be set up throughout the building. Refreshments will be served. Posters will remain on display through the weekend!

Exhibition of work by students in drawing, painting, sculpture and photography classes.

Senior Open Art Studios Exhibition of senior art work in their studio space.

Experience yoga through the lens of art at the Wellin Museum. Participants will spend a meditative moment looking at a work of art and take part in a beginner yoga session led by Tim Kane. Yoga mats will be provided.

Do you have younger siblings traveling with you for Family Weekend? Consider joining the annual “trust-treat” trick-or-treating on campus (children age 1-12) coordinated by the Hamilton Catholic Community. Each family will be put into a group of trick-or-treaters, who will travel a curated route around campus with a tour guide. RSVP here to join.  Trust Treat was established by the Class of ’92 in memory of Eric Trust, a member of the class who died unexpectedly on Halloween day during his first year at Hamilton. Trust Treat is supported by a f...

Closed mixer for parents/family/friends of Tumbling After to celebrate family weekend!

Join us 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.  

Join the Chabad Community with your family to celebrate Shabbat with a delicious dinner! Shabbat dinner will be at the Sands Chabad House, 108 College St.

Join us for a spooky movie night showing of Corpse Bride featuring chills, thrills, and cozy vibes. The first 20 guests will receive a free spooky throw blanket to stay warm while the scares unfold on screen!

We will be viewing the Moon, Saturn, and potentially a comet through our many telescopes, including our new 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 attached map.  

Make plans to join us on the Hill for a full weekend of events for Hamilton families.  We recommend that you make reservations as soon as possible as local hotels fill quickly during major campus events. You may refer to Hamilton’s list of local and regional places to stay.

Stop by our Family Weekend Welcome & Information Center! Specific times to be announced soon.

Join students at the annual Summer Science Research Poster Session as they present the results of their research. The posters will be set up throughout the building. Refreshments will be served. Posters will remain on display through the weekend!

Classes without Quizzes: Using Economics to Understand the World Around You with Professor Stephen Wu   Come experience a Hamilton course taught by Hamilton faculty, but without the quizzes! Irma M. and Robert D. Morris Professor of Economics Stephen Wu will give a lecture on using economics to understand the world! Coffee and breakfast refreshments will be served.

Classes without Quizzes: The Psychology of Making Friends with Associate Professor Keelah Williams   Come experience a Hamilton course taught by Hamilton faculty, but without the quizzes! Associate Professor of Psychology Keelah Williams will give a lecture on the psychology of making friends! Coffee and breakfast refreshments will be served. 

Join landscape designer Christine Froehlich for an inspiring presentation on how to blend native plants into new or existing gardens. She’ll share practical strategies for attracting pollinators, managing invasive species, and balancing cultivated and natural areas for a beautiful, resilient landscape. Froehlich specializes in creating sustainable, ecologically rich designs that promote biodiversity while maintaining visual harmony in home gardens and larger landscapes. The Arboretum Saturday Speakers Series is free and open to the public. Dire...

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!

Hamilton College's Hillel invites you for bagels, lox, cream cheese and more! Everyone from the Hamilton Community is welcome, and gluten-free/vegan options are available. Bring your family for this delicious brunch. 

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...

The Family Weekend Farmer's Market hosted by the Hamilton Sustainability Coordinators features a variety of artisanal goods from local vendors as well as fresh produce from local farms. 

The Family Weekend Farmer's Market hosted by the Hamilton Sustainability Coordinators features a variety of artisanal goods from local vendors as well as fresh produce from local farms. 

Come support Hamilton Women's Club Soccer in their home game vs. Siena University! 

Come by to purchase a Hamilton tote bag— the design a revival from the 90s! Bring your family & friends!!

Learning from Faux Pas, Gaffes, and Fiascos: Stories from Off-Campus Study   Hear from students who recently returned from studying off campus as they share their stories of the experience. Each student will share a 5-minute story that fits the theme. Grab a donut and cider and learn from others’ experiences! Sponsored by the Oral Communication Center and Office of Global Learning.

The Family Weekend Farmer's Market hosted by the Hamilton Sustainability Coordinators features a variety of artisanal goods from local vendors as well as fresh produce from local farms.  Inclement weather location: Tolles Pavilion

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

Join Hamilton Chabad with your family for a beautiful Shabbat lunch! Shabbat lunch will be at the Sands Chabad House, 108 College St., Clinton.

Watch Live Full Schedule

Join us in an opportunity for visiting families of our Mock Trial members to become acquainted with one another and the program itself! A short presentation will be followed by a Q&A with the co-captains and a chance to socialize with other parents of very busy college students.

Stop by the historic Hamilton Chapel and learn more about Spiritual & Religious life on campus! Grab a beverage and talk to members of our Spiritual Life team and feel free to leave a note of encouragement for students as they move closer to completing the fall semester. 

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!

Join Wellin Museum docent Ellie Roberts '26 for a tour of the museum and the current exhibitions Jamea Richmond-Edwards: Another World and Yet the Same and EXODUS. *This is a Family Weekend event.

For Family Weekend, the Literature and Creative Writing Department presents readings by Creative Writing Prize Winning students. 2025 Winners: Anika Amann, Dylan Buckser-Schulz, Sylvia Woodberry 2024 Winners: Dana Blatte, Siena Girouard, William Velez  

(by invitation only) Because of your special relationship with Hamilton, President Tepper cordially invites you to an exclusive reception during Family Weekend ’25 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.

Come check out some of our talented student bands perform during Family Weekend! 

Come enjoy some improv comedy with Yodapez, Hamilton's best and only improv comedy group! Parents are welcome, but are discouraged from bringing children. Comedy includes adult humor and language.

Club Hockey game vs. Paul Smith's College

The Hamilton College Choir, Jazz Ensemble, and Choir present a shared program for Family Weekend. Free and open to the public. More information at www.hamilton.edu/performingarts.

Bring your friends and family for blacklight bowling, cosmic golf, and limited snacks and drinks!