Family Weekend

Family Weekend: Oct. 25 - 27, 2024

Every fall, Family Weekend provides a chance for families to visit students for a fun-filled weekend on the Cortland campus. This is a great time to experience college through their student's eyes, and for students to show them why they love Cortland.

You'll have the opportunity to...

  • Enjoy brunch with University President Erik J. Bitterbaum
  • Cheer on the Red Dragon athletic teams
  • Attend on-campus performances
  • Explore campus and partake in local fall activities

The weekend is designed to help you discover what SUNY Cortland has to offer and learn about the organizations, people and places that have become home to your student.  

Information on lodging in the Cortland area can be found through the Restaurants and Lodging information page. 

Registration for Family Weekend 2024 will open in September.

A sample schedule from 2023 is below for your reference. 

Friday, Oct. 6

6 a.m. - midnight Student Life Center open

Student Life Center
Free access to the fitness center including pool, track, and workout equipment. Advance registration required. 

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. College Bookstore open
Neubig Hall
Get Cortland apparel, school supplies, and more. 

10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Dowd Gallery open
Dowd Fine Arts
Check out the selected works in the campus art gallery. 

4 - 7 p.m. Check-In

Corey Union Lobby
Welcome! Check-in and pick up your Family Weekend packet containing your reserved tickets and updated event schedule. 

6:30 p.m. Men's Club Ice Hockey vs. St. John Fisher

Park Center Alumni Arena

7:30 p.m. Performing Arts Department: Blithe Spirit
Dowd Fine Arts Theatre

A smash comedy hit in London and New York, this much-revived classic concerns fussy, cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine, who has remarried but finds himself haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, Elvira. Clever, insistent and well aware of Charles' shortcomings, Elvira is called up by a visiting “happy medium,” the eccentric and flighty Madame Arcati.

Adult $24, Senior Citizen $20, Student/Youth $15.

8 p.m. Student Activities Board Comedy Night

Corey Union Exhibition Lounge

Saturday, Oct. 7

7 a.m. - midnight Student Life Center open
Student Life Center
Free access to the fitness center including pool, track, and workout equipment. Advance registration required. 

9 – 11 a.m. Check-In
Corey Union Lobby
Welcome! Check-in and pick up your Family Weekend packet containing your reserved tickets and updated event schedule.  

9 a.m. – 6 p.m. College Bookstore opens
Neubig Hall
Get Cortland apparel, school supplies, and more.

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Great Cortland Pumpkinfest
Courthouse Park, Cortland.
Enjoy arts and craft exhibitors, food, entertainment, children's games and more at Cortland’s Annual Pumpkinfest. Vendors close at 5 p.m. Live entertainment and Pumpkin Pub will remain open until 8 p.m. Bus transportation provided every hour from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. from the Neubig Bus Stop.

9:30 a.m. Coffee and Conversation
Corey Union Exhibition Lounge
Start your day with coffee and tea and an opportunity to speak with SUNY Cortland staff and other families prior to the President's Barbecue.

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Dowd Gallery open
Dowd Fine Arts
Check out the selected works in the campus art gallery. 

10:30 a.m.       Professor Lecture: How to Prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Corey Union Fireplace Lounge

Professor of Psychology emeritus, Dr. David Kilpatrick is a New York State certified school psychologist with 28 years experience in schools. He has been teaching courses in learning disabilities and educational psychology since 1994. He will share insight and findings related to Alzheimer’s and dementia.

11:30 a.m. Presidents’ Barbecue - CLOSED
Corey Union Function Room
Join us for brunch, a popular tradition with families and students, with remarks by College President Erik J. Bitterbaum and Student Government President Joe Mascetta as well as performances by A Capella groups. General Admission (adults and SUNY Cortland students, children 6 and up) - $27; Children (5 and under) - $5.00. Advance registration required.

1 p.m. Football vs. Utica
Stadium Complex Red Field

Purchase a discounted football ticket through the Family Weekend registration for $5 General Admission. Adults. $4 Seniors and children 13-17. SUNY Cortland students and children 12 and under are free.

1 p.m. Women's Club Field Hockey vs. Colgate

Stadium Complex White Field

2 - 5 p.m. Bus Ride to Beak & Skiff Apple Orchard for Apple Picking - CLOSED
Beak and Skiff Apple Orchard, 2708 Lords Hill Road (Rte. 80), Lafayette
Families are welcome to follow the bus in their own vehicles. The apple orchard is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. with the last wagon departing at 5 p.m.

2:30 p.m. Women's Club Ice Hockey vs. Oswego

Park Center Alumni Arena

3 - 5 p.m. Planetarium Shows - CLOSED
Bowers Hall
Planetarium Director and Physics Lecturer, Sean Nolan will present planetarium shows every 30 minutes from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Free. Advance registration required. 

4 p.m. Women's Soccer vs. Geneseo
Holloway Field

6:30 p.m. Hillel's Havdalah service

Corey Union Voice Office

7:30 p.m. Performing Arts Department: Blithe Spirit
Dowd Fine Arts Theatre

A smash comedy hit in London and New York, this much-revived classic concerns fussy, cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine, who has remarried but finds himself haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, Elvira. Clever, insistent and well aware of Charles' shortcomings, Elvira is called up by a visiting “happy medium,” the eccentric and flighty Madame Arcati.

8:30 p.m. Family Trivia 
Corey Union Function Room
Test your knowledge at trivia night! The top 3 winners will win gift cards to the Campus Store! Players must bring a device (cellphone/iPad) to play on. 

Sunday, Oct. 8

7 a.m. - midnight Student Life Center open
Student Life Center
Free access to the fitness center including pool, track, and workout equipment. Advance registration required. 

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. College Bookstore open
Neubig Hall
Get Cortland apparel, school supplies, and more. 

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Dowd Gallery open
Dowd Fine Arts
Check out the selected works in the campus art gallery. 

10 a.m. Club Softball Triple Header vs. Oswego

Dragon Field

Games scheduled for 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m.

12-5 p.m. Great Cortland Pumpkinfest
Courthouse Park, Cortland
Enjoy arts and craft exhibitors, food, entertainment, children's games and more at Cortland’s Annual Pumpkinfest.  

12 p.m. Women's Club Soccer vs. Colgate

Stadium Complex Red Field

2 p.m. Performing Arts Department: Blithe Spirit
Dowd Fine Arts Theatre

A smash comedy hit in London and New York, this much-revived classic concerns fussy, cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine, who has remarried but finds himself haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, Elvira. Clever, insistent and well aware of Charles' shortcomings, Elvira is called up by a visiting “happy medium,” the eccentric and flighty Madame Arcati.