Homesick students are in luck as Family Weekend approaches.
From Friday Oct.12 through Sunday Oct.14, families of UB students will be visiting and attending several events on campus.
Festivities will begin on Friday with check-in at the Student Union, then a basket raffle and book drive.
According to Jennifer Wantz, assistant director of student activities and event organizer, there will be other activities such as the ice cream social and family bingo, with singing and dancing.
With the Oct. 8 registration deadline quickly approaching, several of the events are already closed.
"The free events are unfortunately already filled up. We have over 700 people coming to our ice cream social and over 500 people coming to play bingo," Wantz said. "We are going to have several thousand people in the Student Union that night so we'll see what happens."
Also sold-out on Friday night is The Bourne Ultimatum screening in the Student Union Theater, and the relaxing family jazz coffeehouse in 145 Student Union.
Fortunately, however, spots in Saturday's activities are still available. The events range from a campus cleanup around Lake LaSalle to a big-top tent pre-game party at UB Stadium behind the bleachers.
"(At) the pre-game party we usually set a (capacity) at about 600," Wantz said. "We're at about 550 right now...we probably won't close it unless it gets to the point where I think my food service can't handle it...I can probably push it to about (800)."
This year's circus-themed pre-game party will offer a large variety of food including Italian sausage, burgers and cotton candy. After the big-top tent, families will be able to attend the Buffalo Bull's football game versus Toledo. Tickets are $12 for families and free for all UB students.
The main event of Family Weekend will be a night of comedy featuring Dan Adhoot, Loni Love and Edwin San Juan.
"The comedy show has always been the highlight of Family Weekend; it's the event that is most attended by families, and it's been a tradition for years that we've had a big show," Wantz said.
Tickets are $20 for students and families, and $25 for the general public.
On Saturday, there will also be a Parent Alumni Reception in Pistachio's in the Student Union. The reception will give UB parents and alumni an opportunity to reminisce about their experiences at UB.
On Sunday, Oct.14, there will be the two traditional brunches for families and students to attend. The brunches will feature made-to-order omelets, a carving station, as well as a buffet. However, according to Wantz each seating is booked up.
The House Jacks, an a cappella group, will perform on Sunday at 1 p.m., replacing the originally slated group, InPulse.
"We just found out InPulse is not able to come...we're having a different a cappella group come; they're just as good if not better, so we're excited about them coming," said Wantz.
The last minute change will not affect the time, location or price of the event.
Last year's Family Weekend was canceled due to the surprise October storm, which closed school from Friday Oct. 13 to Monday Oct. 16. A few of the events planned for last year's Weekend will be featured this year.
"We reimbursed all of our families from Family Weekend last year," Wantz said. "This year the big-top tent party is the same theme as last year because I have leftover everything: decorations, give-a-ways, all of that stuff...other than that, everything is different."
Wantz suggests that anyone who wants to attend Family Weekend should do it fast with so many events already sold out.
"Registration is all online...do it fast," Wantz said. "We're running out of tickets for stuff, so the sooner the better."
To register for Family Weekend, go to: http://www.studentaffairs.buffalo.edu/family
