Family Weekend

Family Weekend 2024 is scheduled for September 27-29, 2024. To review the Family Weekend 2023 details, see the information below.

Family Weekend is for everyone! Events are open to all Butler students and their families. Students, please join us for activities. You can come by yourself, with your friends, or make a plan for your family to participate with you.

We look forward to celebrating together at Family Weekend! The following are a few pieces of general information.

Events are open to all Butler students and their families. You can join by yourself or make a plan for your family to participate with you.
All families and students will receive registration information via email when registration opens.
Need to book a hotel for your Family Weekend trip? Check out the Butler Hotel Partners website for discounted hotel rates.

**Road closure notice: On Sunday, October 1st, parts of 44th Street will be closed due to a block party. Please note in making travel plans to and from campus.**

Questions can be directed to parent@butler.edu or by calling the Office of New Student & Family Programs at 317-940-8648. Go Dawgs!

Friday, September 29, 2023

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM	Butler University Bookstore open!	Atherton Union, North entrance (Map)	Head to the Butler University Bookstore for BU apparel, books, school supplies, and more.
2:00 – 5:00 PM	Department of Theatre Reception	Lilly Hall Studio Theatre Lobby (Map)	Join the Department of Theatre for light refreshments and take the opportunity to peek in the Studio Theatre to view technical work with lighting for the upcoming production of EVERYBODY by Branden Jacobs Jenkins, which will open the following week on Wednesday, October 4th. Free registration encouraged.
2:00 – 3:00 PM	Jummah Prayer	Holcomb Building, Room 132 (Map)	Join the Muslim Student Association for Jummah Prayer. No registration necessary.
3:00 – 6:00 PM	GangGang Art Installation	Butler University West Mall (Academic quad, between Gallahue and Levinson Family Halls, Map)	GANGGANG University is officially in session! Please join GANGGANG, the unique cultural development and creative economy organization, and the CaPS Office of Butler University on September 29^th from 3 pm to 6 pm. This event will highlight how Butler students can get involved in the community through creative outlets, internships, and job opportunities. We will have tabling sessions from the different sectors of GANGGANG, DJ Bae, a live painter, and light refreshments. Join us on the West Mall at Butler University. No registration necessary.
4:00 – 6:00 PM	Family Weekend Information	Atherton Union, South Entrance (just inside from the Bulldog Statue) (Map)	Come to the Family Weekend Information table to receive pre-registered items and ask any questions of the Office of New Student & Family Programs staff.
5:00 – 6:30 PM	Lacy School of Business (LSB) Reception	Dugan Hall Atrium (Map)	Join the Lacy School of Business for a reception featuring opportunities to mingle with the Career and Professional Success Team, LSB Faculty, and LSB Staff . There are also opportunities to take a tour of Dugan Hall and learn more about the Career Development Program. Light Appetizers and Beverages will be served. No registration necessary.
5:00 – 7:00 PM	Stroll Down a South Asian Street	Star Fountain (Map)	This event seeks to immerse the Butler community in the captivating world of traditional street games and food from South Asia. Attendees can look forward to an informative and interactive experience, featuring educational posters describing details about these age-old games. Moreover, both students and faculty will have the exciting opportunity to engage in friendly matches, bringing these unique games to life. To complement the cultural exploration, an array of South Asian street food will be available to eat! Brought to you by the South Asian Student Association (SASA). Free registration encouraged.
6:00 PM	Shabbat Dinner and Services	Efroymson Creative Writing Center (Map)	Join Hillel for Shabbat Services with dinner to follow. Please email Lisa Frank to register for the dinner.
7:00 & 8:00 PM	Holcomb Observatory Planetarium Show	Holcomb Observatory Planetarium (Map)	Come to the Holcomb Observatory for Planetarium shows beginning at 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM followed by a telescope viewings of Saturn and the Moon, weather permitting. Doors open at 6:45 pm. Admission is $5 for children and students under 18 years old and $8 for adults. Cash or credit is accepted. Butler students are admitted at no charge with their Butler University ID. No registration necessary.
8:00 – 10:00 PM	Pat Metheny Solo: Dream Box Tour presented by Indy Jazz Fest	Clowes Memorial Hall (Map)	In Fall 2023 20 x Grammy Award Winning Guitarist & Composer Pat Metheny is launching a solo tour which will coincide with a new album release on BMG Modern Recordings, Dream Box. The tour, a first of its kind for Metheny, will feature personal and fan favorites from his nearly 50 year career. Metheny says “A few years back, I did a short run of concerts that were not exclusively me and a single guitar, but pretty close. I loved it. Of course, I always have to take it somewhere else too, which by the end of those performances, I did manage to do (no spoilers here!), but what I have planned for the tour following the release of my new recording Dream Box, is something different for me, focused on the various ways of playing solo I have explored across all these decades in an evening that I think will be very special”. Think about these recordings; New Chautauqua – a 1979 recording that almost single-handedly defined an era of instrumental steel-stringed Americana; Zero Tolerance For Silence – a shot across the bow of modern music making, the companion piece to parallel the Grammy-winning disc Secret Story; The Orchestrion Project, a project so outrageous in conception and execution that even a decade-plus later, it stands apart from any previous ideas of what a solo performer might achieve alone onstage. And then consider and contrast those projects to the two back-to-back Grammy-winning solo Baritone guitar recordings, One Quiet Night and What’s It All About. Those recordings are not only among the most gorgeous pure solo guitar recordings, but they also introduced an entirely new tuning system that allowed Metheny to create an almost orchestral range from bass to soprano within the realm of a simple steel 6-string guitar. Purchase tickets here.
7:00 – 9:00 PM	Firepit Friday & Ghost Stories	Firepits, lawn space north of Atherton Union	Get your spooky season on around the fire pits, hearing ghost stories and eating a yummy treat. Co-sponsored with University Program Council. Free registration encouraged.
9:00 – 11:00 PM	Trivia Night!	Atherton Union, Reilly Room (Map)	Bring your family and make a team to win some prizes! Show your nerdology! Co-sponsored with University Program Council. Registration required.

Saturday, September 30, 2023

8:00 AM – 1:30 PM	Family Weekend Information	Atherton Union, South Entrance (just inside from the Bulldog Statue) (Map)	Come to the Family Weekend Information table to receive pre-registered items and ask any questions of the Office of New Student & Family Programs staff.
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM	Butler University Bookstore is open!	Atherton Union, North entrance (Map)	Head to the Butler University Bookstore for BU apparel, books, school supplies, and more.
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM	Brunch Sessions	Location: Reilly Room, Atherton Union (Map)	Join Butler University faculty, staff, administrators and Family Council members at the Family Weekend Brunch. Brunch Session 1 (9:00 – 10:00 AM) Brunch Session 2 (10:00 – 11:00 AM) Brunch Session 3 (11:00 AM – 12:00 PM) Cost: $20/person. Registration required.
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM	The Nutcracker Rehearsal Viewing	Lilly Hall Rooms: 310, 319, 077, and 075 (Map)	Butler University Department of Dance is preparing for their winter showing of the Nutcracker. Stop by and observe as the Department of Dance rehearses for the Nutcracker. Free registration encouraged.
10:00 – 11:00 AM	Build Your Own Bulldog – Session 1	Fairview House: Community Room (Map)	Build your very own stuffed bulldog, decorate a t-shirt, and make some memories! Cost: $20/bulldog. Registration required.
~~10:00 – 11:00 AM~~	~~Archives Tour~~ Event cancelled; Sunday morning (11:00 AM) Archives Tour still available!	~~Irwin Library (Map)~~	Join Special Collections, Rare Books, and University Archives on the 3rd floor of the Irwin Library for a peek inside what treasures are hidden in plain sight right here at Butler. The Ovid Butler letter book, The Collegian student newspaper dating back to 1886, an 1860 Chinese calligraphy scroll, and more will be available for viewing during this tour. ~~No registration necessary.~~ **Please plan to arrive at the library main entrance promptly at or before 10:00 AM. The tour will start prior to the opening of the library though a staff member will be able to let you in at this time.
10:00 – 11:00 AM	“Taste of Butler” with Butler Dining Bon Appetit Marketplace Kitchen Tour to follow	Grassy space east of Starbucks Patio (north end of Atherton Union) (Map)	Butler Dining invites you to join them in the grassy, open space outside Starbucks from 10:00-11:00 AM for a Taste of Butler. Immediately following, Bon Appetit leaders will conduct a behind-the-scenes tour of the Marketplace at Atherton Union where you can visit our kitchen, ask questions about our food preparation and options, and receive a voucher for a free meal this weekend. Parents and students interested in joining Bon Appetit leaders for the kitchen tours should meet at the south entrance of the café in Atherton at 11:00 AM. No registration necessary.
10:00 – 11:00 AM	Cultural Diversity Drum Circle Basket Balancing Race	Star Fountain (Map) Inclement weather location: TBD.	Join us at Star Fountain for the Indianapolis Cultural Diversity Drum Circle’s Basket Balancing Race and support girls education in Uganda. Watch as student teams compete to run balancing baskets on their heads and try with your friends and family! No registration necessary.
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM	Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Blood and Bone Marrow Drive	The Krannert Room – Clowes Memorial Hall (Map)	The Central Region of Sigma Gamma Rho International Sorority, Inc. in partnership with the American Red Cross and Be the Match is hosting a blood drive and bone marrow registry drive during BU’s Family Weekend. The entire campus community, including families, are invited to participate. No reservation required.
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM	Butler University Spirit Shop open!	Hinkle Fieldhouse, inside Gate 4 (Map)	Head to the Butler University Spirit Shop for all your Butler spirit gear!
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM	Family Weekend Spirit Zone	Health & Recreation Center (HRC) lawn (Map)	Families can pick up spirit beads, boom sticks, pom poms and other cheer wear for the Butler Football Game. There will be lawn games, fall treats, a photo opportunity and other family fun items! No registration necessary.
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM	Sip & Savor: Churros with Hot Chocolate Latinx Student Union Fundraiser	Health & Recreation Center (HRC) lawn (Map)	Latinx Student Union is excited to participate in this year’s Family Weekend! We will be hosting “Sip & Savor: Churros with Hot Chocolate”! This is a fundraiser for our organization in order to help us continue our mission of developing, educating, empowering, and uniting Latinx students on Butler’s campus. Please visit us and grab a churro, hot chocolate, and/or candies while supplies last. No registration required.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM	Build Your Own Bulldog – Session 2	Fairview House: Community Room (Map)	Build your very own stuffed bulldog, decorate a t-shirt, and make some memories! Cost: $20/bulldog. Registration required.
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM	Latinx Alumni Association Family Tailgate: Almuerzo de Familias	Hinkle Fieldhouse Parking Lot	Join the Latinx Alumni Association for a Almuerzo de Familias to bring out families together through food, music, and community!
12:00 – 2:00 PM	Black Student Union (BSU) “Family Reunion” Luncheon	Robertson Hall, Johnson Board Room (Map)	Join Butler BSU for a celebration of family and community, and connect with us to learn more about how BSU serves the Black community at Butler! Free food will be provided. RSVP for the BSU Family Reunion event by clicking this link
1:00 – 4:00 PM	Butler Football v. Presbyterian	Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl (Map)	Watch the Butler University football team battle it out against Presbyterian College. Purchase tickets here. If looking to purchase a single game parking pass, please call the Ticket Office at 317-940-3647.
1:00 – 11:00 PM	Esports Park Open	Butler Esports Park (Map)	Looking for a place to hang out with family and unwind? Stop by the Butler Esports Park on Saturday and Sunday for a free weekend of PC, Console, and Board Gaming with family and friends! During this weekend we will also be hosting the Online Qualifiers for Battle for Indiana, an esports tournament to see who will qualify for the in-venue Battle for Indiana tournament. We can’t wait to see you here!
4:00 – 5:00 PM	H(our) BUDM	Atherton Union, Reilly Room (Map)	Join Butler University Dance Marathon (BUDM) for an interactive banquet where you can experience an hour of Butler University Dance Marathon. Your ticket will include access to a silent auction and an array of appetizer food options. From Morale dances to guest speakers, you won’t want to miss this BUDM Experience, all for the children at Riley! We hope you will join us in the movement to advocate for Riley Hospital for Children. Dress is casual or Butler Spirit Wear! Cost: TBD Registration required here.
7:00 and 8:00 PM	Holcomb Observatory Planetarium Show	Holcomb Observatory Planetarium (Map)	Come to the Holcomb Observatory for Planetarium shows beginning at 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM followed by a telescope viewings of Saturn and the Moon, weather permitting. Doors open at 6:45 pm. Admission is $5 for children and students under 18 years old and $8 for adults. Cash or credit is accepted. Butler students are admitted at no charge with their Butler University ID. No registration necessary.
8:00 – 11:00 PM Doors at 8:00 PM Movie start time at 8:30 PM	Hoosiers in Hinkle	Hinkle Fieldhouse (Map)	Join us for a viewing of the iconic sports movie Hoosiers. Relive the classic basketball movie, watching the movie in the same location as much of the movie itself. Registration required.
9:00 – 11:00 PM	Blue’s Hoedown	Atherton Union, Reilly Room (Map)	Blue’s Hoedown is a party that will feature cowboy hat decorating, mason jar cup painting, line dancing instruction, and a mechanical bull. Co-sponsored with University Program Council. Free registration encouraged.

Sunday, October 1, 2023

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM	Archives Tour	Irwin Library (Map)	Join Special Collections, Rare Books, and University Archives on the 3rd floor of the Irwin Library for a peek inside what treasures are hidden in plain sight right here at Butler. The Ovid Butler letter book, The Collegian student newspaper dating back to 1886, an 1860 Chinese calligraphy scroll, and more will be available for viewing during this tour. No registration necessary. **Please plan to arrive at the library main entrance promptly at or before 11:00 AM. The tour will start prior to the opening of the library though a staff member will be able to let you in at this time.
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM	Butler University Bookstore open!	Atherton Union, North entrance (Map)	Head to the Butler University Bookstore for BU apparel, books, school supplies, and more.
12:00 – 1:00 PM *Updated time; previously listed as 11:00 AM – 12:00PM	Catholic Mass	Atherton Union, Reilly Room (Map)	Join the Butler Catholic Community for Catholic Mass. No registration necessary.
12:30 – 1:30 PM	Fraternity and Sorority Life – Student Leadership Panel	Fairview Community Room (Map)	Learn more about our social fraternity and sorority community from student leaders. We will have a panel of chapter presidents and organization leaders sharing how joining their chapter positively impacted their Butler experience. Join us for personal stories and memories prior to heading to chapter house tours or the Cultural Greek Open House! No registration necessary.
1:00 – 3:00 PM	Fraternity and Sorority House Tours and Cultural Greek Open House	Cultural Greek Open House in the Irvington Community Room (Map) Chapter Tours Map available at Bulldog statue outside of Atherton Union	Visit Butler’s social fraternities and sororities to learn more about organizations, their philanthropic work, and how to join. Designated locations and chapter houses will be open and offering tours and information by their members. Learn more about our community by visiting the Fraternity and Sorority Life website. Staff and organizational leadership will be available outside of Atherton Union with maps detailing designated locations to meet our chapters.
1:00 – 8:00 PM	Butler Esports Park Open	Butler Esports Park (Map)	Looking for a place to hang out with family and unwind? Stop by the Butler Esports Park on Saturday and Sunday for a free weekend of PC, Console, and Board Gaming with family and friends! During this weekend we will also be hosting the Online Qualifiers for Battle for Indiana, an esports tournament to see who will qualify for the in-venue Battle for Indiana tournament. We can’t wait to see you here!

While many events will have refreshments, the following are a list of the variety of Butler Dining options available over Family Weekend.

Friday, September 29, 2023

7:00 AM – 8:30 PM	Atherton Marketplace is open	Atherton Union, South entrance (Map)	An all you care to eat meal location, serving a variety of meals.
7:00 AM – 10:00 PM	Starbucks is open	Atherton Union, North entrance (Map)	Stop by Butler’s Starbucks location for a coffee pick-me-up or yummy pastry.
7:30 AM – 3:00 PM	ResCo Grab and Go is open	ResCo (Map)	Residential College will have quick food items available for purchase.
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM	Butler Brew is open	Dugan Hall (Map)	Coffee and pastry shop housed in Dugan Hall.
9:00 AM – 10:00 PM	Plum Market is open	Atherton Union, ground floor (Map)	Plum Market is open for made to order food.
9:00 AM – 11:59 PM	Plum Market	Atherton Union, ground floor (Map)	Plum Market store grab and go is available.
10:30 AM – 7:00 PM	Food Truck is open	Atherton Mall, North side of mall (Map)	Stop by the food truck, right in the middle of campus!

Saturday, September 30, 2023

See the 2023 Schedule for details on the Saturday morning Family Weekend Brunch event.

8:00 AM – 10:00 PM	Starbucks is open	Atherton Union, North entrance (Map)	Stop by Butler’s Starbucks location for a coffee pick-me-up or yummy pastry.
9:00 AM – 8:30 PM	Atherton Marketplace is open	Atherton Union, South entrance (Map)	An all you care to eat meal location, serving a variety of meals.
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM	“Taste of Butler” with Butler Dining	Outside Irwin Library (Map) Inclement weather location: lobby of Irwin Library	Stop by the Butler Dining Table just outside Irwin Library to enjoy a “Taste of Butler” and learn about all our dining locations on campus. No registration necessary.
10:00 AM – 11:59 PM	Plum Market is open	Atherton Union, ground floor (Map)	Plum Market is open for made to order food. and grab & go food is available.

Sunday, October 1, 2023

8:00 AM – 10:00 PM	Starbucks is open	Atherton Union, North entrance (Map)	Stop by Butler’s Starbucks location for a coffee pick-me-up or yummy pastry.
9:00 AM – 8:30 PM	Atherton Marketplace is open	Atherton Union, South entrance (Map)	An all you care to eat meal location, serving a variety of meals.
10:00 AM – 11:59 PM	Plum Market is open	Atherton Union, ground floor (Map)	Plum Market is open for made to order food. and grab & go food is available.

Outdoor Recreation Opportunities, On & Off Campus

Daily: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM	Butler University Pickle Ball courts open	North of Sellick Bowl, Tennis Bowl parking lot (Map)	Butler University has fresh Pickle Ball courts that are open to those with a Butler ID. Families are welcome to join their students for a match! To access the courts, students should bring their Butler ID to gain access to one of the four courts via a Butler ID card reader. The courts are north of the Sellick Bowl and hours run from 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM with lights in the evening. If the courts are full, participants can “drop-in” to make it known they will be rotating in. If the courts are not full, participants can use whichever court they would like. Paddles and balls will be available for check-out at the HRC control desk with a Butler University ID is needed.
Anytime	Butler University Ecotherapy Trails	See website for trails	Ecotherapy is a mental health practice that involves engagement with the natural environment to work through mental health challenges and increase wellness. You can try ecotherapy right here on campus! Use Ecotherapy Trails, either Route 1 or Route 2 to get you started.
See the Newfields website for specific hours	Newfields Indianapolis Museum of Art, Gardens, and Nature Park	4000 N Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46208 (Map, approximate 5 minute drive from campus)	The nearby Newfields is partnering with the Office of New Student & Family Programs to offer a discount code (BUTLERFW) for reduced admission to the museum and grounds during Family Weekend.
September: 7:00 AM – 9:30 PM October: 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM	Eagle Creek Park	7840 W 56th St, Indianapolis, IN 46254 (Map)	Eagle Creek Park is a large park with a marina & beach, hiking & biking trails, wildlife-discovery centers, zip lines & more. Eagle Creek Park: Eagle Creek Park homepage Eagle Creek Park Membership page Vendors in the park: Eagle Creek Park Outfitters (kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and boat rentals) Go Ape! (adventure, high ropes, ziplining) Eagle Creek Golf Course
Sunday, October 1	Volunteer Opportunity – 2023 Special Olympics Indiana EKS Cornhole State Championships Registration Link	Grand Park Sports Campus, Westfield, IN	Volunteer at Special Olympics Indiana’s EKS Games with the family! Since 2017, Butler University’s College of Education and Special Olympics Indiana has collaborated to provide inclusive opportunities for both organizations. On Oct 1, we’ll work together at Special Olympics Indiana’s fall sports competition, called EKS Games, at Grand Park in Westfield, IN. Butler students and families can sign up to volunteer here: Registration Link Click Purple “Register Now” Button. Click the Blue “Grand Park General Volunteers”. Select all the position and shift(s) you are interested in. Click the Green “Next” button. Log In or create an account if you don’t have one already. Type in “Butler Family Weekend” in the Organization/Group Affiliation tab. Every person in the family needs to register separately. All ages welcome! Email Jeff Braun at jbraun@soindiana.org with any questions. Butler University contact: Dr. Erin Garriott at egarriot@butler.edu