Family Weekend
The dates for Family Weekend 2023 are September 29 – October 1, 2023. Family Weekend planning is in process and more information to come!
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.
Further details will be communicated to families in addition to being updated here on the website. In the meantime, feel free to peruse the information and links below from fall 2022 to get an idea of the general framework of Family Weekend.
- 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.
- If you have any additional questions, please contact the Office of New Student and Family Programs at 317-940-8648 or via email at parent@butler.edu. Go Dawgs!
Need to book a hotel for your Family Weekend trip? Check out the Butler Hotel Partners website for discounted hotel rates.
Questions can be directed to parent@butler.edu or by calling the Office of New Student & Family Programs at 317-940-8648.
This is the schedule for the fall 2022 Family Weekend. We are in process of planning fall 2023. For the time-being, feel free to peruse last year’s schedule for the kinds of events you can expect at Family Weekend.
Friday, September 30, 2022
| 2:00 – 5:00 PM | Theatre Department Reception | Lilly Hall Studio Theatre Lobby (Map) | Join the Theatre Department for light refreshments and take the opportunity to peek in the Studio Theatre to view technical work with lighting for the upcoming production of #ShakespeareSonnetsAlive. To celebrate Butler Theatre’s 75th anniversary, all mainstage productions are free this school year. |
| 2:00 – 3:00 PM | Jummah Prayer | Holcomb Building, Room 132 (Map) | Join the Muslim Student Association for Jummah Prayer. |
| 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 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 Staff tours of Dugan Hall, and a discussion of the Lacy School of Business career services program. Light Appetizers and Beverages will be served. |
| 6:00 PM | Shabbat Dinner and Services | Efroymson Center for Creative Writing (Map) | Join Hillel for Shabbat Services with dinner to follow. Please email Lisa Frank to register for the dinner. |
| 8:00 PM | Holcomb Observatory Planetarium and Telescope Viewing | Holcomb Observatory Planetarium (Map) | Come to the Holcomb Observatory for a Planetarium show followed by a telescope viewing of Saturn and Jupiter, weather permitting. Doors open at 7:30pm.
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. UPDATE: Please note that due to a technical issue, the traditional planetarium projector is not functioning. The Observatory will show a “web based program” that shows the current night sky and will present on the constellations. The telescope is still in working order, the planets should be visible if the sky is clear (weather permitting.) |
| 8:00 – 10:00 PM | Family Fun Night | Atherton Union, Reilly Room (Map) | Come join families for crafts, games and treats in Atherton Union. Crafts include sharpie tie dying your choice of apron, tote bag, or small canvas zippered pouch.
$10 for Families and siblings. Butler students are admitted at no charge with their Butler University ID. |
Saturday, October 1, 2022
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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!
$18/Bulldog |
| 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Brunch Sessions | Atherton Union, Reilly Room (Map) | Join Butler University faculty, staff and administrators at the Family Weekend Brunch. Butler Blue will also join for photos! $20/ticket
|
| 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!
$18/Bulldog |
| 1:00 – 3:00 PM | Latinx Alumni and Student Union Family Social | Fairview House: Community Room (Map) |
We will be having food, a salsa lesson, and bonding with families, current students, and alumni! Feel free to join us throughout that time with your family or as students! Free parking in the Parking Garage! Please fill out the Latinx Family Weekend Form if you plan to attend. |
| 1:00 – 3:00 PM | BIG EAST League of Legends ESports Match | ESports Complex | Come watch Butler’s ESports team compete against the Depaul University in a League of Legends battle. |
| 1:30 – 4:30 PM | History of Hinkle Tours | Hinkle Fieldhouse (Map) | Learn about Historic Hinkle Fieldhouse as you walk through Indiana’s basketball cathedral. The fieldhouse has been in operation since 1928 and is nearing her 100th anniversary.
Tours are 45 minutes each and will be led by a Hinkle storyteller. Tour sessions: Event is sold out, at capacity and has a full wait list. Due to the high demand of this program, we will offer this opportunity again in the future. We apologize that we couldn’t host everyone for this tour! |
| 3:00 – 4:00 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! $20/ticket. RSVP on the H(OUR) BUDM Registration form. |
| 3:00 – 4:00 PM | Esports Complex Tours | ESports Complex | Whether you’re an experienced gamer, just getting started, or somewhere in between—Butler Esports welcomes you to pull up a chair and join us. Come visit the Esports Complex that just opened this fall.
Capacity is limited to 30 individuals. First come, first served. |
| 4:00 – 6:00 PM | Butler Dining Snacks | Atherton Union, South Entrance (just inside from the Bulldog Statue) (Map) | Stop by the Butler Dining Table in the HRC Lobby to have a sweet treat (fruit and donut hole kabobs) and learn more about Butler Dining! |
| 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) Open House |
Cru House (Map) | Join us for an open house for families of students involved in Butler CRU or if you are interested in learning about CRU. |
| 4:00 – 7:00 PM | Esports Open Play | ESports Complex | Come play games in the Esports Complex. Use a current Esports BU student membership or purchase one onsite for $25/semester.
Families of BU students with an Esports membership play for free during Family Weekend! |
| 7:00 – 8:00 PM | Esports Complex Tours | ESports Complex | Whether you’re an experienced gamer, just getting started, or somewhere in between—Butler Esports welcomes you to pull up a chair and join us. Come visit the Esports Complex that just opened this fall.
Capacity is limited to 30 individuals. First come, first served. |
| 7:00 and 8:00 PM | Holcomb Observatory Planetarium and Telescope Viewing | Holcomb Observatory Planetarium (Map) | Come to the Holcomb Observatory for Planetarium shows beginning at 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM followed by telescope viewings of Saturn and Jupiter, 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. UPDATE: Please note that due to a technical issue, the traditional planetarium projector is not functioning. The Observatory will show a “web based program” that shows the current night sky and will present on the constellations. The telescope is still in working order, the planets should be visible if the sky is clear (weather permitting.) |
| 8:00 – 9:00 PM | George Lopez – OMG Hi Comedy Tour | Clowes Memorial Hall (Map) | Tickets are available online via the Butler Arts and Events Center website. |
| 8:00 – 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. |
Sunday, October 2, 2022
| 10:00 – 11:00 AM | Catholic Mass | Atherton Union, Reilly Room (Map) | Join the Butler Catholic Community for Catholic Mass. |
| 1:00 – 3:00 PM | Fraternity and Sorority Open Houses | W Hampton Drive (Map) | Visit Butler’s social sorority and fraternity houses to learn more about our chapters, their philanthropic work, and how to join. Chapter houses will be open and offering tours by their members. Learn more about all our chapters by visiting the Fraternity and Sorority Life website. Staff and organizational leadership will be available with maps of the chapter locations and to help answer any questions near the Bulldog statue at Atherton Union. |
| 1:00 – 5:00 PM | Family Field Day | Atherton Mall (Map) | Join Butler University Program Council (UPC) for snacks, drinks, and games! |
| 3:00 – 4:30 PM | The Music at Butler series: Butler University Symphonic Ensemble | Schrott Center for the Arts (Map) | No Tickets Required |
| 3:00 – 5:00 PM | Drum Circle | Robertson Hall Lawn (inclement weather location – Johnson Board Room, Robertson Hall) (Map) | Join a drum circle on the Robertson Hall lawn with Butler students, faculty, staff and community members. Drums are provided. |
These are the Special Events from the fall 2022 Family Weekend. We are in process of planning fall 2023. For the time-being, feel free to peruse last year’s noted Special Events for the kinds of events you can expect in the surrounding area during Family Weekend.
- Visit Indy Guides
- September 30th
- Harvest Nights
- Haunted Indianapolis Downtown Ghost Walk
- October 1
- Indy Jazz Fest
- Hocus Pocus Drag Show
- Brewfari
- Indianapolis Zoo
- https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/events/brewfari/
- Harvest Nights
- Flicks at Victory Field – “Encanto”
- Haunted Indianapolis Chilling Chatham Arch-Lockerbie Ghost Walk
- October 2
- Tennessee Titans versus the Indianapolis Colts – “Marvel Game”
- Take a photo with the _NDY sign
- Indianapolis Children’s Museum
- Newfields
- https://discovernewfields.org/Checkout
- General Admission
- Special Exhibits and Events
- The Lume- Monet Alive Exhibit
- Harvest Nights
- Indiana State Museum
- Indianapolis Zoo
- NCAA Hall of Champions
- Connor Prairie
- The Garage Food Hall
- Indianapolis Repertory Theatre – “Sense and Sensibility”
- This specific event was hosted in fall 2022 though something similar would be likely in fall 2023
- https://www.irtlive.com/plays-and-events/2022-2023-season?sc_src=email_2000433&sc_lid=133937112&sc_uid=eQMCZB669h&sc_llid=19929&&utm_source=email&utm_medium=Do317+Daily+Email+-+Monday+-+4%2F18%2F22&sc_customer=2090224
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
317-940-8648
Toll Free: 888-940-8648
