Family Weekend activities at Northwest annually include tailgate games at College Park prior to the Family Weekend football game in addition to free entertainment throughout the weekend. (Northwest Missouri State University photos)

Parents and families of Northwest Missouri State University students will gather for a weekend of entertainment, athletic events and family fun as the University celebrates its annual Family Weekend Sept. 24-26.

“Family Weekend is the first big event of the year for students and their families,” Amy Nally, assistant director of the office of student involvement, said. “A variety of activities make Family Weekend a special time for students to share their new environments with friends, parents and family members.”

The weekend includes free entertainment, the annual Alumni Awards Banquet and a football game against the University of Central Oklahoma. Other activities surrounding the football game include the Bearcat Zone tailgate and the halftime introduction of Northwest’s Family of the Year.

All students, employees and visitors are expected to follow Northwest’s COVID-19 mitigation measures and changes to scheduled events may occur.

Additional details are provided below, and a complete schedule is available at www.nwmissouri.edu/getinvolved/familyweekend/. For more information, contact the Office of Student Involvement at 660.562.1226 or osi@nwmissouri.edu.

Entertainment

Northwest’s Student Activities Council (SAC) and the Office of Student Involvement is sponsoring free entertainment Friday, Sept. 24, and Saturday, Sept. 25 on campus.

Musician T-Ray the Violinist will perform at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Charles Johnson Theater in the Fine Arts building. T-Ray has performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival and has teamed up with artist Hill Harper and comedian Sheryl Underwood. For more information about T-Ray, visit www.traytheviolinist.com.

Bobby’s Treasure Hunt will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Memorial Bell Tower after the Bearcat Breakfast and prior to the Bearcat Zone tailgate. Students and families are invited to solve clues and find campus locations to win Bobby bucks, which are good for a 21-percent discount on a purchase at the Bearcat Bookstore. Pre-registration is encouraged, but tickets also may be purchased at the Bell Tower.

Hypnotist and comedian Chris Jones will captivate at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Charles Johnson Theater in the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building. Jones is known for his performance on “America’s Got Talent,” and he is the host of an upcoming Facebook Watch series, “Double Take.” For more information about Jones, visit www.hypnotistchrisjones.com.

Other activities for families on Saturday include the annual 5k Run/Walk sponsored by Northwest Athletic Trainers, beginning at 7 a.m. at the Lamkin Activity Center, and the Bearcat Breakfast featuring Chris Cakes from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Centennial Garden between North and South Complex. Registration is required for the 5K Run/Walk and the Bearcat Breakfast.

Athletics

Kickoff for the Bearcat football game against the University of Central Oklahoma is 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Bearcat Stadium. For ticket information and other details about the game, visit bearcatsports.com.

The Bearcat Zone, Northwest’s tailgate area prior to all home football games, gets underway at 11:30 a.m. at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion and features family-friendly activities. Fans may bring their own food, or a tailgate meal is available for $12 for adults and $5 for children 7 and under.

A pep rally begins at 12:30 p.m. and features performances by Bobby Bearcat, the Bearcat Marching Band, Bearcat Steppers and the Bearcat cheerleaders.

Alumni Awards banquet

Distinguished members of the Northwest family will be honored during the Alumni Awards Banquet, sponsored by the Northwest Alumni Association. The event begins with a social at 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 24, in the Agricultural Learning Center at the R.T. Wright Farm. The dinner and awards presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.

For more information about the Alumni Awards Banquet, contact the Office of University Advancement at 660.562.1248 or alumni@nwmissouri.edu. An RSVP is required for the event by Friday, Sept. 10.