NW Missouri Times

Families of Northwest Missouri State University students are invited for a weekend of entertainment and athletic activities as the University celebrates its annual Family Weekend from September 27 to 29.

“This is a chance for parents, friends and different family members to come back and see the new life that students have started outside of anything they’ve ever known before,” Faith Thompson, Northwest’s student involvement coordinator, said. “We want it to be that home away from home for students, faculty and staff – and for parents to know that their child is taken care of.”

The weekend includes free entertainment and a football game against Emporia State University. Other activities include the Bearcat Zone tailgate and the halftime introduction of .

Additionally, Northwest dining locations will be open for families to enjoy. On Saturday, September 28, Bearcat Commons, an all-you-care-to-eat dining facility in the J.W. Jones Student Union, will open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Chick-fil-A in the Student Union will open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Buffalo Wild Wings Go in The Station will open from 11 a.m. to midnight.

Savio Joseph, a magician and entertainer, will perform at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 27, in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building. The performance is free and open to the public. Joseph has been featured in outlets such as Maclean’s magazine, TEDx, and CTV.

The annual 5K/Walk sponsored by Northwest Athletic Trainers begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday, September 28, at the Lamkin Activity Center circle drive. Registration is $30.

Additionally, a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Office of Student Involvement features Chris Cakes from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion.

The Student Activities Council will host bowling for Northwest families from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday at Bearcat Lanes located at 1803 S. Main Street in Maryville.

For families interested in theatre, Theatre Northwest will stage its “Fall Evening of One-Acts” from September 26-28 with show times at 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts.

Bearcat football will play its Family Weekend game at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Bearcat Stadium.

The Bearcat Zone tailgate area opens three hours before all home football games at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion offering a family-friendly environment with food options available for purchase.

In addition to Saturday’s football game against Emporia State University, other scheduled games include matches against Washburn University on Friday evening and Northeastern State University on Sunday afternoon.