MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin is holding its annual Family Weekend, Sept. 26-28, on the main campus. This event offers current UT Martin students and their families the opportunity to visit, become more familiar with the UTM campus, and enjoy a weekend full of food, fun activities and informational discussions.
Family Weekend kicks off at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, in the Boling University Center’s Duncan Ballroom, where Michelle Norris will speak for the Dr. Henry Parker Speaker Series. Norris is a host on the acclaimed NPR program “All Things Considered.” She is also a columnist for the Washington Post and is a New York Times bestseller.
Food truck night is from 4-8 p.m. at Festival Park in Downtown Martin, where students and families can buy food from various food truck vendors, accompanied by games and music, before Chancellor Yancy Freeman’s welcome and the UTM 125th Anniversary Celebration at 6 p.m. Skyhawk Bingo will follow at 6:15 p.m.
On Saturday, Sept. 27, Skyhawk students and family can stop by the Martin Farmer’s Market from 8-9:30 a.m. at 101 Main St., followed by Donuts with Deans and the Skyhawk Academic Showcase at 9:30 a.m. in the Duncan Ballroom. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sodexo will host a barbecue lunch in the Skyhawk Dining Hall, and from 1-4 p.m. in the Duncan Ballroom will be UTM’s Severe Weather Awareness Symposium. The first-time event will feature the university’s meteorology students who will share their knowledge about weather awareness.
At 3 p.m. in the Watkins Auditorium, students and families are invited to the Dale K Comedy Hypnosis Show, before the Family Weekend Tailgate Party kicks off at 4:30 p.m. at Hardy Graham Stadium. The party will last until the 6 p.m. football game when the Skyhawks will host Southeast Missouri State University. Directly following the end of the game, students and families can enjoy the Family Weekend Fireworks Show.
After a busy Saturday, students and families can attend the Sodexo Sunday Brunch in the Skyhawk Dining Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28. To conclude Family Weekend, students and families can watch the Skyhawk soccer team compete against Eastern Illinois University at 2 p.m. at Skyhawk Soccer Field.
For more information on event pricing and registration, and to view the full Family Weekend schedule, visit www.utm.edu/familyweekend.
Photo: Kameron Echols, the university’s director of student leadership and campus culture, is pictured at Skyhawk Bingo during 2024 Family Weekend. The popular Family Weekend activity will return this year.