Written by Jack Miller
Family weekend is back at Roanoke! After a year in which in-person events had been sadly limited due to the spread of COVID-19, this year sees the return of family weekend and all the events surrounding it. Parents, siblings, friends, and many others joined the activities the College planned to start on Friday.
As families began to arrive on campus on Friday they were welcomed by Friday on the Quad. There was live music out front of the Colket Center and Dining Services had provided everyone with great food to enjoy outside on the expansive back quad. Activities like Build-a-Bear, where students could fill different stuffed animals all decked out Roanoke College apparel, and Olin Galleries, exhibiting the Norma art car and handing out art kits were only the start of the day’s activities. As FOTQ wrapped up, families visited the Cavern for a trivia competition and watched the men’s soccer team beat Eastern Mennonite 6-0.
As Saturday rolled around the College offered a variety of morning activities for the families. Those who pre-registered went on hikes to McAfee Knob and Sawtooth Ridge. Parents of students were also offered a variety of informational sessions to visit to learn about the College’s future and different opportunities available for their students here at Roanoke. Food trucks and vendors provided outdoor dining for the families as well as dining services serving their weekend brunch inside.
As the day went on families were offered a variety of fun events to go to such as a poetry and fiction reading at the Olin Hall outdoor amphitheater, a bowling tournament, as well as the ever-popular Magic of Chemistry performance in Massengill. Families were also invited to watch the women’s field hockey team face off against St. Mary’s, and the women’s soccer team play against Randolph-Macon later on in the day.
As Saturday came to a close and Sunday rolled around, the College invited families once more to a morning brunch with their student before returning to their homes. As families said goodbye and left Roanoke, the campus returned back to its normal state as students began to prepare for their exams and bucked down to complete the last two weeks before fall break.
