We offer a variety of activities so you can plan your ultimate Family Weekend experience. Some notes to consider:
- Events are complimentary unless otherwise noted.
- Ticketed events may fill quickly so reserve early.
- Unless otherwise noted, tickets are one per person, including your Wildcat.
- Registration & ticket sales begin August 29 at 3pm. Advanced ticket sales end Sept. 29.
- All sales are final/no refunds.
- Family Weekend fun happens in rain or shine. If it does rain, some events may move inside.
Click on each date below to see what's scheduled, and check back often to stay informed on any updates.
Arriving early? Check out these event on the Harborside Campus:
11am–3pm / Taste of the Ocean State / Bayside Terrace (behind the Athletic Practice Facility/adjacent to the athletic fields)
Help us celebrate Rhode Island’s unique culinary landscape at this year’s Taste of the Ocean State! Campus Dining & JWU’s culinary clubs team up to share Ocean State staples with a JWU twist. Join your student for this fun, educational food experience that will feature local vendors, live music, demos and more . No advance ticket is required; cash or credit accepted at the door - $10.50 per person. Students can use a meal swipe for entry.
12pm–5pm / Culinary Arts Museum / Friedman Center
Stroll through our collection at your leisure and learn more about this hidden JWU gem.
All of the below activities are on the Downcity Campus!
2–7pm / Check-in / Gaebe Commons
Kick off the weekend with some music and outdoor games. Stop by to check in and get any tickets you reserved. You can also purchase Family Weekend commemorative tees – or pick up any you purchased in advance – and chat with members of the Family Weekend planning team.
4pm / Weybosset Historical Walking Tour / Starts @ Abbott Park
Learn about the arts, entertainment and historic architecture scene along Weybosset Street, adjacent to JWU’s Downcity Campus. Faculty from the Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Hospitality & Business will lead the conversation during an easy stroll starting at Abbott Park, traveling toward the Providence River, and back to Abbott Park via Westminster Street. Tickets not required, but group size is limited to approximately 50 and will be monitored on the day of the tour.
5pm –7pm / JWU Travelers' Family Feud / Bridge Center, Xavier Complex
Come find the JWU Travelers for a game of Family Feud. No sign-ups required.
6:30 pm –7:30 pm / Wildcat Family Trivia / Pepsi Forum, Wales Hall
Are you tired of showing off all that knowledge only to receive a letter grade? Would you rather show off that knowledge for the pursuit of glory, bragging rights, and PHYSICAL PRIZES?!?! Head to Pepsi Forum for some group trivia! Hosted by Jaimie Stone, Associate Professor of Arts & Sciences.
8pm / e-BINGO / Schneider Auditorium, Xavier Academic Complex
We're back for a third year of Family Weekend e-card BINGO! Join us for some fun and a chance to win a giftcard prize. Participants must have their own device (phone or tablet; make sure it's charged) to access the internet. Ten rounds of play = ten chances to win! No charge, but note that seating is limited!
9:30pm / Fun with the JWU Players / Pepsi Forum, Wales Hall
Our theater-focused student organization, the JWU Players, is excited to present a one-act play. Prepare to be entertained as you watch the Players show off their talent. Optional donations toward the Players' spring musical accepted at the door.
All activities on the Harborside Campus!
3 sessions - 9-10:30am, 12-1:30pm & 3-4:30pm / Zwilling Knife Classes for Families / CCCE 101 (Free ticketed event. Max 20 participants per session) SOLD OUT
Workshop for family members led by Zwilling Knives.
10am–4:00pm / Check-in / Wildcat Center Lobby
If you missed us on Friday, stop by to check in, pick up or purchase Family Weekend commemorative tees, and chat with members of the Family Weekend planning team.
10am - 12pm / Family Weekend Brunch / Bayside Terrace (behind the Athletic Practice Facility/adjacent to the athletic fields) (ticketed event; $30/JWU student, $40/guest, $20/children under 12) SOLD OUT
Join us for Family Weekend Brunch, crafted by JWU’s own Catering Department. Enjoy a delicious spread featuring multiple food stations, a variety of local ingredients, and something for everyone to enjoy. Gather with fellow Wildcats and their families to share great food, warm company, and lasting memories.
10:30–11:30am / Wildcat Chat with the Dean / Wildcat Center Lounge
Join our Vice President of Student Affairs as she reflects on the first weeks of the academic year.
10am–3pm / Culinary Arts Museum / Friedman Center
Stroll through our collection at your leisure and learn more about this hidden JWU gem.
11am–1pm / Animal Health Demo / Friedman Center 1st Floor
Join Christopher Holland, Associate Professor of Arts & Science as he leads a heart rate activity with stuffed animals and stethoscopes; practice bandaging placement.
11am–2pm / Outdoor Crime Scene Demo / Bayside Terrace (behind the Athletic Practice Facility/adjacent to the athletic fields)
Join James Desmarais, Professor of Arts and Science, as he gives a demonstration of crime scene processing, such as using a grid, screens/digging for items, documentation etc.
11am–5pm / Wildcat Wahoo / Lot F (across from the CCCE Building)
We're excited to combine one of our favorite annual traditions – Wildcat Wahoo – with Family Weekend. The whole family can enjoy unlimited carnival rides and other surprises at Wahoo. Note this activity is weather dependent and may be postponed to Sunday in the event of heavy rain.
11am–5pm / Food Trucks / Lot F (across from the CCCE Building)
Take a break and enjoy cuisine from some of Rhode Island's most popular food trucks. All food truck vendors accept cash and/or credit cards.
11:30am–4:30pm / Wildcat Spirit Zone / Lot F (across from the CCCE Building)
Pumpkin painting, music, games, and more. Visit the Spirit Zone throughout the day.
2 sessions - 1-1:30pm & 1:45pm-2:15pm / Cake Creations / Bayside Terrace (behind the Athletic Practice Facility/adjacent to the athletic fields) (ticketed event; $10 per family (up to 5 participants)) SOLD OUT
The Time Starts NOW! You will have thirty minutes to gather your team, show your Wildcat pride, and get creative! Decorate your personalized cake together in a fun, hands-on experience that’s as sweet as it is memorable. Perfect for team bonding, celebrating as Wildcats, or just letting your imagination run wild—because every cake tells a story!
1–4pm / Culinary Showcase / Cuisinart Center for Culinary Excellence
This is when students and chefs from our College of Food Innovation & Technology shine. Visit our state-of-the-art academic labs and enjoy complimentary samplings of sweet and savory foods. Learn about some of our culinary-focused clubs & orgs, which may have their popular goodies for sale. Don't miss our JWU artisans at work.
2–3pm / Beer Tasting / Cintas Dining Room, HAC Building (ticketed event; $15/person) SOLD OUT
Attention beer enthusiasts or casual fans: Enjoy an interactive experience and lively discussion led by CFIT faculty. Registration is open to all but participants must be 21 or older to sample beer.
2–4pm / Clicker Training a Chicken / Coopa Cabana chicken coop - Outside of the Haborside Academic Center
Christopher Holland, Associate Professor of Arts & Science, leads a demonstration of how to use a lure to clicker train a chicken.
12–5pm / Men's & Women's Soccer/ Women's Volleyball / Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics complex & The Wildcat Center
Cheer on your Wildcats during the men's and women's soccer games. No registration is necessary.
Athletics contests: Women's Soccer starts @ 12pm; Women's Volleyball stats @ 2pm; Men's Soccer starts @ 3pm
WaterFire / Downcity Providence 
Experience a must-see Providence tradition: WaterFire! This spectacular event brings residents and visitors alike to Rhode Island's capital city for a night of community, art, culture and more.
With a full WaterFire lighting happening in conjunction with Family Weekend, we invite JWU families to take it all in. Enjoy complimentary parking in JWU's Downcity Garage (offered to Family Weekend registrants only). After walking toward the Providence River, take your time exploring all activities along the WaterFire route. Immerse yourself in this wonderful Providence event.
Be sure to look for JWU's Family Weekend tent at WaterFire and stop by to see us.
Learn more by visiting the WaterFire website. For planning purposes, consider the following:
- JWU Garage access available 5:30-10:30pm
- WaterFire onshore activities begin at 5:30
- WaterFire lighting is at sunset (6:22pm), but visitors will arrive & depart all throughout the night
- Reminder: The JWU Parking garage closes at 11pm.
Download a walking map from the JWU Garage to Waterfire family-weekend/waterfiresign.pdf
All activities on the Harborside Campus!
9:30am / Flutie 5K / Harborside Campus Grounds
The brothers of Theta Delta Chi fraternity bring their annual philanthropic support of the Doug Flutie Foundation's 5K for Autism to Family Weekend. This year we are including a 1/2 5k in addition to the “normal” 5k race for anyone who prefer to take things a little slower. The race kicks off at 9:30 am.
Run, walk or roll through the course on JWU's Harborside Campus.
Find complete details and register your family for the 5K direclty through the Flutie 5K website. All proceeds from this event go towards supporting the Sargent Rehabilitation Center, a special education school for children and young adults in Warwick. Thank you for supporting students from Theta Delta Chi. JWU is proud of their commitment to the Flutie 5K.
1pm / Family Movie / Wildcat Center Lounge
Join us for Superman (2025), directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. In this thrilling new chapter, Superman faces a global crisis and a plot to turn the world against him—all while proving why he remains a symbol of hope.
Cheer on our Wildcat athletes during intercollegiate competition. All games take place on the Harborside Campus, as noted.
Saturday, Oct. 4 @ 12pm / Women's Soccer vs. Endicott / Scott's Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex
Saturday, Oct. 4 @ 2pm / Women's Volleyball vs. Western New England / Wildcat Center Main Gym
Saturday, Oct. 4 @ 3pm / Men's Soccer vs. Endicott / Scott's Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex