Family Weekend

friday, october 3

TIME	EVENT	LOCATION
9:00am-5:00pm	Open Lectures Select professors will open their regular classes to visiting families during Family Weekend. Parents are welcome to attend a lecture with their student in their student’s class only. This is a great chance to experience academic life at CofO. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please arrive before the start of class to avoid interruption.	Classes (see schedule below, posted by Oct. 1)
	Work Station Show Off Participating work stations will offer families a chance to get a glimpse into their students’ on-campus work environment. Not all work stations will be open, so please refer to the official list and confirm details with your student before visiting.	Participating Work Stations (see list below, posted by Oct. 1)
9:00am-4:00pm	Art Gallery Exhibits Open to the public during Family Weekend, the Boger Art Gallery invites families to explore a showcase of student artwork. Come experience the creativity and talent of our student artists in a professional gallery setting.	Boger Art Gallery
5:00pm-7:00pm	On Site (late) Registration & Information Just arriving in town and decided to join Family Weekend? No problem! Stop by late registration to pick up your information packet and wristbands for campus events. If you have any questions, this is the perfect place to get help and make the most of your visit.	Watson-Tilmon Conference Room
7:30pm	Chapel - Special Guest Speaker Jim Burns Begin Family Weekend with a time of praise and worship, followed by a special message from guest speaker Jim Burns, author of Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out. He will share insights on parenting adult children and offer encouragement on building mutual respect between parents and their grown children.	Jones
9:00pm-10:00pm	S'mores and Stories & Coffee Truck Join us under the stars on the track for an evening of s’mores, stories, and meaningful conversations with your family. Bring blankets or lawn chairs and settle in for intentional discussions sparked by provided conversation cards—covering topics you may never have thought to explore together. A local coffee truck will be on-site with drinks available for purchase.	Track

Saturday, october 4

TIME	EVENT	LOCATION
8:00am-11:00am	On Site (late) Registration & Information If you didn’t register online, this is your first stop before the fun begins! Pick up your welcome bag and wristbands, which are required for entry into dorms, meals, buildings, and all campus events. Need help or have questions? Information will be available during this time to help you make the most of your visit.	The Watson *The Coffee Shop will be open 7:30am-11:30am
8:00am-10:30am	CatChats 8:00 AM – Continental Breakfast Enjoy a light breakfast before CatChat sessions begin. Open to all attendees. 8:30 AM – CatChat with Jim Burns Dig deeper into Friday night’s chapel message with guest speaker Jim Burns. Gain further insight and take part in a live Q&A on parenting adult children and fostering mutual respect. 9:30 AM – CatChat with Dr. Jim Anderson Join Dr. Jim Anderson, Dean of Work, for an inside look at how the CofO Work Education Program operates and how it shapes the student experience. 10:00 AM – CatChat with Dr. Ryan Knight & ResLife Panel Hear from Dr. Ryan Knight, Dean of Students, and a panel from Residence Life as they discuss student housing, campus life, and how they support students throughout their college journey.	Plaster Auditorium
9:00am-12:00pm	Dorm Open House The perfect time to show off your dorm room, where your classes are, and some of your favorite places on campus. All dorms will be open to allow parents and siblings to check out your amazing home away from home.	Residential Halls & Buildings
9:00am	Phaze Craze Game Begins (turn in game card by 6pm in the Watson) Teams will complete photo missions and collect cards to build hands that match “phases” on the Phase Sheet. Each completed hand earns points. The top three teams with the most points will be announced during the After Dark Music Fest, and prizes given at that time! AMAZING PRIZES for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams!!!
9:00am-4:00pm	Art Gallery Exhibits Open to the public during Family Weekend, the Boger Art Gallery invites families to explore a showcase of student artwork. Come experience the creativity and talent of our student artists in a professional gallery setting.	Boger Art Gallery-Jones
9:00am-9:00pm	72-Hour Film Festival on loop Don’t miss this creative highlight of the weekend! Films produced by CofO students from the Spring 2025 72-Hour Film Festival will be shown on a continuous loop in Watson Cinema. Stop by anytime to enjoy original short films that were created, filmed, and edited within just 72 hours.	Watson-cinema
10:00am-4:00pm	Bobcat Baseball Scrimmage College of the Ozarks will host a scrimmage vs. Arkansas State University–Mountain Home. The scrimmage will be 18 innings, beginning at 12:00 PM. Batting practice for both teams will start at 10:00 AM. *Game ending time is an estimate.
10:30am-2:30pm	Bobcat Block Party Kick off game day with a classic tailgate-style celebration! Enjoy food trucks and coffee (available for purchase), outdoor games, music, and shop the Mini-Market featuring handmade items by students and staff. Get game-day ready with free tinsel, beads, braids, and face painting—all complimentary! Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, grab some lunch, and soak up the energy before cheering on the Lady Cats!	Davis Plaza
11:00am-12:00pm	Back Door Jam & Cookie Contest Cookie Contest-Sponsored by the Keeter Center Think you have the best cookie recipe—the one everyone begs you to make again and again? Now’s your chance to prove it! This year, the College of the Ozarks culinary chefs will award amazing prizes to the top three cookies. First place will also have their cookie featured at The Keeter Center bakery for one month. Bring us the most mouthwatering cookie your family loves—complete with a unique name that makes it unforgettable. How to Enter: Submit 4 cookies in a clear gallon-size ziplock bag. Include a typed sheet with: Your name, phone number, and email Your current student’s name Cookie name Full recipe with ingredients and instructions Cookie Drop-Off: Bring your cookies to the Backdoor Jam “cookie drop” by Davis Plaza (next to CM) — SEE MAP FOR LOCATION — between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 4. Cookie Contest Prizes: 1st Place-Cookie Recipe featured at the Keeter Center Bakery for 1 month PLUS a student-made product gift basket ($100 value) 2nd Place-Student-made product gift basket ($50 value) 3rd Place-Student-made trio sampler caddy ($30 value) Winners Announced: Winners will be revealed at the After Dark Music Fest on Saturday night. Backdoor Jam Swing by and enjoy some smooth jazz as you sample a variety of delicious student-made jams. It’s the perfect mix of music and tasty treats, celebrating creativity, community, and a little sweet inspiration! FYI: jams will be available for purchase at the Backdoor Jam location, at multiple locations on campus, and at the Mini Market.
1:00pm	Lady Cat Volleyball Game Come cheer on our Lady Bobcats to victory. Besides an awesome game to watch, multiple campus departments will be giving away the game some amazing prizes PLUS Bobcat merch will be available for purchase!	Keeter Gym
1:30pm-2:30pm	Fall Theater Production Get an exclusive look at the upcoming fall theater production during a special dress rehearsal performance by our talented student cast. Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes preview before the show officially opens in mid-October!	Jones Theater-Auditorium
3:30pm-4:30pm	Flamingo Football-ALL NEW! After the volleyball game, keep the energy going and head over to the track to cheer on your fellow students in Flamingo Football—a fun, spirited, and slightly ridiculous campus showdown! Pick your side—Team Pink or Team Black—and get loud as students compete in this lighthearted and lively tradition. It’s all about fun, laughs, and unforgettable campus memories!	The Coach Osburn Track
4:00pm-5:00pm	Chorale Concert You already know our students are talented—now come hear it for yourself! Cool off in the Chapel and be blown away by the powerful and inspiring voices of the College of the Ozarks Chorale.	Williams Memorial Chapel
4:00pm-6:00pm	Breakfast for Dinner with the Deans & VPs Enjoy your favorite breakfast foods—for dinner! Join the Deans and VPs for a relaxed evening of great food and conversation. This dinner at the Pearl is very popular, and there will be a line with a wait for entry, seating, and food. Please come prepared and pack a little patience—it’ll help make the evening much easier. $8 cash per person at the door. Current students no charge-must scan ID.**	The Pearl
6:30pm	Pumpkin Glow Walk Another addition to FW! Stroll through a festive outdoor display of candlelit pumpkins creatively carved and decorated by workstations, clubs, and dorms. Enjoy the artistry and vote for your favorite as part of this cozy and creative Family Weekend tradition. 🕘 Voting open from 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM 🕡 Pumpkins light up at 6:30 PM
7:03pm-8:30pm	After Dark Music Fest – It’s BACK! Join us for a night of live music under the stars, featuring performances by talented student bands! Bring your blankets or lawn chairs and settle in for this exciting new tradition. Enjoy the complimentary popcorn bar and kettle corn, and your favorite drinks from the coffee truck (available for purchase). We’ll wrap up the night by announcing the winners of the Phaze Craze game, cookie competition, and Pumpkin Glow—you won’t want to miss it!	Davis Plaza
8:45pm-9:30pm	Country Line Dancing at Davis Plaza Wrap up the night with a lively hoedown at Davis Plaza! Join some of our favorite instructors for an evening of line dancing, laughter, and great music. Kick up your heels and celebrate Family Weekend with a fun, high-energy finale!	Davis Plaza