Student Events Board 

Family Weekend 2025

 

FRIDAY October 3 - SATURDAY October 4, 2025

Please join the Siena community for this year’s Family Weekend Celebration!

 

Ticketing Information

To purchase tickets:

1. Please visit our ticketing website to purchase tickets (Guest Ticket and the Paint & Sip).

2. Create an account if you do not already have one at checkout.

3. Check your email inbox for a confirmation email; sometimes there is a few-minute delay before receiving your email.

4. Please bring with you the QR code ticket email to the Registration Table at Family Weekend to scan and receive your wristbands.

Ticket Options:

Family Weekend Guest Ticket 

$11.00 per person (over the age of 5)

• This ticket grants you access to a majority of the weekend's events, including (but not limited to): Snack on Some Facts Trivia Night, Upstate Escape & Food Trucks, Blessing of the Animals, Mini Golf, Photobooth, Fireworks, Bingo, and the CSA Car Show. 

• Siena Students do NOT need to purchase this Guest Ticket. Students will have a separate registration process via SaintsConnect to receive their wristbands. Scan this ticket and pick up your wristband at the Family Weekend Registration table. 

• In order to access events during the weekend, an $11 Family Weekend ticket is required for all family members, supporters, friends, etc. 

• *Please note: If guests do not plan to attend any Family Weekend Events, they do not need to purchase a Family Weekend Ticket to visit campus. [For example, if a family member is visiting only to bring a student off campus to dinner, a ticket is not required]*

Class of 2026 Guided Paint & Sip Ticket

$11.00 per person 

• This ticket grants you access to the Class of 2026 Guided Paint & Sip, which includes painting supplies and one drink ticket. 

• Guests AND Siena Students must purchase this ticket to attend this event. The event is intended for members of the graduating class and their families. 

• Capacity is limited for this event. 

 

Schedule of Events

FRIDAY October 3, 2025

6:00 pm - 8:30 pm | Registration Open - SSU Atrium

Make sure all family members and students pick up their wristbands so they can participate in the events throughout this weekend.

6:00 pm | Women's Volleyball vs. Iona - UHY Center

7:00 pm | Transitus Service - Chapel

Each year on the evening of October 3rd, the Franciscan family throughout the world pauses to celebrate the solemnity of our Holy Father Francis's Transitus.

8:00 pm | Snack on Some Facts Trivia Night - Casey’s & Paddock

Do you know your trivia? Relax after a day of travel - enjoy some snacks & dessert and head into Casey’s to test your trivia knowledge!

SATURDAY October 4, 2025

10:00 am - 3:00 pm | Registration Open - Nigro Plaza (Rain: SSU Atrium)

Make sure all family members and students pick up their wristbands so they can participate in the events throughout this weekend. 

10:00 am - 2:00 pm | Commuter Student Association 5th Annual Car Show - Lot H

Cruise on over to enjoy CSA’s 5th Annual Car Show featuring a variety of classic cars, exotic sports cars, and everything in between! We’ll also have live music from The Refrigerators throughout the event so come and groove to some great music.

11:00 am - 1:00 pm | Petting Zoo - Roger Bacon Lawn

Come meet the animals and enjoy the relaxation of a local petting zoo. On campus, you will be able to meet ponies, bunnies, baby goats, and chickens! Don’t miss out on this adorable opportunity to meet some unique furry friends. 

11:00 am | Gleanings Reception - Massry Dining Hall

Invitation Only | Gleanings: A Journal of First-Year Student Writing, currently in its 15th edition, celebrates the intellectual and engaging work being accomplished in First Year Seminar by publishing the finest and most provocative writing completed each year. Published authors and their family members are invited to attend the reception during Family Weekend to honor their achievement and to identify the award recipients for best research papers, best Franciscan-themed essay, and best essay focused on issues related to the work done by the Laudato Si' Center for Integral Ecology.

12:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Upstate Escape & Food Trucks

Join us for our annual Family Weekend Block Party: Upstate Escape. This year, enjoy Arts & Crafts, Lawn Games, Mini Golf, a Petting Zoo, and several food trucks (*food from food trucks is included but not guaranteed with registration; supplies are limited, wristbands required, available on a first-come, first-served basis).

Featured Food Trucks: Greek On The Run, The Hungry Traveler, Meatball Planet, Flacos Tacos, Freddy’s Rockin Lemonade, SienaFresh Hot Dogs

1:00 pm | Men's Rugby vs. Syracuse - Siena Rugby Pitch

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Class of 2026 Guided Paint & Sip - Massry Dining Hall

Enjoy a guided paint activity with the Class of 2026 and their families! Some light refreshments and a cash bar will be available. Tickets are $11 per person for students and their families and include all painting supplies and one drink ticket.  Check-in will begin at 1:45 and class will start promptly at 2:15! 

Ticket Required for Guests and Students

2:00 pm | Women's Volleyball vs. Manhattan - UHY Center

3:00 pm | Blessing of the Animals - St. Mary of the Angels Chapel Patio

St. Francis delighted in God’s presence wherever he found it, even in the least of God’s creatures. In remembrance of Francis’ love for all creation, bring your pet dog, cat, hamster, parrot, elephant, or giraffe to our annual feast day blessing of the animals.

3:00 pm | Men’s Soccer vs Rider | Hickey Field

4:30 pm | Family Weekend Mass - SSU Maloney Great Room

In keeping with our Franciscan and Catholic tradition, the celebration of the Eucharist is an integral part of our Family Weekend activities. All are welcome.

4:30pm | Men’s Club Hockey vs Binghamton - Albany County Hockey Facility

7:00 pm - 8:45 pm | Fireworks & Treats - Nigro Plaza & MAC Lawn 

Fireworks will light up the Siena campus in celebration of Family Weekend at 8:30 pm. You can view them from the lawn in front of the MAC, closest to the baseball field. 

Join us for desserts leading up to the fireworks from  7-9 pm on Nigro Plaza, featuring The Cookie House and Ben & Jerry’s!

9:00 pm - 10:30 pm | Siena Night Life (SNL) Bingo - MAC

Siena students love Bingo nights! Come experience the fun for yourself, with plenty of family-friendly prizes up for grabs. Desserts will be available. Seating is limited; first-come, first-served. 

 

FAQs

What do Siena students need to do/purchase? 

Siena Students can attend all events except The Class of 2025 Paint & Sip for no cost. Students will receive an email to fill out their Saints Connect Family Weekend Waiver which will allow them to pick up their wristband at the Family Weekend Registration table. They do not need to purchase the $11 guest ticket to attend the various events for the weekend. They DO need to purchase the add-on ticket that has limited capacity (Class of 2026 Paint & Sip). 

Do I (parent, guardian, family, or friend) need to purchase a Guest Ticket to visit my student? 

If guests do not plan to attend any Family Weekend Events, they do not need to purchase a Family Weekend Ticket to visit campus. For example, if a family member is visiting only to bring a student off campus to dinner; a ticket is not required. Tickets are required to attend any of the events listed in the schedule above. 

Are attending all events mandatory? 

In purchasing the $11 Guest ticket you are free to attend any and all events listed on the schedule above (excluding the add-on ticketed event). We encourage you to enjoy on-campus events however, attendance is of course, not required. 

I want to buy a Family Weekend T-shirt!

We do not hold presales for Family Weekend t-shirts. We will have merchandise for sale in person at the SSU Welcome Desk throughout the weekend, and the Siena Bookstore will be open. 

Can I register on campus in person? 

We encourage you to pre-register online as that will allow for a more timely check-in process, however, you can register at the Registration table during the weekend’s events.

Do I need a ticket to attend Bingo? 

We do not have a separate registration for our annual Bingo event. This event is included in the $11 Guest Ticket. We encourage you to get there early to secure your spot. 

Are there off-campus activities? 

If you want to spend time with your Siena Student off campus, there is plenty to do around the capital region! We will be posting a guide with other suggested local activities and events that you can enjoy on your own time if you are interested in activities other than the ones offered on campus. 

What tickets do I need as a family member visiting my student? 

The $11 Guest ticket grants you access to all of the events on the schedule. 

Do I need a ticket for my child under the age of 5?

Children under the age of 5 do not need a guest ticket for on-campus events during Family Weekend. 

Why is capacity limited for some events?

Due to fire code and capacity limitations, some spaces can only accommodate so many people. We attempt to hold events in the largest spaces possible and available to accommodate as many students and families as best we can. 

Are overnight guests allowed?

Guests staying overnight need to be registered by their Siena Student via the Guest Registration form. Please refer to the guidelines regarding overnight guests on the form. Please note overnight guests must be: registered at least 48 hours prior to the guest’s arrival, 17 years or older, of traditional College age, and of the same sex.

What would you recommend for lodging?

There are a number of hotels within a very short drive to Siena’s campus. We recommend searching for hotels in the areas surrounding Albany to get a variety of options.

What will be the on-campus dining options during Family Weekend?

Lonnstrom Dining Hall (Friday & Saturday)

Breakfast 7:30 am - 10:45 am

Lunch 11:15 am - 3:45 pm

Dinner 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Casey’s 

Breakfast 7:30 am - 10:30 am (Friday only)

Wrapped and Met Grill 11:00 am - 10:00 pm (Friday & Saturday)

Starbucks

Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

Saturday 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

Massry

Breakfast 7:30 am - 10:30 am (Friday) | 11:00 am - 2:00 pm (Saturday)

Quesadillas 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm (Friday) | 2:30 pm - 7:00 pm (Saturday)