Student Events Board
Family Weekend 2026
FRIDAY October 2 - SATURDAY October 3, 2026
Please join the Siena community for this year’s Family Weekend Celebration!
Ticketing Information
To purchase tickets:
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Please visit our ticketing website to purchase tickets (Guest Ticket).
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Create an account if you do not already have one at checkout.
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Check your email inbox for a confirmation email; sometimes there is a few-minute delay before receiving your email.
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Please bring with you the QR code ticket email to the Check-In Table at Family Weekend to scan and receive your wristbands.
Ticket Options:
Family Weekend Guest Ticket
$5.00 per person (over the age of 5)
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This ticket grants you access to a majority of the weekend's events, including (but not limited to): Card Games and Neon Sign Painting, Blessing of the Animals, Outdoor Lawn Games and Inflatable Attractions, Fireworks, Bingo, and the CSA Car Show.
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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 Check In table.
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In order to access events during the weekend, a $5 Family Weekend ticket is required for all family members, supporters, friends, etc.
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*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]*
Schedule of Events
FRIDAY, October 2, 2026
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Check-in & Apparel Sale 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 | Womens Volleyball vs Manhattan - UHY Center
7:00 pm | Neon Painting, Card Games, and Bundt Cakes - SSU 240 & Caseys
Get into the true Las Vegas spirit and play some card games with our casino tables or paint your own custom neon sign. Catering from Nothing Bundt Cakes* will be supplied.
(*Limited Quantity, First Come, First Served)
SATURDAY, October 3, 2026
10:00 am - 2:00 pm | Check-in & Apparel Sale 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 6th Annual Car Show
Cruise on over to enjoy CSA’s 6th 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 | Gleanings Reception - Massry Dining Hall
Invitation Only | Gleanings: A Journal of First Year at Siena Seminar Student Writing, currently in its 16th 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 | Inflatable Attractions and Lawn Games - Academic Quad
Have a blast with our Inflatable Attractions, including an Obstacle Course and a Bungee Run. If that isn't your speed, we also have Axe Throwing, Soccer Darts, and an LED Photo Booth. We will also have a variety of Siena’s favorite lawn games out like cornhole, Kan Jam, and Spike Ball.
Lunch Trucks (for purchase from truck)
Backroads Burger, Big Ds Meats BBQ, Electro Taco Truck, Hungry Traveler, Pies on Wheels, Times Square Catering
Snack Trucks (included with Family Weekend wristband as supplies last)
Stewart's Ice Cream, Freddy’s Rockin Lemonade, NYC Kettle Corn
2:00 pm | Women’s Volleyball vs Iona - UHY Center
3:00 pm | Blessing of the Animals - Grotto
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 - 5:00 pm | Siena’s Got Talent! - Nigro Plaza
Gather the family outdoors for Siena’s Got Talent, a lively open-mic showcase celebrating acts of all kinds.
3:00 pm | Men’s Soccer vs Saint Peter’s - Hickey Field
6:30 pm | Transitus Service - Chapel (processing to the Grotto)
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.
7:45 pm - 9:15 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.
9:30 pm | Fireworks - MAC Lawn
Fireworks will light up the Siena campus in celebration of Family Weekend at 9:30 pm, after Bingo wraps up. You can view them from the lawn in front of the MAC, closest to the baseball field.
TIME TBA | Women’s & Men’s Rugby - Siena Rugby Pitch
SUNDAY, October 4, 2026
10:00 am | Family Weekend Feast of St. Francis Mass - SSU240
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.
FAQs
What do Siena students need to do/purchase?
Siena Students can attend all events 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 Check-In table. They do not need to purchase the $5 guest ticket to attend the various events for the weekend.
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 $5 Guest ticket, you are free to attend any and all events listed on the schedule above. 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 Check-In 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 $5 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 $5 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.