Washburn University’s annual Family Weekend returns for the fall 2025 semester with plenty of events for the whole family to enjoy.

Starting the weekend off is a buy one get one 50% off sale at the Ichabod Shop starting Friday, Sept. 26, and will last until Saturday, Sept. 27. Also on Sept. 26 is Volleyball vs Northwest Missouri State University at 6 p.m. in Whiting Fieldhouse. 

At 7 p.m., comedian Preacher Lawson will be performing in the Washburn A/B room in the Memorial Union. Lawson is most known for being a finalist on the 12th season of “America’s Got Talent” and will be performing his current tour, “The Dysfunctional Family Tour.” The event is free for all students and is hosted by the Campus Activities Board.

The Sept. 27 events start at 9 a.m. on the Memorial Union Lawn with caricatures, calligraphy and airbrush tattoos. At 10 a.m., there will be games from the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, henna artists and inflatables. During this time, Steven Bankey and The Flatland Band will also be performing live music on the Lawn.

At 11 a.m. the Family Day tailgate will officially begin. Following the tailgate is the WU vs. University of Nebraska at Kearney football kickoff at 1 p.m. in Yager Stadium.

Alongside the kickoff,the Mulvane Art Museum is hosting its own Family Day at the Mulvane Art Lab with face painting, collage making, drawing and a loom weaving activity with Yale Taylor and  Pineapple Dream’s Dole Whip.

At 1:30 p.m., writer and storyteller Annette Billings will share poetry in the “Around the Way Folk” exhibition until 2:30 P.M. when Billings will present a storytime in the Art Lab.

To end the Family Weekend festivities, students can attend the Washburn vs Missouri Western State University volleyball match at 6 p.m. in Whiting Fieldhouse.

All Washburn students can attend these events and more for free when they sign in with Campus Groups or bring their valid Washburn iCard.

Edited by Anushma Dahal and Jeremy Ford.