Parents’ Weekend, an annual spring celebration honoring Aggie moms and dads since 1919, is set for Friday through Sunday (April 8-10) at Texas A&M University.
Parents’ Weekend activities this year, billed as “A Weekend Bigger Than Texas,” include the annual Aggie Moms’ Boutique, concerts by the Singing Cadets, athletic events including the football team’s spring game, along with various Aggie performances and open houses. It concludes Sunday with numerous award presentations. A complete schedule of events is available here.
The Aggie Moms’ Boutique, a gift-and-craft fair that is one of the most popular events of Parents’ Weekend, is set for Friday (April 8) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday (April 9) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Booths with items for sale will be located on the second level of the Memorial Student Center both days.
The boutique is considered by planners as a particularly fitting way to begin because Parents’ Weekend has its roots in Aggie Mothers’ Club activities. The club was formed early in the school’s history with the goal of lending help to the then all-cadet student body.
In response, an open house was held for the moms in May for Mother’s Day from 1919 until 1969. At that time, when graduation was changed to early May, the open house program moved to April and has continued to expand through the years beyond the traditional flower pinning, chapel services and military reviews for moms.
It now includes an entire weekend of fun activities that has Aggie families flocking to the campus.
Aggie Ring Day, the day long-awaited by students and their parents, is scheduled from 9:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. One of the greatest moments in the life of any Aggie is the day that he or she receives the ring symbolizing they have met all the required academic accomplishments to date. This Ring Day event is planned during the weekend to allow parents to be present as their Aggies receive their rings.
Instead of having one large awards presentation at the end of the weekend, as was the arrangement for decades, award presentations are now spread out over the entire weekend. The first of these presentations will be the Who’s Who Awards presented to Aggies who have been acknowledged as exceptional student leaders. This presentation is set for 3:30 p.m. Friday in Rudder Exhibit Hall.
Aggie Game Night is planned from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Zone Club at Kyle Field. This event will feature board games, dominoes, bingo and performances from several student organizations. Those performers include Percussion Studio, Deaf Aggies & Friends, Apotheosis and the Order of Aggie Illusionists. Check the schedule of events for the performance times for each group.
Yell Practice is planned at Kyle Field at 10 p.m. Friday. At that time, the “Aggie Parents of the Year” will be named, concluding Friday’s events.
Several sports events are scheduled during the weekend, including the Aggie’s spring football game set for 5 p.m. Saturday at Kyle Field and a three-game SEC baseball series with the University of Georgia at Blue Bell Park, beginning with a game at 6:30 p.m. Friday.In addition, the12th Man Foundation Spring Game Tailgate will be Saturday from 2 to 5:30 p.m. at North Victory Street at Kyle Field. The tailgate includes food and non-alcoholic beverages, cash bar, games and SEC Network coverage with fellow Aggies plus a game ticket with seating in the Field Boxes for $25, or $20 for those who already have a game ticket. The first 100 students to register for a 12th Man Foundation New Grad or Student Membership will receive a $35 gift card to the Texas A&M Bookstore. To register, click here. The times and locations of other athletic events are listed on the schedule of events.
Several open houses are planned throughout the weekend at various colleges and departments and the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs will welcome guests at the vice president’s home Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon. The home is located on Throckmorton Street across from the Sanders Corps of Cadets Center.
Physics and Engineering Festival is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy and Mitchell Physics Building. This event will feature exhibits and hands-on demonstrations, Science Circus by Rhys Thomas, Nobel Laureates David Lee and Dudley Herschbach, astronaut Bonnie Dunbar, and author Sean Carroll. For a complete schedule of events, visit http://physicsfestival.tamu.edu.
Shipwreck Weekend is Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 208, Scoates Hall and Anthropology Building. Visitors are invited to come experience the world of nautical archaeology with free public lectures from 10:30 a.m. to noon in SCTS 208. The Nautical Archaeology Program Open House is noon to 5 p.m. in the Anthropology Building and families, students and kids can come explore the labs and participate in fun activities. For more information, visit http://nautarch.tamu.edu/shipwreck_weekend.
The Freudian Slip Improv Comedy group will perform at 7 p.m. in Rudder Theater. The group performs true improv comedy that is fun for the whole family and extremely entertaining. Tickets are $6 at the MSC Box Office.
The Singing Cadets will be in concert Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Rudder Auditorium. Known as the “Voice of Aggieland,” since 1893, the Singing Cadets’ concert is one of the most popular events at each year’s Parents’ Weekend. Tickets are on sale at the MSC Box Office.
The Corps of Cadets will host several activities during the weekend, including performances by the Parsons Mounted Cavalry, the Ross Volunteers and the Fish Drill Team. Those events will be followed by the presentation of individual cadet awards and a review and unit awards ceremony. For more information on these events, see the schedule of events.
The weekend’s activities conclude Sunday (April 10) with the Buck Weirus Spirit Awards ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. The award honors students who have made a significant contribution to student programs.
The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, along with the University Art Galleries and other community events, are also open to visitors and more information about those events can be found on the schedule.
Media contact: Tura King, Texas A&M News & Information Services, tura-king@tamu.edu.
