ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – The campus of Winthrop University will be abuzz on Saturday, Oct. 7, as the institution holds its popular Family Day.
Organizers are excited to hold this event, particularly since last year’s Family Day was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.
Started by President Shelton J. Phelps in 1936, Family Day was revived in 2007 to become a fun-filled, engaging, and educational event for students and their families. It is one of the first chances families have to visit with their students once the new school year has started.
“Family Day is a chance to learn more about, and to appreciate, the many opportunities available for students to get involved,” said Miranda Knight, assistant dean of students. “October is a very pleasant time of year here so we hope families can take advantage of the beautiful weather to enjoy all the region has to offer.”
Family Day Schedule
Check-in for Family Day starts on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9-10:30 a.m. in Tuttle Dining Room, McBryde Hall.
Families will receive a warm welcome from Interim Provost Peter Judge and from Shelia Burkhalter, vice president for student affairs, in McBryde Hall at 10:15 a.m. Guests will then fan out across the campus to participate in one of six different showcases for: the Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business Administration; Education, Sport and Human Sciences; Visual and Performing Arts; and Winthrop Life.
At noon, the Eagle Family Lunch and Musical Showcase will be held and features performances by various bands, musical ensembles and choirs through the Department of Music. President Edward Serna ’02 will deliver a welcome to families and students. Tables will be set out under the trees on the front lawn of Byrnes Auditorium so families can enjoy a picnic lunch and the talents of student musicians.
Activities from 2-5 p.m. will take place around the campus. Families can decorate pumpkins or cookies or have a sketch drawn by a caricature artist on the Margaret Nance lawn. Inside activities include rock climbing at the West Center, trivia quizzes at the Edge, DiGiorgio Campus Center, or a story time for young children at the Winthrop Bookstore.
Families can also add to Winthrop’s beautiful campus by helping to plant a tree or other plant(s) for future Eagles to enjoy. Meanwhile over by the Winthrop Coliseum, there is a men’s soccer game versus Radford and a disc golf competition. Professionals in the U.S. Disc Golf Championship will vie for the national crown on Winthrop’s Gold Course, which is considered one of the premier disc golf courses in the country.
Off campus, there are plenty of festivals to enjoy throughout the weekend, such as the 19th Annual Blues & Jazz Festival and First Fridays, both in downtown Rock Hill; the Cotton Hills Farm Fall Festivities in Chester; or SCarowinds where Carowinds is transformed from a theme park to a scream park.
Please check out the schedule here. Keep track of what is happening with the social media hashtag #WUFamilyDay2023.
For more information, e-mail the Office of New Student & Family Programs at FamilyProgramsGA@winthrop.edu.
