Hundreds of families are expected for IUP's 2011 Family Weekend celebration. A number of activities will be offered.

Events open Friday, October 28, with the African American Cultural Center's “Honor Thy Mother and Thy Father” reception and showing of the film The Help in Pratt Hall Auditorium.

The Alan Parsons Movement Project: The Human Situation, the music of the Alan Parsons Project interpreted in dance, will be presented at 7:00 p.m. in Zink Hall Dance Theater and repeated October 29 and 30. Tickets must be purchased for this concert.

Events on Saturday, October 29, include the traditional continental brunch in the Hadley Union Building atrium and Ohio Room, beginning at 9:30 a.m. David Werner, interim president, and members of the administration and faculty will be in attendance to meet families. At the brunch, the Kids' Korner will offer temporary tattoos, games, and activities especially for younger visitors.

During the brunch, families will have the chance to purchase tickets for the IUP Ambassadors' tuition raffle. The IUP Ambassadors student group will give away one semester of in-state tuition. The winner will be announced during the IUP football game.

A traditional highlight of the weekend is the Family Weekend football game at 1:00 p.m. October 29, featuring the Crimson Hawks against California University of Pennsylvania in the annual Coal Bowl. The marching band will perform at halftime and offer its traditional postgame performance.

The Coal Bowl, in its third year, is presented by the Pennsylvania Coal Association. The winning team will receive a coal miner's pail trophy, donated by Barry Lippencott, a 1967 IUP graduate, and his brother, Bob Lippencott, a 1966 California University of Pennsylvania graduate. The Lippencotts have each made a donation to their universities to establish a named scholarship for football student-athletes.

Veterans will also be celebrated during the football game's halftime festivities.

The “Haunted IUP: The Ghosts Speak” program will be offered again this year at 6:30 p.m. in Eberly, Room 121. The program is presented by Laurel Black and the Paranormal Society at IUP. The group will work with electronic voice phenomena (EVP), or “ghost voices.” The program is free and open to the community, but advance tickets are required. The program is not suitable for young children.

Several other events are offered free of charge:

Saturday, October 29

  • 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.: Bingo, HUB Ohio Room, sponsored by BACCHUS, a university-based network focusing on comprehensive health and safety initiatives. Its mission is to promote student leadership on campus and in the community on healthy lifestyle decisions concerning alcohol and tobacco use, illegal drug use, sexual practices, and other behaviors.
  • 3:00 p.m.: Women's soccer game versus Alderson-Broaddus College, South Campus Field
  • 3:30 p.m.: The African American Cultural Center will hold a reception, “Honor Thy Mother and Thy Father,” and will present the film The Help in Eberly Auditorium. The film will be shown again at 9:00 p.m.
  • 3:30–5:30 p.m.: Karaoke and board games by SOAR (Students Opting for an Alternative Residence) program, HUB Monongahela Room
  • 4:00 p.m.: Women's volleyball game against Mercyhurst at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex
  • 5:30–7:30 p.m.: Family Weekend Dinner, Crimson Event Center, Folger Hall (tickets required)
  • 7:00 p.m.: Alan Parsons Movement Project: The Human Situation, Zink Hall Dance Studio (tickets required)
  • 8:00 p.m.: Mystical Arts of Tibet, Sacred Music, Sacred Dance. Performing Arts Center's Fisher Auditorium (tickets required)

Sunday, October 30

  • 3:00 p.m.: Litton String Quartet in concert, Gorell Recital Hall, second floor of Sutton Hall
  • 7:00 p.m. Annual Bands in Review concert, Performing Arts Center's Fisher Auditorium
  • 7:00 p.m.: Final presentation of the Alan Parsons Movement Project, Zink Hall Dance Theater

Tickets must be purchased for all three concerts.

For more information about Family Weekend, contact the Center for Student Life at 724-357-1264.