September 17, 2021
SIU’s Family Weekend will offer fun for all ages
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saluki Family Weekend 2021 is coming to Southern Illinois University Carbondale Sept. 24-26, offering a variety of special memory-making events and activities for students, their families and the community.
The festivities include an outdoor film festival, concert, Greek Sing, craft sale, and, of course, tailgating and football.
SIU is committed to protecting the community, so all those attending Saluki Family Weekend events must follow current campus and state pandemic safety protocols and wear masks in shared indoor spaces.
Inspiring change
The inaugural “Mountainfilm on Tour” is an outdoor film presentation of action-packed documentaries showcasing stories depicting environmental, cultural, political and social justice issues. Free and open to the public, the festival launches at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 on the Becker Pavilion lawn on Campus Lake. The lawn will open for seating at 6 p.m.
Mountainfilm is an annual film festival in Telluride, Colorado, and a selection of the inspirational films shown there is coming to SIU, courtesy of Recreational Sports and Services.
Activities galore at the Student Center
Arts and crafts vendors from throughout the region will display their creations at the Family Weekend Craft Sale, taking place from 10 a. m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24 and 25. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
The Student Center will also offer karaoke and games at Bowling and Billiards from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24. There will be a photo booth on site as well for participants to enjoy.
Downtown concert
The new Off the Rails Concert Series, set to begin at 5 p.m. on Sept. 24, will feature performances by Radio Free Honduras, Jason Ringenberg and the Woodbox Gang. The free outdoor concert will be at the Washington Street Concert Venue at the corner of South Washington and East Main streets. Sponsors include the City of Carbondale, Carbondale Main Street and Consume Carbondale.
Check out Saluki talent
Don’t miss your chance to take in some skillful song, dance and skit performances by members of SIU’s sorority and fraternity community. The annual Greek Sing, set for 11 a.m. Sept. 25 on the steps of Shryock Auditorium, is one of SIU’s long-standing Family Weekend events, drawing large crowds annually for 86 years. Audience members vote by donations for their favorite performance.
Sponsored by SIU Fraternity and Sorority Life, the Panhellenic Association, the Interfraternity Council and the Multicultural Greek Council, the diverse, fun talent showcase is for all ages to enjoy.
Ready for some football?
The action moves from Shryock Auditorium to Saluki Stadium as the nationally-ranked football Salukis face Illinois State at 2 p.m. Sept. 25. Tickets are available online for the general public and also available the day of the game; SIU students can attend for free. Tailgating festivities begin at 11 a.m. on the grass practice fields south of the stadium.
More details are available online
All of the weekend’s events are family-friendly and open to the public. More information about Saluki Family Weekend and the event schedule are available at www.familyweekend.siu.edu. For additional details, email familyweekend@siu.edu or contact the Office of Student Engagement at 618-453-5714 or the Saluki Family Association at 618-453-1000.
