KNOXVILLE—Parents and families of University of Tennessee, Knoxville, students will descend on the campus this weekend for Family Weekend, hosted each fall by the UT Parents Association.
Highlights of the weekend include a silent auction, the Big Orange Tailgate—which this year will be a zero-waste event—and a Sunday brunch.
The annual event kicks off at 4:00 p.m. Friday at the Carolyn P. Brown Memorial University Center with a reception and silent auction benefiting the Parents and Families Fund, which allows the Division of Student Life to respond to unanticipated student needs without having to wait for the next budget cycle. Items to be auctioned include autographed sports memorabilia, golf packages, getaways to Florida and Washington, DC, and more.
Other Friday night highlights include a guided tour of the newly renovated Ayres Hall; a showcase of accomplishments of student leaders who attended the LeaderShape Institute; and a Lady Vols soccer match against the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
On Saturday, the Parent’s Association will host 3,600 members and students for its Big Orange Tailgate from noon until 2:30 p.m. in Circle Park. For the first time, this year’s tailgate will be a zero-waste event. All materials from the tailgate will be either composted or recycled. During the tailgate, attendees will see the Vol Walk and then make their way to Neyland Stadium to watch the Vols take on the University of Cincinnati Bearcats.
On Sunday, parents will have the chance to have brunch with their students in the Presidential Court Café, as the weekend comes to a close.
Throughout the weekend, Family Weekend registrants will enjoy discounted or free admission to many events and Knoxville venues, such as the McClung Museum, the UT Gardens, the East Tennessee History Center, the Knoxville Museum of Art, and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
Registration for Family Weekend is for UT Parents Association members and their families. For a complete schedule of events including locations and times, visit http://parents.utk.edu/weekend.
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CONTACT:
Rebekah Winkler, UT Media Relations, (865-974-8304, rwinkler@utk.edu)
Emily Parker, UT Parents Association, (865-974- 4546, eparker@utk.edu)