Join us for for Family Weekend - October 2-4, 2026!
Family Weekend 2026 Registration is Open!
2026 Schedule of Events:
Your Family Weekend registration includes access to all Family Weekend events. Guests must show their Family Weekend badge for entry and provide event tickets received at check-in for select events.
Friday, October 2
2:00 - 6:00 PM - Check-In @ Donahoo Lounge in Maxwell Student Union
Start your weekend by checking in. Receive your welcome packet, weekend schedule, and have any questions answered! Running behind? Have your student pick up the welcome pack at check-in.
4:00-6:00 PM Pickleball Palooza @ Walter B. Williams Park
Students, grab your sibling, pick up a paddle, and join us for a pickleball adventure! Parents, this is a time for you to enjoy Wine and Cheese Reception, and your children get to play a friendly match of pickleball. Equipment will be provided, so just bring your game face! Students, once your parents wrap up the Wine & Cheese Reception, meet us back downtown for Meet the Bobcats, on Wilkinson Street. Please complete the Baldwin County Recreation waiver here.
4:30 – 6:00 PM Wine and Cheese Reception with Cabinet @ Ennis Hall
Join us for an evening of conversation, connection, and community at our Wine and Cheese Reception. Mingle with the President and Executive Cabinet in a relaxed setting while enjoying beverage of your choice. This is a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, share ideas, and build relationships with campus leadership. We look forward to raising a glass with you!
6:00 PM Meet the Bobcats @ Downtown Milledgeville
Families, join us as we celebrate a collaboration event with Milledgeville Main Street’s First Friday event themed “Meet the Bobcats”. Many of our GCSU athletic teams will be in attendance. Eat dinner at your student's favorite downtown restaurant!
7:30 PM- Theatre Production @ Russell Auditorium *Reservation is required at registration.
This new adaptation of Antigone by Sophocles conjures a story over 2,000 years old. His most frequently produced tragedy unfolds as ritual: the Fates weave, power is claimed, and resistance answers. You are not asked to lose yourself in the story, but to watch. The thread is drawn tight. Will you witness it cut?
8:00 PM – Sailesh the Hypnotist @ Magnolia Ballroom
Dubbed "The World’s Best Hypnotist" by MTV Europe, his live show has been described as a cross between a concert and the best party ever! Sailesh makes audience members the stars of the show, taking the entire audience on a journey using hypnosis, improv, music and interactivity to create a whole lot of laughter and a ton of fun! Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so come early and grab your spot!
Saturday, October 3
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Check-in @ Donahoo Lounge in MSU
Start your weekend by checking in. Receive your welcome pack, weekend schedule, and have any questions answered! Running behind? Have your student pick up the welcome pack at check-in.
9:00-11:30 AM GC Miracle Mile Color Fun Run @ the Wellness and Recreation *Additional registration is required.
Miracle Mile 2026 brings students, families, and friends together for a high‑energy Color Powder walk/run in support of kids cared for at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital. Every step you take helps Georgia College Miracle provide real support for pediatric patients and their families. Registration is $15 per participant and includes admission to the event and full access to all Miracle Run activities. If you choose to participate, all participants, including GCSU students, must complete the separate GC Miracle Mile Color Fun Run registration. All proceeds directly benefit Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital, helping make a difference for the next generation. Registration for this event is separate from Family Weekend.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for the Miracle Mile 2026 Run!
9:00 – 11:00 AM – Community Service Project @ the Greenway
Enjoy over 3 miles of paved walking trails at the Oconee River Greenway! While you are on a morning stroll, pick up supplies at the check-in tent at the boat ramp to help pick up trash and debris from floodwaters.
10:00-11:30 AM – Sip and Paint @ Old Governor's Mansion Lawn *Beverages available for purchase (cash/credit recommended).
Unleash your inner artist with a brush in one hand and a latte in the other! Join us for a Sip & Paint experience where creativity meets caffeine. Stop by anytime during one of our two sessions (10:00–11:30 a.m. or 2:30–4:00 p.m.) and paint at your own pace. Our staff will be available to offer guidance, and coffee and specialty drinks will be available for purchase from one of our favorite local coffee shops. Can't stay? No worries! Grab a painting kit to-go and enjoy the fun wherever you'd like.
12:00-2:00 PM – Cookout/Tailgate @ Centennial Plaza
Join us for family fun and a cookout before cheering on the GCSU Volleyball team!
1:00 PM – GCSU Women’s Volleyball vs. Flagler @ Centennial Center
Wear green, bring your family, your loudest chants, and your game-day spirit to cheer on the GCSU Volleyball team as they take on Flagler!
2:30– 4:00 PM – Sip and Paint @ Old Governor's Mansion Lawn *Beverages available for purchase (cash/credit recommended).
Unleash your inner artist with a brush in one hand and a latte in the other! Join us for a Sip & Paint experience where creativity meets caffeine. Stop by anytime during one of our two sessions (10:00–11:30 a.m. or 2:30–4:00 p.m.) and paint at your own pace. Our staff will be available to offer guidance, and coffee and specialty drinks will be available for purchase from one of our favorite local coffee shops. Can't stay? No worries! Grab a painting kit to-go and enjoy the fun wherever you'd like.
5:30–7:30 PM – Food Truck Frenzy @ West Campus *Food and beverages are available for purchase (cash/credit recommended).
Come hungry and get ready for a delicious evening! Enjoy a variety of tasty options from local food truck vendors while spending time with fellow Bobcats and their families.
6:00 PM – GCSU Women’s Soccer vs. Middle Georgia State @ West Campus Fields
Wear your green and join us on the sidelines for an exciting evening of college soccer! Cheer on the GCSU Women’s Soccer team as they take on Middle Georgia State. Come show your Bobcat pride and support our student-athletes!
7:30 PM- Theatre Production @ Russell Auditorium *Reservation is required at registration.
This new adaptation of Antigone by Sophocles conjures a story over 2,000 years old. His most frequently produced tragedy unfolds as ritual: the Fates weave, power is claimed, and resistance answers. You are not asked to lose yourself in the story, but to watch. The thread is drawn tight. Will you witness it cut?
8:15 PM – ThunderMania Fireworks @ West Campus
We’re bringing the BOOM to Family Weekend! The ThunderMania fireworks show, originally postponed, has been rescheduled for Family Weekend. The show will begin at approximately 8:15 p.m. at West Campus. Families are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy the fireworks from the soccer field. Stick around after the game and food trucks and get ready to light up the night with us!
Please note: Directions and additional event details will be released closer to Family Weekend.
Sunday, October 4
8:00-10:45 AM- Goat Yoga @ Russell Lawn *Reservation is required at registration.
Join us for a fun-filled Goat Yoga experience sponsored by Bobcats FIRST! With 4 sessions available and limited spots, this unique experience is sure to fill up quickly. Grab your spot before it’s gone!
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM – Brunch in the MAX @ the MAX
Start your day the delicious way! Join us for a laid-back and tasty Brunch in the MAX with your student before heading home!
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM- Honors Convocation @ Magnolia Ballroom
New Honors students will be inducted into Eta Sigma Alpha, the Honors Student Association. Family members are welcome to attend and celebrate this special achievement. Dr. Steven Elliott-Gower, Associate Professor of Political Science and Honors RLC Coordinator at GCSU, will deliver the keynote address. Light refreshments will follow the ceremony.
2:00 PM- Theatre Production @ Russell Auditorium *Reservation is required at registration.
This new adaptation of Antigone by Sophocles conjures a story over 2,000 years old. His most frequently produced tragedy unfolds as ritual: the Fates weave, power is claimed, and resistance answers. You are not asked to lose yourself in the story, but to watch. The thread is drawn tight. Will you witness it cut?
Click here to register for family weekend 2026!
Other Events Happening in Milledgeville and on Campus!
Friday, October 2
10 AM – 4 PM - Tour the Old Governor’s Mansion
Tours begin on the hour. The last tour begins at 4 p.m. $10 for adults, $7 for pre-booked adult groups (10+ visitors), $7 for Senior Citizens, $2 for students, free to children under 6 and all GC faculty, staff, and students!
10 AM – 4 PM - Tour the Andalusia Interpretive Center
Tours begin on the hour. The last tour begins at 4 p.m. $7 for adults, $6 for pre-booked adult groups (10+ visitors), $6 for Senior Citizens, $2 for students, and free to children under 6 and all GC faculty, staff, and students!
10 AM – Historic Trolley Tour
Hop aboard the town’s most iconic resident “Milly the Trolley” for a fully narrated tour of Milledgeville’s historic district! Featuring grand architecture, beautiful squares, and historic neighborhoods, the sixty-minute tour provides an overview of Milledgeville’s history during its sixty-eight-year period as Georgia's capital city. Trolley tours are hosted on Friday and Saturday at 10 am, depart from the Milledgeville Visitor Information Center, and are offered rain or shine. Tickets are $15 per person. Pre-purchased tickets are encouraged and may be arranged in person or by calling 478-452-4687. Please note, the trolley is ADA compliant but moderate mobility is recommended for those who wish to disembark at the statehouse square and St. Stephens Episcopal Church.
7 PM - Ghosts of Milledgeville: A Twilight Walking Tour
Explore Milledgeville’s haunted history on a 90-minute guided twilight walking tour through downtown, featuring local legends, historic sites, and stories of unexplained encounters. The tour departs from the Milledgeville Visitor Information Center at 200 W. Hancock St. Tickets are $15 per person, and space is limited, so advance reservations are recommended by calling 478-452-4687 or visiting the Visitor Center.
Saturday, October 3
8:30 AM- Open Pickleball @ Walter B. Williams Park
The Baldwin County Pickleball Complex is home to 20 new, lighted pickleball courts and every Saturday morning is open play starting at 8:30AM. Grab your paddle and join the fun. All levels of play are welcome to join in at any time - it’s open play! The address is 59 Highway 22 West, . See you on the courts!
10:30 AM - Ghosts of Milledgeville: A Twilight Walking Tour
Explore Milledgeville’s haunted history on a 90-minute guided twilight walking tour through downtown, featuring local legends, historic sites, and stories of unexplained encounters. The tour departs from the Milledgeville Visitor Information Center at 200 W. Hancock St. Tickets are $15 per person, and space is limited, so advance reservations are recommended by calling 478-452-4687 or visiting the Visitor Center.
10 AM – 4 PM - Tour the Old Governor’s Mansion
Tours begin on the hour. The last tour begins at 4 p.m. $10 for adults, $7 for pre-booked adult groups (10+ visitors), $7 for Senior Citizens, $2 for students, free to children under 6 and all GC faculty, staff, and students!
10 AM – 4 PM - Tour the Andalusia Interpretive Center
Tours begin on the hour. The last tour begins at 4 p.m. $7 for adults, $6 for pre-booked adult groups (10+ visitors), $6 for Senior Citizens, $2 for students, and free to children under 6 and all GC faculty, staff, and students!
10 AM – Historic Trolley Tour
Hop aboard the town’s most iconic resident “Milly the Trolley” for a fully narrated tour of Milledgeville’s historic district! Featuring grand architecture, beautiful squares, and historic neighborhoods, the sixty-minute tour provides an overview of Milledgeville’s history during its sixty-eight-year period as Georgia's capital city. Trolley tours are hosted on Friday and Saturday at 10 am, depart from the Milledgeville Visitor Information Center, and are offered rain or shine. Tickets are $15 per person. Pre-purchased tickets are encouraged and may be arranged in person or by calling 478-452-4687. Please note, the trolley is ADA compliant but moderate mobility is recommended for those who wish to disembark at the statehouse square and St. Stephens Episcopal Church.
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM - Sunset Paddle with Oconee Outfitters
Join Oconee Outfitters for a 4.5 mile night paddle under the stars! Paddlers will begin at the Oconee River Greenway ramp and paddle to the Central State ramp. Bring your own kayak or rent one. *Tickets and registration for the Sunset Paddle can be purchased from Oconee Outfitters! Learn more by clicking here!
Sunday, October 4
2 PM – 4 PM- Tour the Andalusia Interpretive Center
Tours begin on the hour. The last tour begins at 4 p.m. $7 for adults, $6 for pre-booked adult groups (10+ visitors), $6 for Senior Citizens, $2 for students, and free to children under 6 and all GC faculty, staff, and students!
