Family Weekend
Family Weekend 2024 will take place October 18-20!
Download the Family Weekend Mobile App to put the schedule, FAQs, and other information on your mobile device!
CLICK HERE to download a pdf version of the weekend schedule and open classes list.
Bowdoin’s Family Weekend is an opportunity for families and friends to connect with campus and to learn about life at Bowdoin. We look forward to welcoming you to campus during Maine's most vibrant time of year.
Participate in the Polar Bear Pursuit!
Find a Bear, win a prize
Questions?
Please contact the Office of Events and Summer Programs at events@bowdoin.edu or (207) 725-3433. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Some of the major events include:
Friday, October 18: An opportunity to attend open classes, various open houses and info sessions, a lecture with Amanda Adeleye, MD (12:30 p.m.), the President's Summer Research Symposium (1:45 p.m.) and the Sarah and James Bowdoin Day ceremony (4:00 p.m.).
Saturday, October 19: Q&A with the President and Deans (9:00 a.m.), various athletic events, Chili & Chowder Tasting (3:00 p.m.) and the Student Group Performance Showcase (7:00 p.m.).
Sunday, October 20: Jazz Brunch in Thorne (10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.—tickets required and will be available on a first-come first-served basis at the Welcome Center).
Helpful Links and Resources
- Bowdoin Livestreamed Events
- Bowdoin YouTube Channel
- The Bowdoin Store
- Visitor Resources (Lodging in the area, Brunswick Downtown Association, dining ideas, and more)
- Parking, Accessibility, and Campus Maps
- Your Guide to Adventure, by the Bowdoin Outing Club
Celebrate and Explore Bowdoin
Every Friday during Family Weekend is Sarah and James Bowdoin Day, the College’s annual recognition of scholarship and academic life. This year, the day will be celebrated with a ceremony in Pickard Theater, Memorial Hall at 4:00 p.m. on October 18. Families, guests, and members of the Bowdoin community are welcome to attend. Visit this special webpage to celebrate student scholarly achievement.
Live Q&A for Admitted Students and Families: Cocurricular Programs
Bowdoin hosted a live Q & A for admitted students and their families, featuring members of our community that help to engage students in cocurricular programs, including Off-Campus Study, the McKeen Center for the Common Good, Pre-Health Advising, the Baldwin Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Center for Career Exploration and Development.
Video from Family Weekend 2022
Enjoy this video showcasing the sights, thrills, and activities that Family Weekend 2022 had to offer!
View an engaging conversation on the continuity in teaching and learning at Bowdoin with Richard Broene, professor of chemistry; Jeremiah Brown ’23; Kathryn Byrnes, director of the Baldwin Center for Learning and Teaching; Michael Cato, senior vice president and chief information officer; and moderated by Claudia Marroquin ’06, senior vice president and dean of admission and student aid.
Virtual Tours
Stroll through campus on a virtual tour, experience the arts at Bowdoin, and visit the Polar Bears’ athletic facilities.
The Bliss Room is located on the second floor of Hubbard Hall and has been a treasure of the College since 1945. Learn more about its history, collections, and explore its contents.
Experience the beauty of Casco Bay through an aerial tour of Bowdoin’s 118-acre facility on Orr’s Island.
Learn eerie legends narrated by historic Bowdoin characters and visit the most reputedly haunted buildings on this virtual tour created by David Francis, author of Haunted Bowdoin College.
Around Campus
From permanent collection installations to special exhibitions, there's always something new at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art! Visit the BCMA website for details.
Discover the Arctic Museum’s beautiful virtual exhibitions, explore spectacular online collections, and enjoy Arctic-related movies and music recommended by the staff.
Delve into Special Collections & Archives’ online exhibits, oral histories, digitized Bowdoin publications, and past page-turnings of Bowdoin’s copy of Audubon’s Birds of America.
Sunny skies, crisp fall air, and autumn foliage on the Quad are Family Weekend essentials. If you can't make it to campus, we’ll bring the Quad to you.
Family Weekend wouldn’t be complete without enjoying food from Bowdoin’s award-winning Dining Services. This year they’re sharing their top ten most requested recipes for you to enjoy no matter how far you may be from Brunswick.
Don’t miss other events happening throughout campus over the weekend and throughout the year.