Family Weekend 2026
Join us in celebrating community, connection, and Cardinal pride with your loved ones Oct. 2-4, 2026. All are welcome to come visit the Winona Campus.
Make family memories on the Winona Campus
Come make memories at the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Winona Campus Oct. 2-4, 2026! Family Weekend is an annual event for undergraduate students and their families to reconnect, explore campus, and enjoy fun activities together.
All Saint Mary’s students and their families are invited to attend, and most campus facilities will be open to visitors with the exception of residence halls. In addition, admissions will be offering campus tours for future Cardinals.
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men: Othello
Families may also purchase tickets to attend a performance of Othello by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a premier all-male theatre company based in the United Kingdom. They perform Shakespeare’s plays with authentic Elizabethan costumes, music, and dance, recreating his works as he would have seen them. Current Saint Mary’s students may attend for free.
Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.
Page Theatre
$27.50 per person (students free)
Mississippi River Boat Tours
See the sights of Winona from a different vantage point with a boat tour of the Mississippi River! Tickets are $10 per person and may be purchased starting move-in weekend.
Saturday, Oct. 3 at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.
$10 per person
Plaza Party activities
Join us Saturday, Oct. 3 for an afternoon of free family activities in the Plaza! Decorate your new Family Weekend T-Shirt, take family photos, and make some crafts outside in the Plaza. Or take a break inside the Fitzgerald Library with board games and book-themed bingo beginning at 2 p.m. And don’t forget about the watermelon! There’s something for all ages and interests. Activities include:
- T-Shirt decorating
- Crafts
- Caricature portraits
- Book-themed bingo
- … And more!
Schedule of events
Friday, Oct. 2nd
Time Event 5–6 p.m. Welcome Booth | Plaza 5–7 p.m. Dinner | Eatery (additional cost) 7 p.m. Volleyball vs. Carleton College | Thies Arena 7 p.m. Lord Chamberlain’s Men – Othello | Page Theatre (additional cost)
Saturday, Oct. 3rd
Time Event 8 a.m. Donuts with Advancement | Merle Wilberding Alumni Room 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Welcome Booth | Plaza 10 a.m. Softball Red and White Game | Saint Mary’s Field 10 a.m. Boat Tour | Levee Park (additional cost and personal transportation required) 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Brunch | Eatery (additional cost) 12 p.m. Boat Tour | Levee Park (additional cost and personal transportation required) 1 p.m. Women’s Soccer vs. Hamline | Ochrymowycz Field 1–5 p.m. Plaza Activities | Plaza 2 p.m. Boat Tour | Levee Park (additional cost and personal transportation required) 3 p.m. Men’s Soccer vs. Hamline University | Ochrymowycz Field 4 p.m. Boat Tour | Levee Park (additional cost and personal transportation required) 5–7 p.m. Dinner | Eatery (additional cost) 6 p.m. Choir Concert | Figliulo Recital Hall 7 p.m. Volleyball vs. Gustavus Adolphus College | Thies Arena 7–9 p.m. Pool and Open Gym | Jul Gernes Pool & RAC
Sunday, Oct. 4th
Time Event 10:30 a.m. Mass | Saint Thomas More Chapel 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Brunch | Eatery (additional cost) 12 p.m. Mass in Spanish | Saint Thomas More Chapel
Winona activities and lodging
Winona is packed with amazing things to see and do. Whether you want to go on a scenic hike up to Sugarloaf, visit local shops and art galleries, or enjoy local dining — there’s something for everyone in the family.
Winona Lodging
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is unable to offer overnight stays on campus for Family Weekend. Check out area hotels, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals on Visit Winona’s Places to Stay Directory.
FAQs about Winona Family Weekend
What lodging options are available?
While we can’t offer overnight stays on campus, there are plenty of hotels, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals in the Winona area.
Do I need to check in when I arrive?
There is no official check-in for Family Weekend.
What is the cost to eat meals at the Eatery?
Brunch is $12.54 and dinner is $14.84.
Are there any required events for family weekend?
No events are required. Families are free to do things either on or off campus as they please.
How do I get a free T-Shirt?
Please bring a non-perishable food item to support our community in exchange for a free T-shirt at the welcome booth.
Contacts and information
Please contact the Office of Student Engagement with questions.
studentengagement@smumn.edu
507-457-8659