NKU will host its annual Family Day on Sept. 27, offering students and their families a full day of activities on campus.

This year’s Family Day is going to be “packed with 260-280 people attending,” said David Kennett, the Associate Director for Events and Strategic Partnerships.

There is a wide selection of events planned for both students and parents. Most are free with registration for family day. The only paid events are the Teaching Kitchen, NKU Women’s Volleyball vs Cleveland State and “Oklahoma!”

Entrance to the Teaching Kitchen is $8 per person. The NKU Women’s Volleyball game is $9.53 for students and free for non-students, but they must reserve tickets. Oklahoma! is $20 for non-students and $10 for students. There is a discount just for Sept. 27.

The meal for the teaching kitchen event is elevated gourmet ramen. It was chosen for this Family Day’s Teaching Kitchen because it gives the families “a chance to kind of build their own personal style ramen,” Kennett said.

The free events planned for Family Day are:

• Open Gym at the Campus Rec
• Pastries with the President
• The Anthropology Museum showing a photography exhibit on Papua New Guinea: Daily Life and Rituals
• Schneider Observatory Tours
• Visual Arts Studio
• Haile Planetarium Show
• Simulation Tours
• FUEL NKU Tours
• Geology Sessions

Many events will be repeated three times, with some having new topics such as Haile Planetarium’s show on comprehending the universe from 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. and cosmic mashup from 1:30-2:20 p.m.

Many students are looking forward to seeing their families for the first time in weeks. Freshman Lebron Owens is especially excited.“It’ll be a birthday gift for me because my birthday is next week,” he said.

Freshman Max Marion is excited to show his family around campus, especially because his family is coming in from Southern California.

“Really, around the dorms and what food we have here and stuff, just all the fun stuff,” Marion said.

To any student who is interested in attending Family Day, registration can be done with the parent and student’s information.

Schedule of Events:

8:00 am- 4:00 pm: Campus Rec Open Gym
The Campus Recreation Center is the perfect place for fitness, sports, and fun day or night. Whether you enjoy playing basketball, running on a treadmill, kicking a soccer ball, or doing laps in the pool, there’s something for everyone.

9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Check In
All visitors for Family Day must check in upon arrival. Check-in will be open in the Student Union on the 1st Floor from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: Pastries with the President
Join President Cady Short-Thompson and the NKU Cabinet for pastries to get the day started.

10:30 a.m.-11:10 a.m.: Anthropology Museum Session 1
Landrum Academic Center 200
The Anthropology Museum’s collections focus on contemporary arts of Native Americans, and contemporary ethnographic and folk arts of world cultures, especially those of Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and New Guinea.

10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.: Schneider Observatory Tour Session 1
Founders Hall Rooftop
The Schneider Observatory supports astronomy labs with hands-on research and private viewing opportunities for projects, studies and applied research.

10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.: Visual Arts Studio Session 1
Fine Arts Center, Studio TBD
Visit NKU’s School of the Arts and a visual arts studio with art & design professor Randel Plowman

10:30 a.m.-11:20 a.m.: Haile Planetarium Show Time #1: 100 Years of Eternity
Haile Planetarium, Science Center 409
“100 Years of Eternity” tells the story of human engagement with the sky, leading up to the modern planetarium.

10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.: Simulation Tour 1
Health Innovation Center
NKU’s Center for Simulation Education uses technology and thoughtfully designed spaces to create a safe learning environment where students can practice real-life healthcare situations.

10:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m.: FUEL NKU tour 1
Albright Health Center, HC 104
FUEL NKU strives to support student food security and enrich the lives of students through education, engagement, and advocacy. Tour the space and hear more about this resource.
Donations of hygiene items are needed. You can drop donations off at Family Day check-in. All donations should be new and unopened.

10:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m.: Geology Session 1
Natural Science Center Room TBD
Geologists provide essential information for answering questions such as what effects shrinking glaciers will have on the oceans and climate, where we can find new sources of useful earth materials or how we can develop energy resources with minimal environmental impact.

11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Teaching Kitchen Session 1
Teaching Kitchen, Norse Commons
Cost $8 per person
Construct your own creative creation in our Teaching Kitchen. NKU Dining will be hosting a cooking class that focuses on creating a college staple, Ramen. But not just any ramen, elevated gourmet ramen. No more late-night microwaved meals. It’s time to step up your ramen game!

11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: FUEL NKU tour 2
Albright Health Center, HC 104

11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Geology Session 2
Natural Science Center, Room TBD
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Schneider Observatory Tour session 2
Founders Hall Rooftop

11:30 a.m.- 12:15 p.m.: Visual Arts Studio Session 2
Fine Arts Center, Studio TBD

11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Haile Planetarium Show Time 2: From Earth to the Universe
Haile Planetarium, Science Center 409
The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths and awe for as long as there have been people.

11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Simulation Tour 2
Health Innovation Center

11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: Tailgate
NKU Main Plaza, outside Student Union
Refreshments will be provided with meal tickets. Must register each person to receive meal tickets. There will be games, inflatables, a DJ, face painting, informational booths, meet Victor Viking, and more. Held outside on the NKU Main Plaza, outside of the Student Union.

11:45 a.m.-11:55 a.m.: Anthropology Museum Session 2
Landrum Academic Center, Room 200

12:00 p.m.-12:30 p.m.: FUEL NKU Tour 3
Albright Health Center, HC 104

12:00 p.m.-12:40 p.m.: Anthropology Museum Session 3
Landrum Academic Center, Room 200

12:30 p.m.-1:15 p.m.: Schneider Observatory Tour session 3
Founders Hall Rooftop

12:30 p.m.-1:20 p.m.: Simulation Tour 3
Health Innovation Center

1:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: Geology Session 3
Natural Science Center, Room TBD

1:00 p.m.-2:15 p.m.: Teaching Kitchen Session 2
Teaching Kitchen, Norse Commons
Cost: $8 per person

1:15 p.m.-2:00 p.m.: Visual Arts Studio Session 3
Fine Arts Center, Studio TBD

1:30 p.m.-2:20 p.m.: Haile Planetarium Show Time 3: Cosmic Mashup
Haile Planetarium, Science Center 409
Supermassive black holes are found in most galaxies and we’re beginning to uncover how the merging of galaxies activates galactic centers.

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: NKU Women’s Volleyball vs Cleveland State
Regents Hall
Cost (students): $9.53, purchase tickets
Cost (non-students): free, reserve tickets
Cheer on the NKU Women’s Volleyball team as they take on the Cleveland State Vikings.

2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: NKU Men’s Soccer vs Cleveland State
NKU Soccer Stadium
Cheer on the NKU Men’s Soccer team as they take on the Cleveland State Vikings. Tickets are FREE. The game begins at 7 p.m. at the NKU Soccer Stadium.
No tickets required, free for all attending.

3:00 p.m.-4:15 p.m.: Teaching Kitchen Session 3
Teaching Kitchen, Norse Commons
Cost: $8 per person

7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.: “Oklahoma!” Presented by NKU School of the Arts
Corbett Theatre in NKU Fine Arts Building
Must purchase tickets for each individual attending. Discounts using code NKUFAMDAY2025 (only valid for Sept. 27)