Family Weekend

Classes Open to Visitors

8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Various Locations—List available at the Campus Center, Room 103/104
Attend one of your student’s favorite classes or any other open class. A complete listing of open classes will be available in the hospitality suite. Note that any classes not on the list are not open due to issues such as limited seating, a guest speaker, students taking a quiz, etc.

Family Weekend Hospitality Suite

9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Campus Center, Room 103/104
Join us for morning refreshments and receive information about the weekend, a list of open classes, and learn more about Smith and the local area.

Official Smith Ring Sales

11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Campus Center, Main Level, Table 1
The Smith ring, designed by students, is a symbol of the continuous link with classmates, friends, and the college. The ring also evokes special and shared memories of Smith days. Sponsored by Smith’s Alumnae Association, the ring is reserved exclusively for sophomores, juniors, seniors, and Ada Comstock Scholars in good standing. The design remains unchanged—a tangible connection to the past and the future.

OSE Popcorn Fridays

noon–4 p.m.
Campus Center, Room 106
Join the Office of Student Engagement for this weekly tradition in the Campus Center, where you can meet staff and pick up popcorn.

Demystifying Money: Foundations

12:15–1:15 p.m.
Conway Center, Neilson Library, Room 103
This final installation in the Conway Center’s personal finance workshop series will focus on ways to keep your money (and financial identity) safe. From learning about insurance to spotting a scam, a little awareness can go a long way toward keeping your financial future on track. Lunch is provided; participants must RSVP on the Smith Social Network.

Soup, Salad, and Soul

12:15–1:10 p.m.
Helen Hills Hills Chapel, Bodman Lounge
Come get cozy and enjoy a hot, delicious vegetarian soup made by awesome student cooks while taking part in reflective, student-led discussions on spirituality and life! Students (and their parents) of all religious, spiritual, and nonreligious/nonspiritual backgrounds are welcome. Bodman Lounge is in the basement of the Helen Hills Hills Chapel and is accessible via elevator from the rear of the building. For details about food and for answers to other general accessibility questions, email Anna Ostow at aostow@smith.edu.

Jummah

12:30–3:30 p.m.
Hampshire Mosque, Hadley
The Center for Religious and Spiritual Life invites students to join us for Jummah at the Hampshire Mosque in Hadley. The group will meet in front of the Helen Hills Hills Chapel at 12:25 p.m. The van will leave campus by 12:30 p.m. and return to campus no later than 2:30 p.m. Remember to bring a prayer rug and complete your ablution beforehand. There are extra prayer rugs in the Blue Room at the chapel if you need one! To RSVP, email crsl@smith.edu. All are welcome!

Building Futures: A Discussion With the Wurtele Center for Leadership and the Lazarus Center for Career Development

1–2 p.m.
Campus Center, Carroll Room
Join Wurtele Center director Erin Cohn ’00 and Lazarus Center dean of career development Faith McClellan for a conversation about how we work with Smith students to explore their leadership and craft a sense of purpose for their work and future endeavors. As the Wurtele and Lazarus centers will colocate in a new building starting in 2025, this is an opportune moment for us to engage in broad community dialogue about what it means to live and lead well, and what capacities students need to build for the rapidly changing future of work.

Button Making With Smith Special Collections

1–4:30
Neilson Library, Third Floor, Special Collections Welcome Center
Join Smith College Special Collections staff on the third floor of Neilson Library to make buttons with images from the collections. After you make a button, explore our student-curated exhibits to discover unique and rare materials at Smith. Special Collections curates materials relating to women’s history, rare books, and the institutional memory of the college. Using these materials, Special Collections offers class instruction, reference support and consultation, and project planning for Smith students.

Supporting and Advocating for Your Student

1:30–2:30 p.m.
Campus Center, Room 205
Director of Residence Life Hannah Durrant will lead a discussion on how to support your student when they are having a difficult time. It might be a roommate issue, not feeling connected on campus, or feeling overwhelmed by deadlines. Hannah will share strategies for how best to support your student and will answer questions from families.

A Tour of Smith’s Notable Trees

2–3 p.m.
Meet at Lanning Fountain, south of Lyman Plant House
Smith’s diverse arboretum collections include a number of heritage trees that have been cherished by generations of Smith students. Take a tour with the botanic garden’s director to explore some of these highlights and discuss the inherent value of trees and the critical questions we face as we aim to build high-impact conservation collections for the 21st century. Note: Limited to the first 80 attendees.

Family Weekend “Tea”-Brief

2–3 p.m.
Campus Center, Room 103/104
Come by the hospitality suite to chat with current students about their experience at Smith and create your own fall-themed tea bags to use during Friday afternoon tea.

Campus Life Meet & Greet

3–4 p.m.
Campus Center, Carroll Room
Meet Smith staff members who support students’ campus life experience, including the dean of the college, the dean of students, and representatives from the Office of Student Affairs. Have some light refreshments and ask any questions you might have about life on campus.

Bookmark-Making Workshop With Smith College Libraries

3–5 p.m.
Neilson Library, Klingenstein Browsing Room (103)
The Smith College Libraries advance teaching, learning, research, and discovery for the Smith community by providing state-of-the-art resources and services. Join the libraries’ staff to make bookmarks together and learn more about what the libraries do to support students’ education.

STEAM Art Pop-Up

3–5 p.m.
Wright Hall, Room 013
Join the STEAM Outreach Team—a group of Smith undergraduates interested in increasing access to science, technology, engineering, art, and math at Smith and nearby communities—and the Jandon Center for Community Engagement for snacks, crafting, and a chance to see some friendly faces from the center. Learn about STEM-and-art opportunities, both at Smith and in the local community, and make a fun art piece to take home with you.

Afternoon Tea in Houses

4–5 p.m.
Various Locations
Families are welcome to join afternoon tea gatherings in their student’s house. Note: Families must be accompanied by their student whenever they are in a student residence.

Dinner

5–7 p.m.
College Dining Halls
Dining halls are open to residential board-paying students at this time. Families are encouraged to dine locally. Stop by the hospitality suite to pick up a list of delicious local restaurants recommended by students.

Family Shabbat Services

5:30 p.m.
Bodman Lounge, Helen Hills Hills Chapel
Welcome Shabbat with Smith's Jewish Religious Adviser Rabbi Bruce B. Seltzer and SCJC for Shabbat services. Join us following services for kiddush.

Comfort Food Dinner Hosted by CSA

6:30–8 p.m.
Neilson Library, Klingenstein Browsing Room (102)
Whether you’re reconnecting with family or finding comfort in community, this dinner with the Smith College Chinese Students Association (CSA) is one way to celebrate togetherness and culture during Family Weekend. Everyone is welcome!

Mehndi Night with EKTA

7–9 p.m.
Davis Ballroom
Come join us for a delightful evening filled with music, delicious food, beautiful mehndi (henna), and joyous festivities hosted by the South Asian Organization of Smith College (EKTA). Your entrance fee includes the opportunity to have mehndi applied to one hand at the event. We can’t wait to have you with us! See EKTA’s instagram @smith_ekta or visit the hospitality suite for information on purchasing tickets.

Smith Theatre Fall Production: Marie Antoinette by David Adjmi

7:30–9:30 p.m.
Mendenhall Center, Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre
Directed by Monica Lopez Orozco, codirected by Max Lerin ’25
In this contemporary take on the young queen of France, Marie is a confection created by a society that values extravagance and artifice. But France’s love affair with the royals sours as revolution brews, and for Marie, the political suddenly becomes very personal. From the light and breezy banter at the palace to the surging chants of “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité!” in the streets, Marie Antoinette holds a mirror up to our contemporary society that might just be entertaining itself to death. Reserve tickets at smitharts.ludus.com. Free for Smith students.

Karaoke Night

8–10 p.m.
Campus Center, Carroll Room
Stop by to unwind, sing your favorite tunes, and enjoy time with friends and family!

Stargazing

8:30–9:30 p.m.
McConnell Hall Roof
The astronomy department will hold a stargazing open house on the McConnell roof. Come see Saturn, Jupiter, galaxies, nebulae, stars, and star clusters. All are welcome! Please dress warmly. Event will be canceled in the event of heavy cloud cover. For further information or to check on weather conditions, contact Meg Thacher (mthacher@smith.edu).

Open Hours for the Smith College Libraries

Various
Neilson Library, Alumnae Gym, Hillyer Art Library, Josten Library
Refer to the table on this page for a list of all library open hours. The Smith College Libraries welcome families to take a self-guided tour through Neilson Library and Alumnae Gym. Designed by Maya Lin—with input from the Smith community throughout the process—Neilson Library is a hub for individual, collaborative, and experimental scholarship. Also visit the Hillyer Art Library in the Brown Fine Arts Center and Josten Performing Arts Library in Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts.

Open Hours for the Smith College Bookstore

9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Smith College Bookstore
Visit the Smith College Bookstore, now located at 8 Green Street, to stock up on the essentials (cool Smith merch!).

Open Hours for The Botanic Garden of Smith College

11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Lyman Plant House & Conservatory
Admission is free to all. And, of course, the outdoor gardens are always open!

Open Hours for the SCMA

11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Smith College Museum of Art
The Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) is recognized as a leading academic museum, contributing meaningfully to Smith College’s mission to educate women of promise for lives of distinction and purpose. Admission is free to all, made possible by Jan Fullgraf Golann ’71 and Jane Timken ’64.

Guided Tours of Neilson Library

1–4 p.m.
Neilson Library, Main Entrance
Join Smith Libraries staff for 45-minute tours of the newly renovated Neilson Library. Meet inside the main entrance of Neilson (facing Seelye lawn). Tours begin at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.

Open Hours for the Alumnae House

1–4 p.m.
Alumnae House
Families are welcome to drop by the recently renovated Alumnae House to see the space and make themselves a cup of coffee or tea in our Welcome Center. Learn about the tools available to alums to help them stay connected and grow in their careers. Discover the history and variety of Smith regional clubs. Browse the “Alum Library” replete with books by Smithie authors. Enjoy art by Amy Namowitz Worthen ’67 on display in the art gallery.

Open Hours for the Office of the Class Deans

2–3 p.m.
College Hall, Room 101
The class deans are responsible for every student’s academic program and meet with students to provide guidance on topics ranging from course registration to academic options, study abroad, summer school, and leaves of absence. Stop by for a sweet treat and to meet the class deans and office staff.

Open Hours for the Lazarus Center for Career Development

2:30–4 p.m.
Drew Hall
Come connect with the Lazarus Center team, learn about the resources and services we offer, and discover how we’re here to support students throughout their time at Smith and beyond. All students and their families are welcome!

Open Hours for the Lewis Global Studies Center

3:30–4:30 p.m.
Wright Hall, Room 127
Visit the heart of the global community and meet the staff who support international students, study abroad, and global learning at Smith.

Smith Equestrian: Mount Holyoke Show

9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center, South Hadley
See Smith riders compete against riders in their divisions from other schools in the region in an intercollegiate hunt seat equestrian competition. The morning will feature jumping events and the afternoon will feature flatwork events. Attendees should dress in warm layers and expect that the arena may be chilly. Note: Families will need to provide their own transportation to this event if they choose to attend.

President’s Welcome

9–9:30 a.m.
Campus Center, Carroll Room
Join Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton to hear about what is going on at Smith and what she is excited about in the coming year.

President’s Welcome Reception

9:30–10 a.m.
Campus Center, Wilson Atrium
Stop by for light refreshments as you make your way out of the president’s welcome address.

Mill River Walk

10–11:30 a.m.
Leaving from the Paradise Pond Boathouse
Join us for a pleasant hike along the trails surround-ing campus. Preregistration is not required. Meet at the boathouse. Sponsored by Smith College Athletics’ Outdoor Adventure Program.

Smith College Baking Club Bake Sale

10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Chapin Lawn Deck
Come to the front of the Campus Center for a selection of sweet treats including brown butter and maple cookies, cider doughnuts, and pumpkin chai lattes. Treats are available at $2 per cookie or cider doughnut and $4 per latte.

Hells Belles Plant Sale Fundraiser

10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Campus Center, Main Level, Table 3A
The Smith College fencing team (Hells Belles Fencing) will be selling homegrown plants! We will have a variety of sizes and a myriad of options to choose from. This fundraiser will help cover the costs of the Smith fencing team, including raising funds for our national championships this April!

Center for the Environment, Ecological Design, and Sustainability (CEEDS) Annual Apple Cider Pressing

10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Davis Lawn
Join staff and students from CEEDS to experience a family-friendly and tasty New England tradition. Help us press fresh, locally grown apples into cider and then have a cup with a Hadley-made cider doughnut. We’ll also have heirloom apple tasting to help give a sense of the amazing diversity and history of this fascinating fruit.

CEEDS Davis Meadow Celebration

10 a.m.–2 p.m
Davis Lawn
Join CEEDS at Davis meadow, where the space has been transformed to include environmental stewardship, social equity, and educational opportunities from the Landscape Master Plan (2022). Below the landscape is Smith’s first operational geothermal well field, with 72 geothermal boreholes at a depth of 850 feet. Take a tour to learn more about the project and enjoy food trucks, cider pressing, and much more!

Planting Bulbs in Capen Garden

10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Conway Gazebo, Capen Garden
Drop by to help with this annual Smith tradition, planting upward of 2,000 tulips in the beds surround-ing the Jill Ker Conway Gazebo in Capen Garden. Tools, gloves, cider, and doughnuts will be on hand!

Rugby: Smith vs. Endicott

11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Smith College Athletic Fields
The Smith College rugby team will be facing off against Endicott College in their last home game of the season! Come by and support the team, cheer on friends and family, and get excited to see a tough and intense match. The team will also be selling merch to raise money for the rugby club.

Lunch

11 a.m.–1 p.m.
College Dining Halls
Dining halls are open to residential board-paying students at this time. Families are encouraged to visit the food trucks at the CEEDS Davis Meadow Celebration.

Official Smith Ring Sales

11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Campus Center, Main Level, Table 1
The Smith ring, designed by students, is a symbol of the continuous link with classmates, friends, and the college. The ring also evokes special and shared memories of Smith days. Sponsored by Smith’s Alumnae Association, the ring is reserved exclusively for sophomores, juniors, seniors, and Ada Comstock Scholars in good standing. The design remains unchanged—a tangible connection to the past and the future.

The Madeleine Yearbook Sale

noon–1 p.m.
Campus Center, Main Level, Table 3
The Smith College yearbook is a complete collection of memories from all aspects of the very exciting and colorful lives of Smithies. The staff collects information and photos from the Smith community and compiles everything into the book to reflect the year as a whole.

Parents of class of 2025, want to add a message in the yearbook for your loved one who is graduating? Talk to us about tribute ads! Stop by to browse or purchase past yearbooks!

Soccer: Smith vs. Wheaton

noon
Smith Soccer Field
See Smith soccer take on Wheaton College in a NEWMAC (New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference) contest.

Volleyball: Smith vs. Bowdoin

noon
Ainsworth Gym
Smith volleyball faces off against Bowdoin College in their first match of the day.

Zumba

1–2 p.m.
Ainsworth Gym, Room 304
Join Ada Comstock Scholar and Ada Student Coordinator Carolina Peña Moreno for a little dance-based exercise. The goal is to have you smiling, sweating, and having fun while moving your body. Dress comfortably and get ready to dance!

Latin American Student Organization (LASO): ¡Bienvenidos Familias!

1–3 p.m.
Davis Center, Mwangi Cultural Center
The Latin American Student Organization (LASO) will host a gathering space for members and their families who are visiting campus during Family Weekend. The afternoon will include food, family activities, games, and music for LASO families to get to know the LASO community that their students are a part of.

Black Students’ Alliance Annual Soul Food Lunch Box

1–4 p.m.
Davis Ballroom
The Black Students’ Alliance (BSA) is excited to invite students and their families to our Soul Food Lunch Box! Come experience the warmth of the BSA as we laugh, bond, and celebrate the unique flavors and unity that make our community special. We have exciting games planned to spark some friendly competition and add to the fun! To help us prepare for your arrival, please have students RSVP for their families using the form provided in the BSA Newsletter during the week of October 6. Feel free to reach out with any questions at bsa@smith.edu. While everyone in the Smith community is welcome, this event is intended for Black students and their families.

Tours of Smith Science Fiction and Fantasy Society Library

1–4 p.m.
SSFFS Library, King House Basement
A repository for contemporary and classic science fiction and fantasy novels, SSFFS Library has highlighted female and queer stories within these traditionally male-dominated genres since 1987. Come join us for a tour of our newly renovated library and discover the secret history of nerds at Smith. Tickets will be sold at the door on a sliding scale of $1–$5 per person.

Ada Comstock Scholars Pumpkin Carving Fundraiser

2:30–4 p.m.
Chapin Lawn Deck (Rain Location: Campus Center, Garden Level)
The Ada Comstock Scholars Program offers a path for students of nontraditional age to complete a bachelor of arts degree at Smith College. The program will mark its 50th anniversary this spring. The Ada cabinet and Ada coordinator are fundraising to support anniversary celebrations, upcoming events, and merchandise for the class. Come by to carve (or paint!) a pumpkin and hear more about how this innovative program supports nontraditional age students. Carving accessories and painting supplies will be available. Cash is preferred, but Venmo will also be accepted.

Volleyball: Smith vs. Plattsburgh State

4 p.m.
Ainsworth Gym
Smith volleyball takes on SUNY Plattsburgh in their second match of the day.

Montage: Sounds from the Silver Screen

4–6 p.m.
John M. Greene Hall
The Smith College Department of Music presents Montage: Sounds from the Silver Screen, a Family Weekend program of favorite movie songs. Featuring Glee Club, Chamber Singers, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Handbells, Groove, the Smiffenpoofs, the Smithereens, the Noteables, and the Vibes. Free and open to the public.

Volleyball: Smith vs. Husson

6 p.m.
Smith volleyball takes on Husson University in their final match of the day.

Family Eek!-End Movie Night

7–9 p.m.
Davis Ballroom
Think your family is weird? They’ve got nothing on this one! Enjoy the creepy, kooky capers of the instant classic The Addams Family (1991) along with classic movie treats. Note: Capacity is limited. Please use the south entrance to Davis Center and check in with the Corq app.

Smith Theatre Fall Production: Marie Antoinette by David Adjmi

7:30–9:30 p.m.
Mendenhall Center, Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre
Directed by Monica Lopez Orozco, codirected by Max Lerin ’25
In this contemporary take on the young queen of France, Marie is a confection created by a society that values extravagance and artifice. But France’s love affair with the royals sours as revolution brews, and for Marie, the political suddenly becomes very personal. From the light and breezy banter at the palace to the surging chants of “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité!” in the streets, Marie Antoinette holds a mirror up to our contemporary society that might just be entertaining itself to death. Reserve tickets at smitharts.ludus.com. Free for Smith students.

Smith 2 Do: Halloween Headbands

9–11 p.m.
Campus Center, Room 203
Join the Office of Student Engagement for our weekly late-night Smith 2 Do program! Students are encouraged to invite their families to get in the spooky mood and create a Halloween headband.

Open Hours for the Smith College Libraries

Various
Neilson Library, Alumnae Gym, Hillyer Art Library, Josten Library
Check the table on this page for a list of all library open hours. The Smith College Libraries welcome families to take a self-guided tour through Neilson Library and Alumnae Gym. Designed by Maya Lin—with input from the Smith community throughout the process—Neilson Library is a hub for individual, collaborative, and experimental scholarship. Also visit the Hillyer Art Library in the Brown Fine Arts Center and Josten Performing Arts Library in Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts.

Open Hours for the Smith College Bookstore

9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Smith College Bookstore
Visit the Smith College Bookstore, now located at 8 Green Street, to stock up on the essentials (cool Smith merch!).

Open Hours for The Botanic Garden of Smith College

11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Lyman Plant House & Conservatory
Admission is free to all. And, of course, the outdoor gardens are always open!

Open Hours for the SCMA

11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Smith College Museum of Art
The Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) is recognized as a leading academic museum, contributing meaningfully to Smith College’s mission to educate women of promise for lives of distinction and purpose. Admission is free to all, made possible by Jan Fullgraf Golann ’71 and Jane Timken ’64.

Family Weekend Brunch

9 a.m.–1 p.m.
College Dining Rooms
Enjoy a Sunday brunch as a guest of your student in these dining halls:

• 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Tyler and King-Scales
• 11 a.m.–1 p.m.: Dawes* and Gillett
• 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.: Cutter-Ziskind

*Dawes House is gluten free.
Vegan options are available in all houses.

Hells Belles Plant Sale Fundraiser

10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Campus Center, Main Level, Table 3A
The Smith College fencing team (Hells Belles Fencing) will be selling homegrown plants! We will have a variety of sizes and a myriad of options to choose from. This fundraiser will help cover the costs of the Smith fencing team, including raising funds for our national championships this April!

SIKOS Show

11 a.m.–noon
Campus Center, Carroll Room
Join the Smith Improv Komedy Organization of Smith (SIKOS) for a morning of fun and family-friendly laughs! No tickets necessary.

Zumba

11 a.m.–noon
Ainsworth Gym, Room 151
Join Ada Comstock Scholar and Ada Student Coordinator Carolina Peña Moreno for a little dance-based exercise. The goal is to have you smiling, sweating, and having fun while moving your body. Dress comfortably and get ready to dance!

Official Smith Ring Sales

11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Campus Center, Main Level, Table 1
The Smith ring, designed by students, is a symbol of the continuous link with classmates, friends, and the college. The ring also evokes special and shared memories of Smith days. Sponsored by Smith’s Alumnae Association, the ring is reserved exclusively for sophomores, juniors, seniors, and Ada Comstock Scholars in good standing. The design remains unchanged—a tangible connection to the past and the future.

Open Hours for the Smith College Libraries

Various
Neilson Library, Alumnae Gym, Hillyer Art Library, Josten Library
Check the table on this page for a list of all library open hours. The Smith College Libraries welcome families to take a self-guided tour through Neilson Library and Alumnae Gym. Designed by Maya Lin—with input from the Smith community throughout the process—Neilson Library is a hub for individual, collaborative, and experimental scholarship. Also visit the Hillyer Art Library in the Brown Fine Arts Center and Josten Performing Arts Library in Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts.

Open Hours for the Smith College Bookstore

10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Smith College Bookstore
Visit the Smith College Bookstore, now located at 8 Green Street, to stock up on the essentials (cool Smith merch!).

Open Hours for The Botanic Garden of Smith College

11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Lyman Plant House & Conservatory
Admission is free to all. And, of course, the outdoor gardens are always open!

Open Hours for the SCMA

11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Smith College Museum of Art
The Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) is recognized as a leading academic museum, contributing meaningfully to Smith College’s mission to educate women of promise for lives of distinction and purpose. Admission is free to all, made possible by Jan Fullgraf Golann ’71 and Jane Timken ’64.