WKU Events

Parent & Family Weekend (Sept. 27-29) includes a series of events for the entire family beginning Friday with registration and the WKU Baseball alumni game. Some of Saturday's events include the Kentucky Museum, residence hall open house, Festival on the Green, open houses, brunches, and tailgating on South Lawn.

• Parent & Family Weekend website
• Parent & Family Weekend schedule

Here is a list of Saturday’s highlights:

Saturday, September 28, 2019

 All times are listed in Central Standard Time

Kentucky Museum's - 90’s Morning Party (Drop-in Event)

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

*serving coffee and donuts until we run out!

Note: The Museum will remain open until 4PM.

Location: Kentucky Building, 1444 Kentucky Street (across from CVS)

Parking: Museum visitor parking in Adams St. Lot across from the Museum

Details: Do you remember the 1990s? Join us for a flashback to WKU in the 90s! We will be listening to 90s tunes, playing trivia, looking at photos, and serving coffee and donuts. We invite Topper families to check out our new Facing the Freshmen Year: Essential Conversations exhibit, as well as many other exhibits. The Kentucky Museum is an excellent learning resource for the WKU community, and we welcome visiting families to experience what we have to offer.

No tickets or registration required for this event.

PFW Registration Check-In

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Location: Downing Student Union, 2nd Floor

Details: Check-in at registration for your Parent & Family Weekend pre-ordered WKU Football game, Hilltopper Cookout, Farewell Brunch tickets, and merchandise.

NOTE:  PFW event tickets ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP at the Football Ticket Office or the Will-Call Window

African American Museum: Keepers of the Culture

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: 1783 Chestnut Street, Bowling Green KY 42101

Parking:  TBA

Details:  Areas of Bowling Green, Kentucky were once hubs of African American heritage, hosting culturally vibrant and bright communities such as Shake Rag and Jonesville. The African American Museum was created in 2006 to preserve the rich black culture and contributions that blossomed in these communities.  Exhibits exploring historic African American schools feature artifacts such as senior’s letterman's jacket and newspaper clippings about the schools. Seamless incorporations of the accomplishments, contributions, and culture of African Americans in the early 20th century is what makes this museum worth the visit. Courtesy of the African American Museum website.

Pre-Registration requested for this event.

WKU Treasure Hunt

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Location:  Downing Student Union, 2nd Floor Lobby

NOTE: All participants are required to register! Test your sleuthing skills to find the answers to our WKU historical Treasure Hunt clues. You’ll need to put on your thinking caps for this one. Come to our registration table located in the first-floor lobby of DSU on Saturday, Sept. 28. You must complete a registration form with your team name and members, receive your clues, a WKU map, and have your starting time recorded! The hunt is expected to last 1-2 hours.

PFW Photo Scavenger Hunt

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Check-in and Finish Location:  Downing Student Union, 2nd Floor Lobby

NOTE: All participants are required to register! This is a fun journey around "The Hill."  You will stroll campus finding each landmark and documenting it with a photo or selfie!  Stop in at the registration table located on the 2nd-floor lobby of DSU on Saturday, Sept. 28. Pick up your contest sheet, load up WKU's Virtual Tour, and start "snapping"! The hunt is expected to last 1-2 hours.

Mahurin Honors College Parent & Family Weekend Brunch (Drop-In Event)

10:00 AM - Noon

Location: Honors College/International Center Multipurpose Room

Details: Come and Go as you please for this event as we host the families of our Mahurin Honors College students. Brunch food will be served, along with outdoor games and raffles. Our Mahurin Honors College families will receive a registration link and must RSVP to attend this event.

RSVP  Required

WKU Student Publication Open House

2:00 PM- 3:30 PM

Location: Adams-Whitaker Student Publications Building

Details: WKU Student Publications, home of the College Heights Herald and the Talisman, will host an open house. Parents and Families of the WKU student staff members are welcome to drop by to see where their students spend their time honing their skills.

No tickets or registration required for this event.

School of Media Gallery – Our World Burning (Drop-in Event)

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Refreshments will be served

Location: Jody Richards Hall Atrium & Gallery

Parking: Mimosa Parking Lot across the street from Jody Richards Hall or Chestnut St. Lot at the end of Regents Ave.

Details: As deadly wildfires increase globally in number and severity, photojournalists are finding themselves on the frontline documenting these historic and potential climate-changing events. Often facing injury or death themselves, journalists risk all to bring these images into our living room. This exhibition from recent California fire seasons come together in this body of work from nine critically-acclaimed photojournalists. A journalist’s work is usually viewed for seconds at a time on a phone or small screen environment.  This Galley exhibit offers visitors a chance to see the work in a large print, exhibition environment often providing the viewer an emotional experience.

No tickets or registration required for this event.

WKU Alumni Association Tailgate & Celebrate

3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Location: Downing Student Union South Lawn

Details: Alumni Association Members—Join us on South Lawn for COMPLIMENTARY Tailgate & Celebrate! A reward for your commitment to WKU. It’s EASY! First come, first served! Cash bar available. No registration required

No registration required

Hilltopper Family Cookout

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location:  Downing Student Union South Lawn

Details: WKU invites you to join us for Cook-Out style food: Buns with Pulled Pork and Pulled Chicken served with additional BBQ Sauce and Pickles on the side, Vegetarian Baked Beans, Bagged Chips, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and a drink.  It is recommended you purchase tickets in advance.

Tickets are required and must be purchased in advance for anyone attending, including WKU students.

Price: $10.00 Per Person (including WKU students)

Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band Presented by WKU Student Activities

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: Downing Student Union South Lawn

Details: WKU Student Activities invites you to join them for the incredible sounds of the Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band on the Downing Student Union South Lawn. The Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band has been performing for the Hilltopper Nation for the past 35 years.

WKU vs UAB Football Game

6:00 PM

Location: Houchens – L.T. Smith Stadium

Details: If you wish to pick up tickets at check-in, you MUST purchase then in advance. Tickets are required for anyone attending, including children ages 3 and up. Current WKU students are admitted FREE with their valid WKU ID –if you wish them to sit with you, request a ticket when registering online. The 2019 WKU Family of the Year will be honored at half-time.

Pick up your purchased tickets at check-in/registration either Friday or Saturday.

Game tickets purchased through PFW ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP at the Football Ticket Office or the Will-Call Window)

Price: $15.00 Per Person (Except WKU Students)

Story Theatre

8:00 PM

Location:  Russell H. Miller Theatre, Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center

Adapted for the stage by Paul Sills - From stories in the Grim Brothers' Collection and Aesop's

Fables Favorite old fairy tales and fables - with a contemporary twist. Fun for the whole family!  

Tickets are required for this event.

Adults $12.00 (WITH DISCOUNT) Students/Seniors (62+) $8.00 (WITH DISCOUNT)

PFW Discount Codes:  Adult -“pfwst” Student - “pfwsst” for students