Denisonians unlocked new core memories on The Hill this past weekend.
For three days, campus buzzed with families learning, laughing, exploring, and getting a glimpse into their students’ lives at Denison. And with picture-perfect fall weather as the backdrop, there couldn’t have been a better weekend for it. Families stepped into the classroom, met the faculty shaping their students’ experiences, explored campus, cheered on the Big Red, and discovered a little more of what makes life on The Hill so special.
But most of all, they simply got to be together.
Keep scrolling for a look back at highlights from Family Weekend 2026
…and check out the full Family Weekend 2026 photo gallery HERE
Friday, Sept. 25, 2026
Family Leadership Council comes together
Family Weekend kicked off in Moon Hall, where members of Denison’s Family Leadership Council (FLC) gathered to reconnect and start the weekend together. The FLC regularly brings together families committed to supporting Denison through philanthropy and engagement, with opportunities to meet throughout the year, both virtually and on campus.
FLC chairs Margot and Charlie Brinley P’27 welcomed fellow members with a special video message, setting the tone for a weekend all about showing up, getting involved, and experiencing Denison together. In their absence, fellow FLC member Bob Carrigan P’19, P’27, CEO of Audible, facilitated the morning’s meeting.
Throughout the morning, FLC members heard directly from university leaders about what’s ahead for Denison, including new academic programs, campus projects, and opportunities for families to deepen their engagement and philanthropic impact. President Adam Weinberg joined the conversation to share Denison’s strategic priorities and answer questions from families.
Back to class
For many parents and families, Friday’s master classes offered something they don’t get to do every day: experience Denison from their student’s seat.
Biology professor Rebecca Homan invited families into the fascinating and often overlooked world of salamanders. Meanwhile, professor Adam Davis took families back to the Middle Ages to explore a surprisingly modern question: Is ambition a vice or a virtue? His class, The Virtuous Vice — Ambition, Drive, and Success in the Middle Ages (and Today), connected medieval ideas about striving and success with questions that still resonate today.
The classes gave parents a firsthand look at the conversations and exploration that happens in Denison classrooms every day. For some parents, getting to learn from faculty became a favorite part of their entire weekend.
Launching careers and lives for post-Denison success
Denison is ranked in the top 3 nationally for career services for a reason, and representatives from the Knowlton Center for Career Exploration were on hand to describe the comprehensive career prep ecosystem available to every Denison student from the moment they arrive on campus.
Families learned about the 30+ career professionals, hundreds of employer partnerships, and 200+ programs that take Denison’s career offerings to the next level. Student participants joined the panel and described their experiences working on real-world projects in the Center for Consulting and Entrepreneurship and the hyper-relevant skills they gained through Denison Edge.
Faculty, families, and a fall sunset
By late afternoon, families made their way over to Reese~Shackelford Common.
Under a tent on a warm fall evening, faculty and staff spent time getting to know the families behind their students. Many parents arrived while their students were still finishing classes and homework, giving them a chance to connect directly with the mentors teaching and guiding their students.
As the sun began to set, Denison’s American Roots Ensemble provided the soundtrack. Live music, a gorgeous evening, and plenty of conversation made it easy for everyone to settle in and stay awhile.
A moment to slow down
Family Weekend had plenty of hustle and bustle, but about 30 participants chose to slow things down with a Zentangle art lesson.
Inside the Hoaglin Wellness Center, the mood was noticeably quieter than the lively gatherings happening just outside. Students and families put pen to paper and enjoyed a chance to decompress together.
…or game on!
After dinner, it was time for a little family-friendly competition.
Students and families headed back to Reese~Shackelford Common for Family Game Night, hosted by Denison’s Gaming Guild. Oversized lawn games like Connect Four quickly drew a crowd, while board game favorites like Catan gave the strategists in the family a chance to show off their skills.
And, of course, no game night would be complete without snacks. Popcorn, pizza rolls, cookies, and other game-night treats kept everyone fueled as families played and laughed together.
Big talent, Big Red energy
Then came one of Friday night’s biggest draws.
Denisonians packed the student performance showcase for an evening that put talent front and center. Ladies’ Night Out, DUwop, the American Roots Ensemble, Burpee’s Seedy Theatrical Company, the K-Pop Dance Group, the Hip Hop Group, and more took their turns shining in the spotlight.
And there truly wasn’t a single dull moment.
While Burpee’s kept the laughs coming, the hip-hop performers were an especially big hit, bringing the crowd to life with one of the night’s standout performances.
It was a fitting end to Friday: a packed house, plenty of Big Red pride, and one more chance for families to see just how much talent, creativity, and community surround their students at Denison.
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
Coffee and conversation with President Weinberg
Saturday started bright and early in Herrick Hall, where a packed house gathered for a conversation with President Adam Weinberg.
Over coffee, tea, and breakfast treats, families heard about what’s new and exciting at Denison. President Weinberg shared the advice he gave the Class of 2030 and highlights from the latest rankings that place Denison among the nation’s best for career prep and student experience and innovation. He also described how relationships, experiences, and opportunities come together in unique combinations to create the Denison advantage.
A closer look around campus
For families looking to explore, Saturday offered plenty of opportunities to see parts of Denison they may not experience on an everyday campus visit.
At the newly renovated Knobel Hall and King Center for Data and Innovation, families took self-guided audio tours through classrooms, labs, and some of the newest learning environments on The Hill.
Across campus, families also went behind the scenes at the Eisner Center for the Performing Arts. The tour offered a peek backstage, including the costume and scene shops, where Denison students were actively at work. Rather than simply seeing the spaces, families got another firsthand look at what learning and creating at Denison can look like.
Celebrating our champions
There was plenty to celebrate at the Trumbull Aquatics Center as the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams gathered with their families for an awards ceremony.
The men’s team also celebrated its NCAA National Championship by unveiling its championship banner and receiving championship rings.
Tailgate & football time!
By afternoon, the sunshine was out, the Denison gear was on, and it was perfect football weather.
Families gathered outside the Mitchell Center for the Football Tailgate Celebration, where food trucks, music, and an appearance from Buzzy got everyone ready to cheer on the Big Red. Zaki Grill and other local food trucks kept the crowds fed as families caught up, snapped photos, and simply enjoyed being together.
Some first-year parents also stepped in front of the video camera to record special messages for their students and talk about their families’ experiences at Denison so far. There was plenty of Big Red pride to go around.
Then it was game time.
Denisonians lined the path to Deeds Field-Piper Stadium, cheering as the football team touched the Woody Hayes rock and ran onto the field. Inside, a packed crowd watched the Big Red come from behind to defeat long-time rivals Ohio Wesleyan 21-14, scoring all three of its touchdowns in the second half.
Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon on The Hill.
Buzzy’s Big Bash
After a full day of exploring and cheering, nobody was quite ready to call it a night.
Families gathered for Buzzy’s Big Bash, where dinner, desserts, drinks, and dancing kept the Family Weekend celebration going. The Wet Bandits provided the live ’90s throwback soundtrack as students and families hit the dance floor, caught up over dinner, and enjoyed another appearance from Buzzy himself.
As the sun went down and a fall chill settled in, families pulled on their Denison sweatshirts and huddled around the fire pits for delicious s’mores making.
It was the perfect way to kick back, warm up, and end a full Saturday on The Hill together.
More Big Red wins
Football wasn’t the only W for Denison.
Across campus, Family Weekend gave visitors plenty of opportunities to cheer on Denison student-athletes and celebrate their accomplishments.
Field hockey delivered some extra excitement with a 1-0 overtime win against Ohio Wesleyan. Emma Gebhart scored the golden goal just 1:41 into overtime to secure the rivalry win for the Big Red.
At Kienzle-Hylbert Stadium, women’s soccer celebrated Senior Day with a comeback to remember. After falling behind Case Western Reserve 2-0, sophomore Ella Palmer scored three unanswered goals for a hat trick, including the game-winner in the 84th minute, to give Denison a 3-2 victory.
Men’s soccer followed with its own Senior Day matchup, battling Carnegie Mellon to a 1-1 draw after Jack Rice found the back of the net late in the second half.
From the fields to the pool and everywhere in between, Saturday gave families plenty of reasons to show their Big Red pride!