Schedule

Arriving early? Check out these event on the Harborside Campus:

 11am–3pm / Taste of the Ocean State / Bayside Terrace (behind the Athletic Practice Facility/adjacent to the athletic fields)  
Help us celebrate Rhode Island’s unique culinary landscape at this year’s Taste of the Ocean State! Campus Dining & JWU’s culinary clubs team up to share Ocean State staples with a JWU twist. Join your student for this fun, educational food experience that will feature local vendors, live music, demos and more.

Guests may pre-register for $10.50 per person using the early-bird registration link below. Day-of admission is $15 per person, with cash or credit accepted at the door. Students may use a meal swipe for entry. JWU faculty and staff using Flex may also attend for $10.50 on the day of the event.

Noon–5pm / Culinary Arts Museum / Friedman Center 
Stroll through our collection at your leisure and learn more about this hidden JWU gem.

All of the below activities are on the Downcity Campus! 

2–7pm  / Check-in / Gaebe Commons
Kick off the weekend with some music and outdoor games. Stop by to check in and pick up the wristband that allows you in to most activities. You can also purchase Family Weekend commemorative tees — or pick up any you purchased in advance — and chat with members of the Family Weekend planning team.

4pm / Weybosset Historical Walking Tour / Starts @ Abbott Park
Learn about the arts, entertainment and historic architecture scene along Weybosset Street, adjacent to JWU’s Downcity Campus. Faculty from the Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Hospitality & Business will lead the conversation during an easy stroll starting at Abbott Park, traveling toward the Providence River, and back to Abbott Park via Westminster Street. Tickets not required, but group size is limited to approximately 50 and will be monitored on the day of the tour.

5–7pm / JWU Travelers’ Family Feud / D’Amico Auditorium, Yena Center
Join the JWU Travelers for a fun game of Wildcat Family Feud! Teams of four will compete against each other to see who can answer survey questions with the most popular answers, just like on the hit game show. Whoever wins will have a choice of different rewards at the end of their game. This is an entertaining and fast-paced game that can be enjoyed by all JWU students and their families.

6–7:30pm / Wildcat Family Trivia / Downcity Library, The Yena Center
Are you tired of showing off all that knowledge only to receive a letter grade? Would you rather show off that knowledge for the pursuit of glory, bragging rights and PHYSICAL PRIZES? Head to Yena for some group trivia, hosted by Associate Professor Jaimie Stone. No charge, but note that seating is limited.

8-9pm  / e-BINGO / Schneider Auditorium, Xavier Academic Complex
We’re back for a third year of Family Weekend e-card BINGO! Join us for some fun and a chance to win a gift card prize. Participants must have their own device (phone or tablet; make sure it’s charged) to access the internet. Ten rounds of play = ten chances to win! No charge, but note that seating is limited.

9:15pm / Fun with the JWU Players / Pepsi Forum, Wales Hall  
Our theater-focused student organization, the JWU Players, is excited to present a one-act play. Prepare to be entertained as you watch the Players show off their talent. Optional donations toward the Players’ spring musical are accepted at the door.

All activities take place on the Harborside Campus. 

3 sessions: 9-10:30am, noon-1:30pm & 3-4:30pm / Zwilling Knife Classes for Families / CCCE 101
Workshop for family members led by Zwilling Knives. This is a $5 ticketed event. Max 20 participants per session. Register here.

9–10am / Parent & Family Advisory Board (PFAB) Meeting / Wildcat Center, 2nd Floor Conference Room
Consider getting involved as a family member by joining PFAB! The Johnson & Wales Parent & Family Advisory Board (JWU PFAB) serves the university and the parent and family community by:

• Promoting the university to interested students and their families by sharing their own experiences
• Welcoming new students and their families at university events
• Sharing information about JWU resources and what is expected of students
• Advocating for parents and families
• Encouraging parents and families to get involved with the JWU community
• Collaborating with the university to create the best living and learning environment for students

For an application or more information, contact DeanofStudents.PVD@jwu.edu.

10am–4pm / Check-in / Wildcat Center Lobby
If you missed us on Friday, stop by to check in to get the wristband that allows you in to most activities. You can also pick up or purchase Family Weekend commemorative tees, and chat with members of the Family Weekend planning team. 

10am–noon / Family Weekend Brunch / Bayside Terrace (behind the Athletic Practice Facility/adjacent to the athletic fields) (ticketed event; $40/JWU student, $50/guest, $25/children under 12)
Join us for Family Weekend Brunch, crafted by JWU’s own Catering Department. Enjoy a delicious spread featuring multiple food stations, a variety of local ingredients, and something for everyone to enjoy. Gather with fellow Wildcats and their families to share great food, warm company, and lasting memories.

10am–3pm / Culinary Arts Museum / Friedman Center 
Stroll through our collection at your leisure and learn more about this hidden JWU gem.

10-11am / Walking Tour of the JWU Green Initiatives / Meet at the Chicken Coop (Next to the Harborside Academic Center)
Explore JWU’s sustainability efforts on a guided walking tour led by Associate Professor Russ Zito. Along the way, visit the Wildcat Meadows raised beds, JWU Hive, Community Garden and Orchard, greenhouse, mushroom-growing facility and other green initiatives across campus. Tickets are not required but space is limited to 40 participants.

11am–2pm / Outdoor Crime Scene Demo / Bayside Terrace (behind the Athletic Practice Facility/adjacent to the athletic fields)
Join Professor James Desmarais as he gives a demonstration of crime scene processing, such as using a grid, screens/digging for items, documentation etc.

11am–5pm / Wildcat Wahoo / Lot F (across from the CCCE Building)
We’re excited to combine one of our favorite annual traditions: Wildcat Wahoo and Family Weekend. The whole family can enjoy unlimited carnival rides and other surprises at Wahoo. Note: This activity is weather-dependent and may be postponed to Sunday in the event of heavy rain.

11am–5pm / Food Trucks / Lot F (across from the CCCE Building) 
Take a break and enjoy cuisine from some of Rhode Island’s most popular food trucks. All food truck vendors accept cash and/or credit cards.

11:30am–4:30pm / Wildcat Spirit Zone / Lot F (across from the CCCE Building) 
Pumpkin painting, music, games and more. Visit the Spirit Zone throughout the day.

Noon–1:30pm / Field Hockey / Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics complex
Cheer on your Wildcats during the Field Hockey game. No registration is necessary.

2 sessions: 1-1:30pm & 2:30-3:00pm / Cake Creations / Bayside Terrace (behind the Athletic Practice Facility/adjacent to the athletic fields) (ticketed event; $50 per family (up to 5 participants))
The time Starts NOW! You will have thirty minutes to gather your team, show your Wildcat pride, and get creative! Decorate your personalized cake together in a fun, hands-on experience that’s as sweet as it is memorable. Perfect for team bonding, celebrating as Wildcats, or just letting your imagination run wild — because every cake tells a story!

1–4pm / Culinary Showcase / Cuisinart Center for Culinary Excellence 
This is when students and chefs from our College of Food Innovation & Technology shine. Visit our state-of-the-art academic labs and enjoy complimentary samplings of sweet and savory foods. Learn about some of our culinary-focused clubs & organizations, which may have their popular goodies for sale. Don’t miss our JWU artisans at work.

2–3pm / Wine Tasting / Cintas Dining Room, HAC Building (ticketed event; $15/person) 
Attention wine aficionados or casual fans: Enjoy an interactive experience and lively discussion led by Associate Hospitality Professor Nicholas Makris and Director of the Center for Beverage Education & Innovation Brain Warrener. Registration is open to all but participants must be 21 or older to sample wine.

 2–4pm / Animal Health Demo / Lot F (across from the CCCE Building)
Join Associate Professor Christopher Holland as he leads a heart rate activity with stuffed animals and stethoscopes; practice bandaging placement.

5–6:30pm: Glow on Gaebe: A Walk to WaterFire

Gather with fellow JWU families on Gaebe Commons before heading to one of Providence’s most celebrated traditions: WaterFire. Pick up a complimentary lighted wand and help us light up the Commons before we walk together to the Providence River.

WaterFire brings residents and visitors to downtown Providence for an evening of art, culture and community. Featuring dozens of bonfires illuminating the city’s rivers, along with music and activities throughout the route, it is an experience you will not want to miss during Family Weekend.

Following our group walk, families may explore WaterFire at their own pace. Complimentary parking in JWU’s Downcity Garage is available to registered Family Weekend guests. Please remember that the garage closes at 11pm.

Learn more by visiting the WaterFire website.

All activities on the Harborside Campus.

UIB Movie: “Supergirl”
Noon–2:30pm
Wildcat Center Lounge

Wrap up Homecoming & Family Weekend with UIB and a showing of “Supergirl.” Grab a seat in the Wildcat Center Lounge, relax with friends and enjoy the movie before the weekend comes to a close. Open to all JWU students and their guests.

Cheer on our Wildcat Field Hockey team athletes during intercollegiate competition. 

Saturday, October 4 at noon / Field Hockey / Scott’s Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex