Family Day Set for Sept. 27

Family Day is a University tradition that welcomes parents, siblings and other family members to Kirksville for a weekend of special on-campus activities, as well as the annual Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival.

The weekend will kick off Sept. 26 with a men’s soccer game at 12 p.m. followed by women’s soccer at 2:30 p.m. versus Lewis at Stokes Stadium. The Statesmen Marching Band will perform at 4:30 p.m. on the quad. Volleyball will play against Maryville University at 6 p.m. in Pershing Arena. Stargazing will take place from 7-9 p.m. at the Thousand Hills State Park point shelter. The Del and Norma Robison Planetarium is hosting the Manhattan Short Film Festival and will begin screenings of all 10 films at 7 p.m. The jazz ensemble will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. in Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

The annual Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 27 in downtown Kirksville. Exhibitors and food vendors will be located throughout the festival area, which begins at Franklin Street in front of the Sue Ross Arts Center and extends north to the courthouse and around the square. Artists and crafters come from throughout the Midwest and showcase a wide variety of work including ceramics, jewelry, photography, woodworking, candle making and more.

From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. there will be a welcome tent set up on the quad where families can receive a free mug and purchase $5 Truman spirit shirts. Younger siblings can get free Future Bulldog t-shirts and tie-dye them at a booth from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on the quad while supplies last. Free temporary tattoos will also be available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Pickler Memorial Library will host an open house from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. for a chance to tour the library, view a variety of historical items in the Special Collections Department and show off creativity in the design lab.

Residents and families are invited to take part in several residence hall events throughout the day. From 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Ryle Hall will host a tailgate and note-writing activity in the courtyard. At the same time, West Campus residents can stop by the main lobby from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for custom door decorations and magnet crafts. Missouri Hall will offer S’MO cones and friendship bracelet making from 12-2 p.m. in the lobby, while Blanton-Nason-Brewer Hall invites families to create pet-themed door decs and assemble goodie bags from 12-3 p.m. in the courtyard.

The University Art Gallery will be open from 12-4:30 p.m. in Ophelia Parrish, featuring “How Space Happens” by Aaron Fine and “Popol Vuh: The Sacred Book of the Quiche Through Illustration.” Various planetarium shows will take place at 1p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium. Admission is $8 per person, available online or at the door. 

Football will face University of Indianapolis at 1:30 p.m. at Stokes Stadium. Tickets are required and can be purchased at the gate or online here. Men’s and women’s swimming will also compete against Quincy in Pershing Natatorium with the time to be determined.

Evening events include women’s volleyball versus Missouri S&T at 6 p.m. in Pershing Arena. The planetarium will again screen all 10 movies from the Manhattan Short Film Festival from 7-9:30 p.m. National Ghost Hunting Day will be recognized with a campus tour beginning at 7 p.m. in Baldwin Hall Little Theatre. The Symphony Orchestra will close the evening with a 7:30 p.m. performance in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

Events continue Sept. 28 with a men’s soccer against Upper Iowa at 12 p.m. followed by women’s soccer at 2:30 p.m. at Stokes Stadium. Wind Symphony I and II will perform in between at 2 p.m. in the Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

The schedule will continue to be updated. Visit truman.edu/parents-families/family-day for more information.