Family and Friends Weekend

Family and Friends Weekend is an annual event that brings thousands of family members to the University of Maine to reconnect with their Black Bear! This event is for families of all sizes, dynamics, and class years. It is the University’s time to celebrate the fall season in New England, honor our traditions, and enjoy the company of students and their families, faculty and staff, alumni, and members of the extended Black Bear community. 

With generous support from the

Alton ’38 and Adelaide Hamm Campus Activity Fund

Family and Friends Weekend is scheduled for Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27, 2025! Click the buttons below for more information.

Registration Student Involvement Umaine Athletics

Registration is now open!

If you miss the deadline for registration, don’t fret! You are still able to register in person during the event.

To continue to re-imagine our Family and Friends Weekend experiences, there will be a small registration fee for all attendees. This added cost will help to create an unforgettable experience for your family! No need to register your student as they get into all of our events (with the exception of the Paint and Sip) for free. Registration is only $25 per person, children under 10 get in for free, just let us know at the check in table!

What’s included:

  • Discount on some UMaine sporting event tickets 
  • Entry to all non-ticketed events 
  • and more!

Pre-Order your t-shirt to make sure you get one!  Shirts will be available at check-in while supplies last. We will have a limited number of shirts for purchase at check-in – make sure to arrive early and ask about them if you missed the pre-order deadline!

Below are our items for purchase for the weekend. Look through the offerings and make sure to get your items while supplies last!

Do you need to reach someone about Family and Friends Weekend? Reach out to our team at um.getinvolved@maine.edu

The Family and Friends shirts are a great way to commemorate your weekend! The shirts are $15 for pre-orders, though if you miss the deadline we will have a limited number for purchase at check-in (though the price changes to $20 per shirt). Below is this years design!

The ‘Class of’ shirts are a great way to show off the year your student graduates! The shirts are $15 for pre-orders, though if you miss the deadline we will have a limited number for purchase at check-in (though the price changes to $20 per shirt). We will offer shirts for the following classes:

  • Class of 2026
  • Class of 2027
  • Class of 2028
  • Class of 2029

Below is the general design, with the year changing based on your selection!

Join other participants Friday night (Sept. 26) at 7pm in a paint and sip in our Wells Central Pub. The registration fee is $20 per person, but includes all the materials you need to create a piece of art to bring home and remind you of the fun you have had! Beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase.

We will have a limited number of commemorative Family and Friends branded steins for sale at check-in. Each stein is $15 and will only be available at check-in while supplies last! The steins hold up to 1 liter and the design is below.

Friday, september 26 events

  • 8:30am – 4:30pm: Tour of Special Collections in Fogler Librar
    • Want to learn more about UMaine traditions, such as the Stein Song, Maine Day, Winter Carnival, and history of student groups like All Maine Women and Senior Skulls, and our mascot Bananas? Stop by Special Collections in Fogler Library for a tour and a chance to dip into UMaine’s long history and even relive memories with yearbooks, old photos, and more.
  • 10:00am – 6:00pm: Scholastic Book Fair in Fogler Library
  • 2:00pm – 7:00pm: Check-In at the Memorial Union 
  • 7:00pm – 8:30pm: Paint and Sip in the Wells Central Pub
    • This is a ticketed event for all participants
Registration

Saturday, september 27 events

  • 9:00am – 12:00pm: Check-In at the Memorial Union 
  • 10:00am – 1:00pm: Digital Scavenger Hunt
    • See check in for details – prizes for winning teams!
  • 10:00am – 2:00pm: Activities on the University Mall
    • Food for Purchase
      • Local food trucks
      • Student Group Fundraisers
      • UMaine Dining Options
    • Laser Tag
    • Cornhole Tournament
      • 32 team, sign up at the event (winning team gets a UMaine branded cornhole board)
    • Inflatable activities
    • Local Vendors
    • and more to come!
  • 10:00am – 3:00pm: Tour of Special Collections in Fogler Library
    • Want to learn more about UMaine traditions, such as the Stein Song, Maine Day, Winter Carnival, and history of student groups like All Maine Women and Senior Skulls, and our mascot Bananas? Stop by Special Collections in Fogler Library for a tour and a chance to dip into UMaine’s long history and even relive memories with yearbooks, old photos, and more.
  • 10:00am – 4:00pm: Scholastic Book Fair in Fogler Library
  • 3:30pm: UMaine Black Bear Football vs. North Carolina A&T State University
Registration

Sunday, September 28 events

  • 10:00am – 4:00pm: Scholastic Book Fair in Fogler Library
Registration

Versant Power Astronomy Center

The Versant Power Astronomy Center has many shows.  Please see their schedule below.  Tickets are required for all shows and are $7 for adults, $6 for UMaine students or senior citizens, and $5 for children 12 and younger. MUSIC SHOWS are $9 general admission.

The planetarium seats 50 maximum so advanced purchase is recommended. Tickets available online at http://astro.umaine.edu or by calling 207-581-1341. For show
information see https://astro.umaine.edu/visit/planetarium-programs/.

Friday, September 26th

  • 7:00 pm: Living Worlds: Black Holes

Saturday, September 27th

  • 10:00 am: VAST: A Cosmic Journey Through Space and Time
  • 11:30 am: MOONBASE: The Next Step
  • 1:00 pm: One Sky
  • 2:30 pm: The Chemistry of Life
  • 4:00 pm: Worlds Beyond Earth
  • 7:00 pm: (Music Show) Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd – 50th Anniversary Special

Sunday, September 28th

  • 11:00 am: From Dream to Discovery
  • 12:30 pm: The Arctic
  • 2:00 pm: Magic Treehouse: Space Mission
  • 4:00 pm: (Music Show) Led Zepplin
Versant Astronomy center

Local Housing Accommodations

Below are a few local accommodations, certainly not all of them!

Orono

Bangor

Milford

Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone you call family (parents, siblings, that aunt who pinches your cheeks every time she sees you, your neighbor down the street who shovels your driveway when it snows, I think you get the picture) is invited! If they are your family or friend, we want them to attend!

Register at this link! (registration will go live in July 2025)

To create greater experiences, a $25 registration fee is in effect. Students do not need to register, as they get into events for free with their Mainecard!

In addition to the additional programming and opportunity to explore our campus, Family and Friends Weekend is an excellent opportunity to connect to your Black Bear in their home away from home. It can be an opportunity to bridge the gap between their lives both on and away from campus.

Family and Friends Weekend includes two days of activities and opportunities for you to engage with your student. Family Weekend is designed so you can choose how many events or opportunities you want to participate in. Each day has many activities so you’ll be able to pick what feels most relevant to you and exciting for your family.

If you are up for traveling on Friday, we will have nighttime entertainment and a chance to check in. Saturday is the busiest. Events start mid-morning and continue into the evening. Sunday is treated as a travel day, with light programming available in the morning.

Questions?

Email um.getinvolved@maine.edu