Family Weekend

AppalFest
Sanford Mall

Join the Appalachian Popular Programming Society as we jump into fall with our annual AppalFest! Come enjoy food, fun fall crafts, face painting and inflatables as we celebrate cooler weather to come.

First Friday Art Crawl at the Turchin Center 
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

Join us at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts as downtown Boone comes alive with creativity, community, and celebration! Explore our captivating galleries featuring contemporary art exhibitions, meet local artists, and enjoy free admission. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply looking for an inspiring night out, the Turchin Center is the perfect place to start your First Friday Art Crawl adventure.

Family Bingo 
IG Greer Auditorium

Fun for all ages, Family Bingo offers a chance to win prizes and create lasting memories with your loved ones. Bring your competitive spirit and join in the excitement!

RSVP for Family Bingo

Handmade Market
Central Dining Hall

Looking for beautiful, homemade goods? Stroll through the Handmade Market to find unique products and art to help you remember the weekend.

Late Night Pancake Dinner
Rivers Street Cafe (located inside Central Dining Hall)

End your day with a late-night pancake dinner! Enjoy a delicious meal and relax with your student in a fun, all-you-care-to-eat setting. Don’t miss this sweet way to wrap up the evening!

A Night at the Dark Sky Observatory
Observatory Road
Purlear, NC 28665

Experience the wonder of the night sky with your family at Appalachian State’s Dark Sky Observatory! Located about 45 minutes from campus, this special drop-in event is open exclusively to Family Weekend guests. Transportation is not provided, so please plan accordingly.

Explore stars, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies through professional-grade telescopes guided by App State’s astronomy experts. After about 10:30 p.m., the Moon, Saturn, and Neptune will also be high enough in the sky to observe. With a bright moon lighting the evening, there’s no need to bring a flashlight or any equipment—just a sense of curiosity!

Registration for this event is free, but required. Registering helps us keep you informed in case of event updates or inclement weather. We will communicate with you via email before the event.

Register for A Night at the Dark Sky Observatory

Enjoy Breakfast with Campus Dining
Park Place at the Pond (located inside Trivette Dining Hall)

Kick off your morning with a hearty all-you-care-to-eat meal at Park Place at the Pond! It’s the perfect way to fuel up for a day of Family Weekend activities while enjoying quality time with your student.

Watauga County Farmers’ Market
Daniel Boone Park

The Watauga County Farmers’ Market features a wide variety of fresh produce, meats, eggs, sweet treats, flowers, skincare, soaps, arts, and so much more.

Art in the Park 
Downtown Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock Art in the Park celebrates six decades of shows! Enjoy fine art and handcrafts from award-winning and acclaimed artisans. Artists are jury-selected and each show features a different set of artists, curated to present a wide variety of mediums. Find gifts and works for personal collections, functional beauties like furniture and cutlery, and wearable art like handcrafted jewelry and textiles. Artists’ tents line Park Avenue right in downtown Blowing Rock.

Mountaineer Walk 
Starting at Newland Hall

Kick off game day the Mountaineer way! Join the excitement as the football team marches to Kidd Brewer Stadium, led by the Marching Mountaineers, cheerleaders, and Yosef. This high-energy tradition is packed with spirit, music, and Mountaineer pride. Line the walkway, snap some photos, and cheer on the Mountaineers as they get fired up for the game!

Campus Store Tailgate
Campus Store

Join us for the ultimate Family Weekend Tailgate at the Campus Store! Enjoy live music from Folk & Dagger, delicious sliders and snacks, and great deals in the Campus Store. Plus, snag exclusive App State giveaways you won’t find anywhere else. It’s the can't-miss event of the weekend—bring your Mountaineer spirit and make unforgettable memories with your family! Advance registration is required. 

Please note: food and giveaways are available while supplies last and are not guaranteed with RSVP. Registering helps us keep you informed in case of event updates or inclement weather.

RSVP for Campus Store Tailgate

Appalachian State Mountaineers vs Lindenwood Lions Football Game
Kidd Brewer Stadium

Cheer on the Mountaineers as they take on Lindenwood University in an exciting football showdown! Join the crowd at Kidd Brewer Stadium for a thrilling game day experience and show your App State spirit. 

Enjoy Dinner with Campus Dining
Rivers Street Cafe (located inside Central Dining Hall)

Share a meal with your student and enjoy an all-you-care-to-eat dining experience! With a variety of delicious options, it’s the perfect opportunity to connect, unwind, and make memories together. Don’t miss this chance to enjoy great food and quality time!

Enjoy Breakfast at Rivers Street Cafe
Rivers Street Cafe (located inside Central Dining Hall)

Kick off your morning with a hearty all-you-care-to-eat breakfast at Central Dining Hall! It’s the perfect way to fuel up for a day of Family Weekend activities while enjoying quality time with your student.

Yoga on the Mountain
The Art of Living Retreat Center
639 Whispering Hills Rd.
Boone, NC

Enjoy an indoor mountain view yoga class taught by some of this region’s favorite teachers. Rain or shine, come together in community and enjoy a serene and joyful morning. Ages 18+. Mats and props provided. Transportation to the retreat center is not provided. Class is limited to 40 attendees, and advance registration is required.

Register for Yoga on the Mountain

Enjoy Lunch with Campus Dining
Rivers Street Cafe or Park Place at the Pond

Grab a bite to eat with your student and enjoy an all-you-care-to-eat dining experience!

App State Women’s Field Hockey vs. Davidson
Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field Hockey Complex
633 Intramural Field Road
Boone, NC 28607

Come out and cheer on the App State Women’s Field Hockey team as they take on Davidson! Don’t miss this action-packed game and a chance to show your Mountaineer pride. Best of all—admission is completely free!

Location: Student Recreation Center

Join your student at the Student Recreation Center for free admission on Friday, Sept. 5 and Sunday, Sept. 7. Enjoy an indoor climbing wall, weight room, indoor track, pool and more. Visit the UREC website to read more about what this facility offers. The SRC is closed on Saturday.

Students must accompany family members and show their AppCard at the entrance to gain access to the SRC.

Locations: Rivers Street Cafe or Park Place at the Pond

Campus Dining is excited to welcome all families and students, regardless of meal plan status, to the Boone campus for Family Weekend. This is a great opportunity to visit our All Access dining halls! Both All Access dining halls will be available to you at no charge throughout the weekend.

Hours for Rivers Street Cafe (located inside Central Dining Hall):

• Friday, Sept. 5: 4 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 6: 2:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 7: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Hours for Park Place at the Pond (located inside Trivette Dining Hall):

• Friday, Sept. 5: 4 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 6: 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 7: 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Students must accompany family members and show their AppCard at the door to receive the free meals throughout the weekend.

Enjoy free parking in the College Street Parking Deck, Holmes Drive Parking Deck, or Rivers Street Parking Deck on Friday, Sept. 5 and Sunday, Sept. 7. There is no on-campus parking available on Saturday.

Hours for free parking:

• Friday, Sept. 5: 5 p.m. - 11:59 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 7: 12:00 a.m. - 11:59 p.m.

Make sure to take advantage of the free AppalCART over the weekend. Download ETASpot for up-to-date route information.

Location: Campus Store

Hours for the Campus Store:

• Friday, Sept. 5: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 6:  9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Stop by the Campus Store during Family Weekend and stock up on all things App State! From clothing and accessories to pet gear, bags, and more—there’s something for every Mountaineer fan. Every purchase supports student scholarships, so you can feel good while you shop.