By Gavin Guffey, Newswire Intern

Musketeer families filled in The Hoff Dining Commons, Cintas Center and around campus the weekend for an annual tradition.

Family Weekend is an event where Xavier families come from all over to visit students. The event is open to students of all grade levels and all family members are encouraged to attend for the price of $45 per adult ticket, with children age five and under receiving free registration.

Families first checked in at the Arrupe Overlook located on the first floor of the Gallagher Student Center (GSC) before proceeding to the activities of their choice.

Family Weekend 2025 was kicked off, literally, by a Xavier men’s soccer game against Butler University on Friday night, which was preceded by the Musketeer Fan Fest at the Pitch. D’Artagnan and the Blue Blob, along with the Xavier Dance team and Pep Band led the way at the Fan Fest.

On Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hoff Dining Commons offered brunch, with limited edition apple Cinnamon Toast Crunch Pancakes from Ms. Reese. 

Two sessions of Bingo were held in The Cintas Center banquet rooms Saturday night. Abby Young, a first-year marketing major, was the winner of the grand prize, a new iPad, in the 9:30-10:30 p.m. session.

“I can’t believe I won. I was like, ‘don’t call my number,’ and I won,” Young said. 

Apart from winning a new iPad, Young said her favorite part of Family Weekend was performing at Xavier men’s basketball’s exhibition game against Murray State as a cheerleader.

“My favorite part was probably the men’s basketball game, because I cheered at it. So, I thought it was really a fun environment, and it was just fun to cheer at my first game,” said Young.

First-year business undecided major Jack Mallon, with his parents Jim and Sarah, also said the men’s basketball game was their favorite part of the weekend, as it was the first Xavier game they’ve attended.

Xavier fell to Murray State 75-70 in a nail-biter that had fans on their feet until the final buzzer.

A final highlight of Family Weekend was the student-run play, “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” which had multiple showings across all three days. First-year chemistry major Zach Witkiewicz, accompanied by his parents Mark and Jackie, attended the play, noting that they all enjoyed it.

“It exceeded expectations,” Mark Witkiewicz said.

Other performances included the AcaBellas concert in the Arrupe Overlook and the improv club Don’t Tell Anna’s Fall Show in the Kennedy Auditorium.

Family Weekend, to many, is an opportunity for parents to visit students under a weekend of lightened stress.

“I just like the variety of activities to do and just showing my parents my classes and my day-to-day life. It’s very comforting,” Zach Witkiewicz said.