Please note: this is last year's program for general reference only. The 2023 program will be posted in September 2023.
10:00 AM-5:00 PM – WILLIAMS COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART, Mary Ann Unger: To Shape a Moon from Bone, and more. artmuseum.williams.edu
10:00 AM-5:00 PM – LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, Sawyer Library. From the Founding Documents of the United States of America and Audubon’s Birds of America to Williams’ early student letters and current student newspapers, the College Archives and Chapin Library are well worth a visit. The current exhibit, Revelations, honors Sterling A. Brown, the distinguished African American poet and 1922 graduate of Williams.
5:00 PM –CHORAL EVENSONG SERVICE, Thompson Memorial Chapel. Featuring music by an ensemble of Williams College students with organist and Choral Director Tim Pyper, and the Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer, Chaplain to the College. Sponsored by the Chaplains’ Office and the Music Department. For more information contact Valerie at [email protected] or Tim at [email protected]
7:00-10:00 PM – TRIVIA NIGHT, The Log. Open to all. Come on down and test your wit against students, faculty, staff and the public! Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place! Call early to reserve a table for teams of up to six: (413) 884-6073.
8:30 AM-4:00 PM – FRIENDS AND FAMILY WEEKEND WELCOME AND INFO DESK,Paresky Center, Baxter Hall.
9:00-10:15 AM – CAMPUS TOUR, Weston Hall. Led by student admission guides.
10:00 AM-5:00 PM – LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, Sawyer Library. From the Founding Documents of the United States of America and Audubon’s Birds of America to Williams’ early student letters and current student newspapers, the College Archives and Chapin Library are well worth a visit. The current exhibit, Revelations, honors Sterling A. Brown, the distinguished African American poet and 1922 graduate of Williams.
10:00 AM-5:00 PM – WILLIAMS COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART, Mary Ann Unger: To Shape a Moon from Bone, and more. artmuseum.williams.edu
12:00-1:00 PM – “THIS I BELIEVE,” Faculty House (lower level). A panel of students from a Williams-wide variety of traditions and perspectives reflecting on their experiences with faith, spirituality and morality on campus. Join us for lunch to meet our Chaplain to the College, The Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer; Jewish Chaplain, Rabbi Seth Wax; Catholic Chaplain, Bridget Power; and Anne Myers, Muslim Program Coordinator.
12:30-2:00 PM – TOUR THE CLASS OF 1966 ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, 12:30, 1:00, and 1:30 start times.
1:00 PM – JUM’AH PRAYERS, Muslim Prayer Room, Thompson Memorial Chapel (lower level). Followed by a social gathering in the Interfaith Common Room, also located on the chapel’s lower level.
1:00-4:00 PM –ACADEMIC SHOWCASE, MainStage, '62 Center of Theatre and Dance. Faculty from each of the academic divisions will teach open classes to our guests. Please join us to get a sense of your students' academic experiences!
1:00 PM What Should Children Learn in School?Susan Engel, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, The Class of 1959 Director of Program in Teaching
2:00 PM Environmental Consciousness in Arabic Desert Literature. Brahim El Guabli, Assistant Professor of Arabic Studies
3:00 PM History Matters. The Legacy of World War I in the Middle East. Magnús T. Bernhardsson, Brown Professor of History and Faculty Affiliate in Arabic Studies, Leadership Studies and Religion, Chair of Global Studies
3:00-4:15 PM– CAMPUS TOUR, Weston Hall. Led by student admission guides.
3:00-3:50 PM– PANEL DISCUSSION: SUSTAINABILITY AT WILLIAMS—ACTING IN THE PRESENT WITH A VIEW TO THE FUTURE. Panelists: Bilal Ansari (Asst. VP for Campus Engagement, OIDEI), Temesgen Araya (Director of Dining Services), Sarah Jacobson (Prof. of Economics), Bekah Lindsay (student and co-leader of the Sustainable Living Community), Jason Moran (Asst. Dir. of Energy and Utilities), and Christine Seibert (Sustainability Coordinator, Zilkha Center), moderated by Tanja Srebotnjak (Director of the Zilkha Center) Hopkins Hall, Classroom 001 (lower level).
3:00-4:00 PM – "WITNESSING LANDS, WITNESSING POSSESSION," Griffin Hall, Room 6. Annual Geosciences environmental seminar with Dr. Robin McDowell, University of Washington, St. Louis; Dr. Priscilla McCutcheon, University of Kentucky; Dr. Brittany Meché, Williams College; and Dr. Allison Guess, Williams College. "Witnessing Lands, Witnessing Possession" will be a wide-ranging discussion on the geographies of colonialism and rebellion, food sovereignty movements across the African diaspora, and global environmental futures. Co-sponsored by the W. Ford Schumann '50 Program in Democratic Studies.
4:15-5:15 PM – INTERNSHIPS, JOBS, AND GRADUATE SCHOOL: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BOLSTER YOUR STUDENT'S SUCCESS, Griffin Hall, Room 3.Panel discussion with directors and students from the ’68 Center for Career Exploration, co-sponsored by The Parents Fund.
4:30-5:30 PM –DANCE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE, Dance Studio,’62 Center for Theatre and Dance. The Dance Department invites you to our annual sharing of work in process in academic classes and performing ensembles. Students will share research and performance projects in the genres of ballet, contemporary modern, African dance and percussion, and step. All are welcome!
5:00-8:00 PM – DRISCOLL AND PARESKY DINING HALLS OPEN FOR STUDENTS AND GUESTS. See pay options under "Dining Halls" near the end of this schedule.
6:00 PM – SHABBAT SERVICE AND DINNER, Jewish Religious Center. Shabbat evenings at JRC are the heart of the Jewish community at Williams. Every Friday, students lead a service beginning at 6:00 PM and then gather for Shabbat dinner at 7:15 PM. The JRC welcomes the Williams community to its home-cooked kosher Shabbat dinner.
7:00 PM COMMEMORATING 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF HUNGER STRIKES THAT LED TO LATINO/A STUDIES AT WILLIAMS. Griffin 3. Six Williams alumni who actively participated in the ethnic studies movement will share their stories and experiences. Prior to the hunger strikes of 1991 and 1993, there was a lack of courses and tenure-track positions specifically dedicated to the study of Latinx identity at Williams College. Students participated in the strike with the goal of establishing an interdisciplinary program in U.S.-Latino studies which would span the history, political science, anthropology-sociology, and romance languages departments in recognition of the depth and diversity of our lived experiences. As a result of their activism, the Latino/a Concentration was formally established in 2004 with Professor Carmen Whalen fulfilling the first tenure-track position in the department. Join us for an opportunity to learn, ask questions, and be in community with the alumni who changed Williams for the better!
7:30-8:30 PM –THEATRE HONORS PERFORMANCE,Director's Studio, '62 Center for Theatre and Dance. A dragged-up musical-in-progress about devotion, brokenness, and who we see as human, Jenny’s Doll Hospital explores just how much of ourselves we will (or should) sacrifice in order to heal the one we love. Join us for a staged reading of the first act as part of Kara Hadden’s '23 Honors Project in Theatre. Book and Lyrics by Hadden; music by Sara Stebbins ’24. Free but tickets required.
7:30 PM – BERKSHIRE SYMPHONY, Chapin Hall. (Pre-concert talk with conductor Ronald Feldman at 6:45 PM.) The Williams College Department of Music presents the Berkshire Symphony. The program includes Capriccio Espagnol by Rimski-Korsikov; Variaciones concertantes by Ginastera; the Violin Concerto by Reinaldo Moya, with Francesca Anderegg, violin. There is a world premiere by Ileana Perez Velazquez, featuring faculty members Matthew Gold and Tendai Muparutsa. The concert concludes with Carmen Suite by Bizet. More Information
8:00 PM – FROSH REVUE 2022,Paresky Auditorium. A comedic, family-friendly celebration of the Williams first-year experience. Appearing annually since time immemorial, Frosh Revue features nine energetic freshman stars and an hour of zany fun in this traditional fall offering. Tickets required! Reserve here.
8:00 PM – ZEISS PLANETARIUM SHOW/OBSERVE THE NIGHT SKY, Old Hopkins Observatory, Fitch-Prospect Quad. Space is limited. Sign up to participate! Please note that doors remain closed for the entire program (approximately one hour). Immediately following, you will be invited to observe the night sky (weather permitting), Rooftop, Thompson Physics and Astronomy Lab, 33 Lab Campus Drive. All spaces for this event have now been reserved.
7:30-10:00 AM – COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST, Paresky Dining Hall. (Breakfast is complimentary in Paresky Dining Hall only: family members must pay in Driscoll.)
9:00-10:15 AM – CAMPUS TOUR, Weston Hall. Led by student admission guides.
9:00 AM –PANEL DISCUSSION: INSIDE THE WILLIAMS CLASSROOM, MainStage, ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance. What’s happening in the humanities, social sciences, science and mathematics, and interdisciplinary programs? How do tutorials work? What about summer research opportunities? Williams professors Corinna Campbell, Associate Professor of Music; José Constantine, Associate Professor of Geosciences; and Tyran Steward, Assistant Professor of History, will answer these and many of your own questions. Coffee and muffins available before and after. Note: The '62 Center mandates masks be worn at all times by all audience members inside the theater.
10:00 AM-5:00 PM – WILLIAMS COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART, Mary Ann Unger: To Shape a Moon from Bone, and more. artmuseum.williams.edu
11:30 AM – FAMILY DAYS ASSEMBLY, MainStage, ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance. Maud S. Mandel, President and Professor of History, and Gretchen Long, Dean of the College and Frederick Rudolph '42 - Class of 1965 Professor of American Culture. Note: The '62 Center mandates masks be worn at all times by all audience members inside the theater.
11:30 AM-12:45 PM – CAMPUS TOUR, Weston Hall. Led by student admission guides.
12:30-2:00 PM – COMPLIMENTARY BUFFET LUNCHEON,Towne Field House. Sit with your student’s JA’s, entry-mates and their families.
1:00 PM-5:00 PM – LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, Sawyer Library. From the Founding Documents of the United States of America and Audubon’s Birds of America to Williams’ early student letters and current student newspapers, the College Archives and Chapin Library are well worth a visit. The current exhibit, Revelations, honors Sterling A. Brown, the distinguished African American poet and 1922 graduate of Williams.
3:00-4:00 PM – THEATER OF THE MATHEMATICALLY ABSURD, Science Center, Wege Auditorium/Chemistry 123: Morley Science Labs. Short humorous math theater pieces performed by students and faculty. No equations; few bad puns!
5:00-8:00 PM – DRISCOLL AND PARESKY DINING HALLS OPEN FOR STUDENTS AND GUESTS. See pay options under "Dining Halls" near the end of this schedule.
7:00 PM – FROSH REVUE 2022, Paresky Auditorium. A comedic, family-friendly celebration of the Williams first-year experience. Appearing annually since time immemorial, Frosh Revue features nine energetic freshman stars and an hour of zany fun in this traditional fall offering.Tickets required! Reserve here.
7:30 PM – ZAMBEZI MARIMBA BAND FAMILY DAYS CONCERT, Chapin Hall. The Zambezi Marimba Band features danceable and melodious marimba music from Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zambezi is a diverse group and employs singers, a horn section and other instruments to its solid marimba fundament. More a joyous celebration than just a concert, the band wins over every audience with its flair and irresistibly kinetic energy. This is an event for the whole family – for those who want to move, or if you just want to enjoy a wonderful evening.
7:30-8:30 PM – THEATRE HONORS PERFORMANCE,Director's Studio, '62 Center for Theatre and Dance. A dragged-up musical-in-progress about devotion, brokenness, and who we see as human, Jenny’s Doll Hospital explores just how much of ourselves we will (or should) sacrifice in order to heal the one we love. Join us for a staged reading of the first act as part of Kara Hadden’s '23 Honors Project in Theatre. Book and Lyrics by Hadden; music by Sara Stebbins ’24. Free but tickets required.
7:30 PM – A CAPPELLA SHOWCASE, featuring all a cappella groups. Goodrich Hall.
8:00 PM – ZEISS PLANETARIUM SHOW/OBSERVE THE NIGHT SKY, Old Hopkins Observatory, Fitch-Prospect Quad. Space is limited. Sign up to participate! Please note that doors remain closed for the entire program (approximately one hour). Immediately following, you will be invited to observe the night sky (weather permitting), Rooftop, Thompson Physics and Astronomy Lab, 33 Lab Campus Drive. All spaces for this event have now been reserved.
9:30 PM – THE ACCIDENTALS AND THE EPHLATS, featuring all a cappella groups. Goodrich Hall.
8:00-9:30 AM – DRISCOLL AND PARESKY DINING HALLS OPEN FOR STUDENTS AND GUESTS. See pay options under "Dining Halls" near the end of this schedule.
9:00 AM – PINE COBBLE HIKE hosted by The Williams Outing Club. Meet outside on Paresky Center porch. This is a 3.5-hour roundtrip intermediate hike up and down Pine Cobble. Wear good hiking shoes and bring a water bottle. Snacks will be provided. Pleasesign-up beforehand at the Paresky Center Welcome Desk. Questions? Email slewis@williams.edu.
10:00-11:30 AM – JEWISH RELIGIOUS CENTER FIRST-YEAR FAMILIES BRUNCH, Jewish Religious Center. Families are invited to a student-cooked breakfast.
10:00 AM-5:00 PM – WILLIAMS COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART, Mary Ann Unger: To Shape a Moon from Bone, and more. artmuseum.williams.edu
11:00 AM-1:30 PM – DINING HALLS ARE OPEN FOR BRUNCH. See pay options under "Dining Halls" near the end of this schedule.
2:00 PM – FROSH REVUE 2022, Paresky Auditorium. A comedic, family-friendly celebration of the Williams first-year experience. Appearing annually since time immemorial, Frosh Revue features nine energetic freshman stars and an hour of zany fun in this traditional fall offering. Tickets required! Reserve here.
5:30 PM – THE FEAST, St. John’s Church, 35 Park St. A progressive Christian community welcoming people of all perspectives for a home-cooked meal and brief worship service. Come when you can, leave when you must!
If you can’t reach your student or family member by cell phone, please call (413) 597-4444, and Campus Safety and Security will get a message to the Paresky Welcome Desk.
DINING HALLS
Driscoll and Paresky Dining Halls are open to families, who can pay with credit cards or their students’ EPH-Points. Breakfast: $9, Lunch: $13, Dinner: $17. A complimentary Saturday breakfast will be served in Paresky Dining Hall only, and Saturday lunch in Towne Field House is also free.
LOST AND FOUND
Try the Welcome Desk in Paresky Center or (after hours) Campus Safety and Security on the ground floor of Hopkins Hall (413) 597-4444.
LODGING, TRANSPORTATION, RESTAURANTS
For driving directions, transport, local restaurants and accommodations, go to williams.edu/visitors.
PARKING
We recommend that you leave your car in the Williams parking garage on Whitman Street (between Park Street and Route 7 in the northwest corner of campus) and walk to events in and around campus.
ACCESSIBILITY
Every effort is made to anticipate the needs of all our guests. Although we cannot provide wheelchairs, we encourage you to contact Surgimed at least one week in advance if you need such services (Surgimed, 109 Eagle Street, North Adams, MA, 413-663-8655).
Families of current Williams students are always welcome to play the college’s historic Taconic Golf Course at reduced fees. Tee times are recommended and available five days in advance by calling the pro shop at 413-458-3997.
ATHLETIC FACILITIES
Under the age of 13 are not permitted in the Fitness Center, and 13-15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 16 years of age or older. Under the age of 16 cannot use the weight room or upper Lasell; they can use the basketball courts, squash, or pool provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian 18 years or older.
Williams’ outdoor athletic facilities — Cole Fields, the tennis courts, the track, and both turf fields at the Weston Athletic Complex — are open to everyone — students, faculty, staff, members of the Williamstown community, and visitors. Please be mindful of scheduled in-season varsity athletic, club, RSO and IM sessions which are typically held Monday through Friday 4-7 P.M.
Megamenu Social