8:30 AM-2:00 PM – FRIENDS AND FAMILY WEEKEND WELCOME AND INFO DESK,Paresky Center, Baxter Hall. INFORMATION ONLY. Registration is not required.
9:00-10:15 AM – CAMPUS TOUR, Weston Hall. Led by student admission guides.
11:00 AM-4:00 PM – LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, Sawyer Library. Visit the College Archives and Chapin Library to view of selection of rare books, manuscripts, and archives that are being used in Williams classrooms. The current exhibit, 100 years, 100 voices, celebrates the centennial of the Chapin Library of Rare Books.
10:00 AM-5:00 PM – WILLIAMS COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART, Object Lab, Remixing the Hall, Embodied Words, and more!artmuseum.williams.edu
11:30-12:45 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 Muslim Chaplain, Sidra Mahmood.
12:45 PM – JUMUAH 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.
2:00-4:00 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!
2:00 PM Waterworld: Chemistry of Living Systems. Professor Amy Gehring, Philip and Dorothy Schein Professor of Chemistry, Director of the Science Center.
3:00 PM On Contemplative Education: Mindfulness in the College Classroom. Professor Bernard Rhie, Associate Professor of English
3:00-4:15 PM– CAMPUS TOUR, Weston Hall. Led by student admission guides.
3:00-3:50 PM– PANEL DISCUSSION: CLASSROOM, CAMPUS, COMMUNITY--SUSTAINABILITY CONNECTIONS. Griffin Hall, Room 2. Panelists: Bilal Ansari (Asst. VP for Campus Engagement, OIDEI), Temesgen Araya (Director of Dining Services), Sarah Jacobson (Prof. of Economics), Hikaru Hayakawa (student and co-leader of the Sustainable Living Community), Jason Moran (Asst. Dir. of Energy and Utilities), and Lena Salamanca (Executive Assistant to the Provost), moderated by Tanja Srebotnjak (Director of the Zilkha Center).
3:00-4:30 PM – TOUR THE CLASS OF 1966 ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, 3:00PM, 3:45PM, 4:30PM start times. Meet in front of the main entrance (facing Sawyer Library).
4:15-5:15 PM – PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS: 10 THINGS FAMILIES SHOULD KNOW TO SUPPORT THEIR STUDENT'S CAREER EXPLORATION, Griffin Hall, Room 3.Panel discussion with directors and students from the ’68 Center for Career Exploration, co-sponsored by The Parents Fund. In this popular session, you will learn from Williams Career Center Directors and peer advisors how to support your student's career exploration process starting in their first semester through senior year. You will learn about critical internship programs, expert career advising, the essential alumni network, Winter Study opportunities, majores, post-graduate jobs, graduate school preparation, and more. You will be amazed and inspired by the opportunities and decisions ahead for your student. Bring your questions and be prepared to take notes!
4:30-5:30 PM – DANCE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE, Dance Studio,’62 Center for Theatre and Dance. The dancers and directors from the Department’s ensembles offer visitors a rare behind-the-scenes look into the how each ensemble trains and rehearses along with sneak previews of works in progress. Learn More. 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. Friends/Family Friendly.
7:00 PM – FROSH REVUE 2023,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.
7:30 PM – BERKSHIRE SYMPHONY, Chapin Hall. (Pre-concert talk with conductor Ronald Feldman at 6:45 p.m. in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall). The Williams College Department of Music presents Berkshire Symphony. This event is free and open to the public. There are no reservations or ticketing. The program includes Williams – Cowboys Overture, Ives – Three Pieces in New England, and Kaska – Epilogue from The Wizard of Menlo Park. More Information
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.
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? How did COVID change the Williams classroom, maybe permanently? Williams professors James Mahon, Woodrow Wilson Professor of Political Science, Protik Majumder, Barclay Jermain Professor of Natural Philosophy and Chair of Astronomy, and Julie Cassiday, Willcox B. and Harriet M. Adsit Professor of Russian, will answer these and many of your own questions. Coffee and muffins available before and after.
10:00 AM-5:00 PM – WILLIAMS COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART, Object Lab, Remixing the Hall, Embodied Words, and more!artmuseum.williams.edu
11:30-2:00 PM – DRISCOLL AND PARESKY DINING HALLS OPEN FOR STUDENTS AND GUESTS. See pay options under "Dining Halls" near the end of this schedule.
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.
11:30 AM-12:45 PM – CAMPUS TOUR, Weston Hall. Led by student admission guides.
1:00 PM-4:00 PM – LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, Sawyer Library. Visit the College Archives and Chapin Library to view of selection of rare books, manuscripts, and archives that are being used in Williams classrooms. The current exhibit, 100 years, 100 voices, celebrates the centennial of the Chapin Library of Rare Books.
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 2023, 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.
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.
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.
8:00 PM – ACAPELLA SHOWCASE, featuring many of the student acappella groups. Goodrich Hall.
7:30-10:30 AM – DRISCOLL DINING HALL 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 the 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. Questions? Email [email protected]. Sign up required - Please sign-up here.
10:00-11:00 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, Object Lab, Remixing the Hall, Embodied Words, and more!artmuseum.williams.edu
11:00 - 2:00 PM –PARESKY DINING HALL and 11:30 - 2:00PM DRISCOLL DINING HALL OPEN FOR STUDENTS AND GUESTS. See pay options under "Dining Halls" near the end of this schedule.
2:00 PM – FROSH REVUE 2023, 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.
4:00 PM-5:30 PM - COOPERATION, COMPETITION, OR CONFLICT: ASSESSING THE STATE OF US-CHINA RELATIONS AND ITS GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS. Griffin Hall, Room 3. The Williams Global Scholars present a conversation with Dr. Amy Gadsden and Professor Sam Crane on the fragile state of US-China relations and the path forward. Incorporating historical, political science, and economic approaches, their dialogue will include a moderated panel discussion and extended audience Q&A. Refreshments will be provided.
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! Friends/Family welcome.
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: $10, Lunch: $14, Dinner: $19.50. A complimentary Saturday breakfast will be served in Paresky Dining Hall only
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