Family Weekend Events
Please continue to visit this page as more events and details will be included.
Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the ADA Coordinator at least 48 hours prior to the event at (252) 737-1018 / ada-coordinator@ecu.edu
Friday, September 19
Paint it Purple Fridays
This has been an ECU tradition for many years. We want everyone, including our families, to wear purple and show their Pirate Pride!
8th Annual Club Sport Scholarship Golf Scramble
Shotgun start at 9am | Ayden Golf & Country Club
Join ECU Club Sports for a day on the golf course. A golf scramble fundraiser for the ECU Club Sport Endowment, supporting ECU Club Sport Athletes and their passions. Hosted at Ayden Golf & Country Club. Email watersj@ecu.edu for questions.
Family Weekend Service Project
1:00pm-3:00pm EST | Main Campus Student Center, Ballroom C
What better way to celebrate Family Weekend than by participating in service and giving back to our community! All materials will be provided, we just need your help to provide the labor. We will be partnering with Macgregor Downs Assisted Living Facility to make fall garden flags that will be donated to residents of the facility to brighten their day. Artistic skills not necessary, as long as you can trace and color with markers! Please sign up at Give Pulse to let us know you’re coming!
Event sponsored by the Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement.
Williams-Ross Purple Pantry Donations
1:00pm-3:00pm EST | Main Campus Student Center, Ballroom C
Families have the opportunity to live out ECU’s motto Servire, ‘To Serve,’ by donating to the Williams-Ross Purple Pantry! Purple Pantry’s mission is to decrease food insecurity among the students of East Carolina University and increase access to other personal care items. The Purple Pantry’s most needed items are breakfast items (individual cups of cereal, breakfast bars, oatmeal cups, etc.) and snack items.
Can’t make it but would like to contribute? You can make a donation to the Purple Pantry on their Amazon Wishlist!
Board Game Break in Joyner Library
12:00pm-4:00pm EST | Joyner Library, 1st Floor Lobby
Looking for a fun and relaxing way to spend your afternoon? Whether you’re a student, a parent, a kid, or just a board game enthusiast—everyone is welcome at our Board Game Break!
Enjoy a cozy and casual space with:
🎲 Classic board games & group favorites
🧩 Puzzles for all skill levels
🎨 Coloring and creative activities
🍪 Free snacks to keep the fun going
Bring your friends, your family, or just yourself—we’d love to have you! Drop in anytime between 12 and 4.
Family Weekend Welcome Table and T-Shirt Pickup
1:00pm-6:00pm EST | Main Campus Student Center, room 125
Stop by to receive a warm welcome to Family Weekend, snap a family photo at our photo station, and pick up your pre-ordered Family Weekend T-shirts to kick off the weekend!
Treasure Trek
1:00pm-6:00pm EST | Main Campus Student Center Lawn
Discover hidden gems at Treasure Trek, a market-style event celebrating creativity, craftsmanship and community all on ECU’s Main Campus Student Center lawn! Stroll through a vibrant marketplace featuring local vendors offering curated vintage finds and handmade goods. While you shop, enjoy the sounds of live acoustic performances from talented campus and local musicians, creating the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of treasure hunting.
Dowdy Student Store Discount
1:00pm-5:00pm | Main Campus Student Center
Get ready to show your school pride by visiting the Dowdy Student Store. All school spirit gear 10% off. *Some exclusions may apply*
In Their Footsteps: Exploring World War II Through Archival Records
1:00pm-9:00pm | Joyner Library, 1st, 3rd & 4th Floors
Travel back in time with “In Their Footsteps,” a powerful multi-floor exhibit that explores World War II through the lens of archival records, photographs, diaries, oral histories, film, posters, and more. This exhibit offers a rich American perspective on WWII—highlighting:
📸 Major battles and the trials of prisoners of war
🏡 Life on the home front in Eastern North Carolina
🎖️ Firsthand stories of Army, Navy, and Marine Corps servicemen
Now on display—explore at your own pace during library hours.
Talk Like A Pirate Tailgate
3:00pm-5:00pm | Old Cafeteria Complex, North Entrance
Join the Pirate Academic Success Center and talk like a Pirate! Come out and enjoy tailgate games, take a family photo, and join in on the fun!
Family Weekend Hike
3:00pm-6:00pm | Wildwood Park
Join Campus Recreation and Wellness for a Family Weekend adventure hike, and make lasting memories with your student in one of Greenville’s favorite outdoor spots. Transportation is included for those who need it.
Get the Scoop on Your First-Generation Student’s Success!
3:30pm-5:00pm | Main Campus Student Center, Black Box Theater
Call all First-Gen Pirates and their families! Come out and enjoy some ice cream while learning about the many ways ECU celebrates and supports first-generation college students.
Throughout the event, join us for exciting rounds of games the whole family can enjoy:
- 3:40pm – Trivia
- 4:10pm – ECU Jeopardy
- 4:40pm – Bingo
In between games, explore activities, campus resource tables, and opportunities to connect with fellow First-Gen Pirates, faculty, staff, and student leaders. Whether you come to play, learn, or simply enjoy a sweet treat, there’s something for everyone! RSVP is appreciated by not required.
Family Weekend Cornhole Tournament
5:00pm-6:30pm | Eakin Student Recreation Center
Kick off your weekend with an afternoon of fun for the whole family! Join ECU’s Campus Recreation and Wellness for a family friendly cornhole tournament where you and your student will compete against other families. Want to test your skills against the Cornhole Club? Participate in various drop-in activities and try to “Beat the Pro”. While the tournament is happening, other family members can enjoy the rock-climbing wall.
*By registering for the tournament you will receive an Intramural Champion T-shirt for competing. *
College of Business Family Weekend Reception
5:30pm-7:00pm | Main Student Center 3rd Floor Deck
Join us for an informal reception and meet Dean Michael Harris, as well as the faculty, staff and academic advisors that support your student. Have your family picture taken with PEEDEE and printed on-site (no charge). RSVP is appreciated but not required.
Freeboot Friday
5:30pm-8:30pm | Five Points Plaza (corner of 5th Street and Evans Street), Uptown Greenville
Dubbed the official pep rally of football games, this free event will have live music, food trucks, an athlete meet and greet, a beer and wine garden, and tons of giveaways. We invite all students and their families to join for this classic pre-game activity. It’s going to be arrgh-some! This event is hosted by Downtown Greenville Partnership.
ECU School of Theatre and Dance Showcase and Reception
5:00pm-7:30pm | Burnette Studio Theatre
Get ready to be amazed! Our Family Weekend event at the School of Theatre and Dance is FREE and open to ALL. From musicals to dance, drama to costumes, set designs to scenery construction, there’s something for everyone. Enjoy refreshments provided by the Friends of Theatre and Dance starting at 5:00pm. Come and enjoy exciting performances by our talented students at 6:00pm, view costumes, set renderings, and explore our main hallway with posters of every show performed at ECU going back to 1963. Our box office will have evening hours so families can purchase tickets to all of the ECU/Loessin Playhouse’s productions for the 2025-26 season. EVERYONE IS WELCOME! More details to come.
ECU Alumni Legacy Celebration
6:00pm-7:30pm EST | Main Campus Student Center, Ballroom A and B.
$20 per person (Free for the current legacy student)
Traditions are a huge part of being a Pirate! Legacy Pinning is a unique tradition that provides an opportunity to bookend the joyous memories of family members and the current Pirate student. This special ceremony gives the next generation of ECU students the chance to bring the past and present together. Alumni parents/grandparents/siblings will place the Legacy pin on their family member’s lapel signifying their collegiate bond.
This year’s Legacy Celebration will include a buffet style dinner. To make the evening even more special, we plan to create a presentation with photos of our Pirate alumni while they were at ECU! All attendees have the opportunity to upload a .png or .jpg pic that we can add to that presentation!
Attire for the evening is casual. Purple and Gold are always encouraged and you should plan to have your photo taken as well.
Free Recreation Center Access
All Weekend | Eakin Student Recreation Center
A great recreation center for you and your family to enjoy all weekend long! Students can bring up to 4 guests for free. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. To learn more about the amenities, group fitness classes, and more, visit the Eakin Student Recreation Center website for more information.
Saturday, September 20
In Their Footsteps: Exploring World War II Through Archival Records
10:00am-9:00pm | Joyner Library, 1st, 3rd & 4th Floors
Travel back in time with “In Their Footsteps,” a powerful multi-floor exhibit that explores World War II through the lens of archival records, photographs, diaries, oral histories, film, posters, and more. This exhibit offers a rich American perspective on WWII—highlighting:
📸 Major battles and the trials of prisoners of war
🏡 Life on the home front in Eastern North Carolina
🎖️ Firsthand stories of Army, Navy, and Marine Corps servicemen
Now on display—explore at your own pace during library hours.
Fuel Up for the Football Game
10:00am-2:00pm | Todd and West End Dining Halls
Families are invited to join their students and treat yourselves to an upscale brunch on campus! No pre-registration necessary. Visitors can pay at the door or students can use their guest meal swipes.
Honors College Social
10:00am-11:30am* | Mamie Jenkins Building
The Honors College is excited to announce that this year we will be hosting the first-ever Family Weekend social for Honors College families! Please join us on Saturday, September 20th anytime from 10:00am-11:30am* for a casual drop-in event at the Mamie Jenkins building. This will be a chance for students, friends, and families to meet and connect with the Honors College staff before heading to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium to show some off some Pirate pride against BYU. This will also be an opportunity to pick up any purchases made from the Honors College store. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVP is encouraged but not required.
Click here to view the Honors College Store.
*Please note that the time of this event may change based on the football game schedule.
Dowdy Student Store Discount
12:00pm-5:00pm | Main Campus Student Center
Get ready to show your school pride by visiting the Dowdy Student Store. All school spirit gear 10% off. *Some exclusions may apply*
Pennant Making with the Grad School
12:30pm-2:30pm | Main Campus Student Center commons area
Join the Graduate School during Parent and Family Weekend for a fun and creative pennant-making station on Saturday, September 20. We invite graduate students and their families to stop by, get crafty, and design their own purple and gold pennant to wave at the football game or hang up on your wall. All arts and crafts supplies will be provided, along with popcorn and lemonade to enjoy while you work. Undergraduate students and their families are also welcome to join us and learn more about graduate opportunities at ECU. RSVP is appreciated but not required.
Family Weekend Movie
1:30pm | Hendrix Theatre in Mendenhall
Join us for a fun and family-friendly movie as we present Superman (2025)! Come together with Pirate families to see a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind. Please enter Mendenhall using the doors closest to Eakin Student Recreation Center.
Park & Ride Shuttle
4:30pm | Health Sciences Campus, 100 Health Science Drive, Greenville, NC 27834
Pre-purchased Pass Required. Sales closed August 28th.
For visiting families, parking with shuttle service is available from the Health Sciences campus to the Family Weekend Tailgate and the Football Stadium area. Shuttles will drop guests off at the Main Campus Student Center, then continue on to drop guests off at the tailgate location on 14th Street. Shuttles will return guests to their cars beginning at halftime and run until one hour after the football game concludes. Guests will be picked up from 14th Street and shuttles will make stops at both the Main Campus Student Center and the Health Sciences parking lot. *Passes must be purchased in advance. NO on site purchase.
Family Weekend Tailgate
4:30pm | Top of College Hill, 14th Street across from Ballard Residence Hall
Pre-purchased Ticket Required. Sales closed August 28th.
Join us for the annual Family Weekend Tailgate, where Purple and Gold spirit fills the air! Located in the heart of the tailgating action, get ready for the ECU game by enjoying delicious BBQ, lively music, refreshing shaved ice, and a variety of exciting vendors. Don’t forget to challenge your family to classic yard games and snap a photo to capture the memories!
This is a catered event, not an open tailgate lot. NO outside food, drinks, or vehicles will be permitted in this area. Tickets must be purchased in advance. You will be asked to show your tickets to gain entry.
Family Weekend Shuttles will drop off visitors at the tailgate location. The Tailgate opens 3 hours prior to kick-off with the first shuttle departing 15 minutes prior to the tailgate.
Pirate Alumni Game Day Tailgate
4:30pm | Located at Johnson Soccer Stadium
$25 per person with discount code
ECU Legacy families are invited to join fellow Alumni for fun at the ECU Alumni Association’s Pirate Game Day Tailgate! Admission includes:
🍴 Buffet style food from “GK Cafe” and desserts from “Nothing bundt Cakes”
🍻 Two drink tickets for beer products (21+ only)
🥤 Pepsi products from Minges Bottling Group
🎶 Live DJ, lawn games, door prizes, and plenty of Pirate swag
🚻 Clean restrooms
Tailgates begin 3 hours before kickoff and run for two hours—ending 60 minutes before the game. Parking is NOT included with purchase.
Purchase using the code FWPGDT25 to save $10 for admission (regular price $35) to the Family Weekend Pirate Game Day Tailgate. The discount code will not work on any of our other tailgates this season.
Family Weekend Football Game
ECU vs. BYU
7:30pm | Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
Join Head Coach Blake Harrell and the ECU Pirates for this exciting premier game. Wear your gold and cheer on the Pirates as they play against BYU! ECU Athletics has implemented a clear bag policy for those attending the game. More information about it at ECU Clear Bag Policy.
If you would still like to purchase full price football tickets, please visit the ECU Athletics Ticket website or call 800-342-5328.
Family Weekend Movie
7:30pm | Hendrix Theatre in Mendenhall
Not into watching the football game? Join us for a fun and family-friendly movie night instead! We’re screening Superman (2025). A fresh take on the iconic hero featuring a singular blend of epic action, humor, and heart. Come together with Pirate families to experience a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an unwavering belief in the goodness of humankind. Please enter Mendenhall using the doors closest to Eakin Student Recreation Center.
Free Recreation Center Access
All Weekend | Eakin Student Recreation Center
A great recreation center for you and your family to enjoy all weekend long! Students can bring up to 4 guests for free. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. To learn more about the amenities, group fitness classes, and more, visit the Eakin Student Recreation Center website for more information.
Sunday, September 21
In Their Footsteps: Exploring World War II Through Archival Records
10:00am-9:00pm | Joyner Library, 1st, 3rd & 4th Floors
Travel back in time with “In Their Footsteps,” a powerful multi-floor exhibit that explores World War II through the lens of archival records, photographs, diaries, oral histories, film, posters, and more. This exhibit offers a rich American perspective on WWII—highlighting:
📸 Major battles and the trials of prisoners of war
🏡 Life on the home front in Eastern North Carolina
🎖️ Firsthand stories of Army, Navy, and Marine Corps servicemen
Now on display—explore at your own pace during library hours.
Brunch with the Family
10:00am-2:00pm | West End Dining Hall
Families are invited to join their students and treat yourselves to an upscale brunch on campus! No pre-registration necessary. Visitors can pay at the door or students can use their guest meal swipes.
College of Fine Arts and Communication Brunch
10:00am – 11:30pm | The Wellington B. Gray Gallery in Jenkins Fine Arts Center at the School of Art and Design
First-year and transfer students who are part of the College of Fine Arts and Communication and their families are invited to a special brunch to meet and mingle with CFAC faculty and staff! RSVP is required.
Tar River Float & Hike – Wildwood Park
10:00am-2:00pm | Eakin Student Recreation Center Loading Dock or Meet
ECU Students Free, Family Members/Guests: $20
Join us for a relaxing September morning on the Tar River as our CRW Adventure Trip Leaders take you to Wildwood Park. Register early as this trip fills up fast! We’ll depart for the river at 10:00am and return around 2:00pm. While transportation can be provided, you can also meet us at the park as it is less than 3 miles away from ECU’s main campus. Capacity is 28 participants. Email adventure@ecu.edu for questions.
Paint with Your Pirate
11:00am-12:45pm | Bate Building, Room 1032
Pre-purchased Pass Required. Sales closed August 28th.
As part of ECU’s Family Weekend festivities, the “Paint with Your Pirate” event brings together ECU students and their families for a creative morning of painting. Hosted in collaboration with Wine & Design Greenville, this event offers participants the opportunity to bond over art while creating their very own ECU-themed masterpiece.
Families will be guided step-by-step by experience professional instructors from Wine & Design, ensuring that everyone, regardless of skill level, can enjoy the process and walk away with a beautiful piece of artwork.
Captain’s Society Brunch
11:00am-12:30pm EST | Towne Bank Tower, Dowdy Ficklen Stadium
Members of the Captain’s Society are invited to a special brunch held at a unique campus location, Towne Bank Tower. Brunch will include light refreshments, a unique view, time to mingle with other pirate families and the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, and time to take family pictures on the ECU football field.
If you are interested in joining the Captain’s Society, please visit the ECU Captain’s Society website. Join by September 10 to be eligible to attend this event. You will receive the email invitation shortly after joining.
Already a member? RSVP for the event using the link we emailed to you by September 12.
Dowdy Student Store Discount
12:00pm-5:00pm | Main Campus Student Center
Get ready to show your school pride by visiting the Dowdy Student Store. All school spirit gear 10% off. *Some exclusions may apply*
Free Recreation Center Access
All Weekend | Eakin Student Recreation Center
A great recreation center for you and your family to enjoy all weekend long! Students can bring up to 4 guests for free. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. To learn more about the amenities, group fitness classes, and more, visit the Eakin Student Recreation Center website for more information.
Looking for activities off-campus, in and around Greenville? We’ve got you covered! Our staff has put together a short list of activities for the whole family. Options range from outdoor hiking to viewing art to mini golf!