Alright fellow Stags, it’s that time of the year again – Family Weekend! Time to hide that new tattoo from Mom, put on your Sunday best, clean your room and flirt with your roommate’s hot dad – just kidding! I think everyone’s ready for some family time after almost two months of being away from home. Now’s the time to allow your family a little walk in your shoes, hanging out at your dorm, meeting your friends, walking around campus and visiting your newfound Fairfield spots! As a junior, my parents are well accustomed to my home away from home. This year, I know I have new ideas and itineraries I plan to take them on including a parents of roommates and friends tailgate at my townhouse and trying the new authentic gelato place right in town! There is truly something new to do every year. But what’s in store for this 2025 Family Weekend? Allow me to enlighten you!
Starting off with campus events, I introduce to you, StagFest! This family friendly event taking place on Saturday Oct. 25 from 11:30-3:30 p.m., offers live band entertainment, numerous food trucks and beverage vendors and a play zone for the baby Stags! StagFest operates in the Barone Campus Center traffic circle! This festival is perfect for all ages, centering parents weekend as a community building event! Grab your old man and mingle with other Stag Dads! Grab Mom and dance together to the band! Grab your starving little brother and drag him to the food trucks! StagFest brings the fun every single year with great success.
Calling out to the sports families! There are numerous sporting events happening right on campus. Into soccer? On Saturday Oct. 25, there is a women’s soccer tailgate at Lessing Field’s gravel lot at 11:00 a.m. before the noon game vs. Niagara. Your family likes watching college guys pummel each other? Perfect for the 1:00 p.m. rugby game at Grauert Field vs. Montclair State. You can also check out the women’s rugby D2 conference quarter final game at 3:00 p.m. Looking for a game under the Saturday night lights? Head to the men’s soccer tailgate at the gravel lot at Lessing Field before the 7:00 p.m. game against Mount Saint Mary’s. Welcome to Stag Country, get your tailgate on and root for FFU!
I still remember my first parents weekend. Growing up on the Jersey Shore, I missed our beach towns, the main streets and especially the beach. So, I decided to take my family to my new beach town and shoreline. This is a great way to immerse your family in the environment of your new home. Take your folks to Post Road, and take a nice stroll. Go shopping in town and pick out some new Fairfield merch for your family to take home! Take a walk to the beach! I recommend Sasco Beach with adorable picnic benches, perfect sunset views and an outlook of the Long Island Sound. Your family will love this outdoorsy and scenic time together!
Now onto restaurants! If you’re looking for a fun and upscale Mexican dining experience, head to Geronimo! Geronimo is perfect for large parties, so grab all your roommates and their parents and make a reservation for the whole squad. From the nachos, to the tacos, to the quesadillas and the margaritas (if you’re 21), everything is sensational. Pro tip! Ask for the scorpion table for dinner and a little show…and don’t warn your moms for an even bigger show.
Another spot I feel is necessary for your parents’ immersion into Fairfield culture is Firehouse Deli! I mean, we all love it. Firehouse Deli is an adorable sandwich market right in town offering a wide range of selections for the whole family to choose from. It is definitely a rite of passage for students, so your parents deserve to get in on the action as well! If you’ve got Italian tastebuds like me, try the Italiano Panini, it’s fantastic.
You have got to bring your parents to the brand new authentic Italian gelato place, located right on Post Road. This sweet spot is called Oggi, and it offers the most delicious flavors including tiramisu and a rich dark chocolate. After a barbeque at your townhouse, an exciting nighttime soccer game or a nice dinner out on the town with your mom and pops, this is the perfect treat to end the day on the sweetest note!
I wish you the best and happiest weekend full of good food, stag spirit, community bonding and creating wonderful memories to come. Take in every moment because the weekend will fly by. Allow your parents to channel their inner Stag and reminisce on their youth of their college days. This weekend means a lot more to them than you know.