Family Weekend is a Michigan Tech tradition held each fall in October. It's a weekend for parents and families to come and visit their students, explore campus, and see the local sights.
Fall is coming and Michigan Tech is looking forward to celebrating events in a safe
and healthy way. With that in mind, we are planning Family Weekend for Friday and
Saturday, October 7 and 8. It's a weekend for parents and families to come and visit their students, explore
campus, and see the local sights.
Family Weekend Ideas (Friday, October 7- Saturday, October 8)
Visiting Michigan Tech offers a variety of options for families from cheering on the Huskies to exploring the natural wonders of the local area.
Cheer on the Huskies and take in some sites
- Friday, Oct. 7th
- Quincy Mine Tour - Book a tour on line - MI Tech student rate for entire family (when student shows ID) If you book on line, please make sure you have your MI Tech ID with you when you get to the Quincy Mine for your tour.
- Michigan Tech Music's New Music in the Mine at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. - get your tickets early. Students, make sure you use your student ID to get free tickets for you and one other person with your Experience Tech Fee!
- Cardboard Boat Races at the Houghton Waterfront Park at 4:00 p.m.
- Michigan Tech Volleyball team versus Saginaw Valley State at 5:00 p.m.
- Michigan Tech Soccer team versus Grand Valley State University at 7:00 p.m.
- Mount Ripley Fall 2022 Color Tour - 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. - See more information
- Saturday, Oct 8th
- Quincy Mine Tour - Book a tour on line - MI Tech student rate for entire family (when student shows ID) If you book on line, please make sure you have your MI Tech ID with you when you get to the Quincy Mine for your tour.
- Portage Lake Golf Course MTU Student/Family 3 Person Scramble start time 10:00 a.m.
- Homecoming Tailgate Event in Lot 24 next to Sherman Field from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Receive a free Homecoming t-shirt in exchange for a donation, whether it is non-perishable food items, t-shirt swap, or donations on the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home's wish list
- Michigan Tech Homecoming- 100 years of Michigan Tech Football game versus Wayne State - kick off is at 1:00 p.m.
- Michigan Tech Volleyball versus Wayne State at 4:00 p.m.
- Mount Ripley Fall 2022 Color Tour - 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. - See more information
- Dueling Pianos being held in the Memorial Union Building Ballroom at 9:00 p.m. - Admission: Free
For more information about Husky athletics, visit the Michigan Tech Athletics website.
To purchase tickets for any of the Michigan Tech Athletic events, visit the ticket office website.
To register for the MTU Student/Family 3 person scramble fill out the registration form and return it to the Portage Lake Golf course.
Take a Trip North
- Attend a show at The Historic Calumet Theatre on either Friday, Oct. 7 or Saturday, Oct. 8. The musical "Freaky Friday" is being presented by the Calumet Players Club. Tickets can be purchased on line or by calling the Calumet Theatre Box Office at (906) 337-2610.
- Explore Calumet, one of Michigan's most historical cities. The Visitor Center is rich with history of the Keweenaw or stop by the Farmer's Market for some fresh produce and locally made goods.
- Take a side stop to see some of the waterfalls on your way north. Jacob's Falls and Eagle River Falls are right off MI -26, while the Montreal Falls are a bit more of a hike.
- Visit the Jampot for wild berry jam, baked goods, and coffee.
- Stop by Brockway Mountain for a great view, hiking not required.
Explore Your Student's New Home
- Hancock
- Visit the Magic Kiln Studio and paint some pottery. No experience required.
- Grab a coffee and play a board game at KC Bonkers. If you find a new family classic, they likely have a copy you can purchase for your next family event.
- Be brave and take a dip in the often chilly Lake Superior. McLain State Park is a great option, but there are dozens of other beaches in the area to check out.
- Houghton
- Book a session at Respawn Tactical Laser Tag for some friendly competition.
- Embrace your inner child at Chutes and Ladders, one of the greatest play areas in Michigan. Pack a swimsuit and take a dip in the Portage Canal afterward.
- Like to collect rocks? Like to look at rocks? Take a tour of the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum and check out their amazing collection.
Spend some Time Outdoors
- Get up early (or stay out late) to see the sun over the water. The Keweenaw has unobstructed views over Superior from both the East and West for beautiful views.
- Toss a line in the water and see if you can catch some fish. There are charter options for Lake Superior, 18 inland lakes in the Keweenaw, and dozens of other options, including the Portage Canal in Houghton.
- Dust off your clubs - or rent a set- and get out on the golf course. Portage Lake Golf Course is a great option near campus, but there are plenty of other courses for all skill levels.
- Take a drive to the Porcupine Mountains and visit Lake of the Clouds and have an outdoor hiking adventure.
- Go exploring and find one of the hundreds of named waterfalls in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
- For a little more adrenaline, check out Copper Harbor for some Mountain Biking, consistently ranked in the top 20 best trails globally.
Get the Keweenaw Experience
- Schedule a Mine Tour and explore the depths of some of the world's most historic copper mines. They call it the Copper Country for a reason!
- Go searching for Yooperlites, Sea Glass, or other interesting finds on the beach.
- Pasties are UP staples. There are hundreds of options from St. Ignace to Copper Harbor and everyone has their favorite. Slim's Cafe is the reigning PastyFest 2022 champion, located 20 miles north in Mohawk.
- Grab some firewood and have a bonfire at Breakers. If you get lucky, you might even be able to see the Northern Lights.
- Experience a piece of Finnish culture and visit a Sauna. Many of the local hotels have saunas for their guests to use, but you can access saunas if you have a student living in the residence halls, or with a day pass at the SDC.
Parking during Family Weekend
Parking (map accessed here) will be FREE at the following locations from 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 7, until 7:00 a.m. on Monday, October 9:
- All campus meters EXCEPT in Lot 4 by Hillside.
- The following lots on campus:
- Lot 27 off Hwy 41 by the Administration Building.
- Lots 5, 9 and 10 West near the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.
- Lot 1 across from the Administration Building
- Lot 12 off Hwy 41 in front of the Memorial Union Building
- Lot 13 next to Fisher, Lot 14 by the Hamar House (CDI)
- Lot 8 on the Portage Canal side of Walker Arts & Humanities and the Rozsa Building.
- Lot 2 behind the ROTC Building
- Lot 3 behind the Mechanical Engineering / Engineering Mechanical Building
- Visitor Parking areas by Daniel Heights
Areas where you cannot park during Family Weekend:
- All lots that are in front of or behind any of the Residence Halls, which includes:
- Lots 15W, 15E, 17L, and 17U in front of and behind Wadsworth Hall
- Lot 16 next to McNair Hall
- Lot 4 next to Hillside Place
- Lot 21 behind the Forestry Building
- Lot 10E which is the first parking lot as you enter the Michigan Tech campus heading north.
Prior to 4:00 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, or after 7:00 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 9, you may park and pay at the campus meters or park in the 2-hour limit Lot 24 by the Student Development Complex.
