Students and family pose for the camera while sitting at tables eating.
Support Pack Weekend—October 4-6, 2024


If you plan to attend Michigan Tech Support Pack Weekend, please let us know. Registration is now open.

Support Pack Weekend is a Michigan Tech tradition held each fall in late September/early October. It's a weekend for parents and families to come and visit their students, explore campus, and see the local sights.

Welcome to Support Pack Weekend

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 4 and 5. It's a weekend for parents and families to come and visit their students, explore campus, and see the local sights.

Support Pack Weekend Ideas (Friday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 5)

Visiting Michigan Tech offers a variety of options for families from cheering on the Huskies to exploring the natural wonders of the local area.


Friday, Oct. 4th

  • Homecoming Cardboard Boat races - Houghton Waterfront Park - 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
      • FREE shuttle that will leave from the MUB and the SDC to take families to and from the Houghton Waterfront Park starting at 3:00 pm until the end of the races
      • FREE shuttle that will leave from the MUB and the SDC to take students to and from the Houghton Waterfront Park starting at 3:00 pm
      • Parking is limited so we recommend the shuttle
  • Husky Volleyball - Huskies vs Lake Superior State University Lakers - 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
      • SDC Varsity Gym
  • 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.
  • Mont Ripley Color tour - 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
      • Buy Tickets in advance
      • Tickets: $10 Adults
      • $8 Michigan Tech Student (with ID)
      • Children 10 and under free with an adult
    • CASH ONLY if paying at the lift
  • Film Board Presents: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
      • Showings: 5:30 pm, 8:30 pm, and 11:30 pm
      • Tickets are $3.00 and concessions are $1.00
      • Fisher room 135

Saturday, Oct. 5th

  • Huskies Homecoming Tailgate - SDC Lot 24 - 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
      • Food and Fun
      • Students need their HuskyCard ID to get into the game and the tailgate.
      • Anyone with a game ticket can get into the tailgate
  • Michigan Tech Homecoming - Come cheer on the Huskies!
  • First year and first time transfer student group picture - 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (right after the Michigan Tech football game on the football field.
  • Husky Volleyball - Huskies vs Ferris State University - 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
      • SDC Wood Gym
  • Film Board Presents: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
      • Showings: 5:30 pm, 8:30 pm, and 11:30 pm
      • Tickets are $3.00 and concessions are $1.00
      • Fisher room 135
  • 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.
  • Mont Ripley Color tour - 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
      • Buy Tickets in advance 
      • Tickets: $10 Adults
      • $8 Michigan Tech Student (with ID)
      • Children 10 and under free with an adult
    • CASH ONLY if paying at the lift
  • Copper Country Cycling Club at Michigan Tech. A scenic cycling event through the beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula.
  • The Sustainability Demonstration House - open house 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
  • Harry Potter Trivia (Family Night) - MUB Commons - 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
      • Open to students and their families with four rounds to play
      • Game play includes $200 in cash prizes
      • The show lasts 60-70 minutes

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.


Take a Trip North

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 2023 champion (third consecutive year), 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 Support Pack Weekend

Parking (map accessed here) will be FREE at the following locations from 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, until 7:00 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 7:

  • 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 Support Pack 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. 4, or after 7:00 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, you may park and pay at the campus meters or park in the 2-hour limit Lot 24 by the Student Development Complex.

Additional Information

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