Enjoy the Hornet Buzz during Family Weekend Activities at ESU
Emporia, KS (09/23/2025) — Good vibes will fill the Emporia State campus on Saturday, Sept. 27 for the 2025 Family Weekend. Designed as a way for students' family and friends to get a taste of Hornet Life, activities are open to all.
Those events include:
- Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center, 601 E. 18th Avenue. Interact with live animal ambassadors, take part in independent classroom activities and enjoy our interactive sandbox display!
- Football Game Day Experience. Begins at 10 a.m. before the game kicks off against the Pittsburg State Gorillas.
- Hornet Walk, ESU Pedestrian Mall, 10 a.m. The Emporia Marching Hornets will lead the ESU football team to the stadium. The walk concludes at the Live at the Hive area north and east of Visser Hall.
- Live at the Hive, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Let ESU do the work for your successful tailgate. Food trucks are available to purchase food: Keke's, Homegrown Coffey, Yurri's Kitchen and Jacalito. Also includes music and lawn games.
- Football Game, 1 p.m. kickoff, Welch Stadium. Fans of band performances should plan to be in the stadium by 12:40 for the pregame performance. .
- All GA seating is free. Tickets required for reserved chairbacks. Order online at https://vivenu.com/event/esu-football-vs-pittsburg-state-hydn1b.
- Explore Emporia. Spend time between football and volleyball in downtown Emporia and the community. Enjoy public art from the Chalk Fest sponsored by the Emporia Arts Council from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Emporia Main Street businesses offer specials for those in ESU gear: https://emporiamainstreet.com/programs/promotion/gamedaybuzz/?
- Hornet Volleyball, White Auditorium, 111 E. Sixth Ave., 7 p.m. All seating is general admission, which is free for the 2025-26 academic year.
About Emporia State University
Emporia State University offers a range of academic programs through its institute and seven schools: Applied Health Sciences, Business & Technology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, Library and Information Management & Library and Archives, Science & Mathematics and Visual and Performing Arts, along with The Teachers College.
ESU stands out for its innovative education practices. It ensures accessible education by offering in-state tuition rates to full-time undergraduate students from all lower-48 United States. Additionally, full-time undergraduates benefit from flat-rate tuition - students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours with at least one credit hour on campus pay a flat rate.
For more information on how to build your future at Emporia State University, please visit www.emporia.edu.