Family Weekend 2026
Register now to join us on campus for Family Weekend 2026, Feb. 6-7. Family Weekend at HMC is a casual event, with the opportunity to meet some of our campus partners, faculty and staff.
Please visit the Hotels and Lodging webpage for Family Weekend hotel information.
The Family Weekend 2026 schedule is below; all events are optional during your visit to campus. We will also offer a virtual series of Family Focus events throughout the spring with general information for all families.
The registration fee for Family Weekend helps to offset general event costs for rentals, receptions, and other complimentary activities.
$ – indicates a paid event
** This schedule is subject to change.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8 a.m.–4 p.m. | Registration/Continental Breakfast Thomas-Garrett Plaza, Shanahan Center Pick up your Family Weekend name tags, grab coffee and pastries, and meet fellow families. |
| 8:30 a.m. | California Botanic Gardens Tour ($) Discover new sights, sounds and experiences at the Garden, led by docent from the Botanic Gardens. (Limit 40) 5C Architectural Tour (weather permitting)($) A casual, walk around the 5Cs led by the Claremont Historical society. The tour focuses on history and architecture of buildings around the Claremont Colleges. (Limit 40) |
| 9:30 a.m.– 10 a.m. | Makerspace Tour Makerspace, McGregor Computer Science Center Walk around our new Makerspace area to see HMC’s newest crafting machines and student projects. If you have already seen the Makerspace, make sure to join us for the activities in the afternoon to make your own take-home item! |
| 11 a.m.–.12 p.m. | Mudder for a Minute: First-Year Lectures for Families Pryne and Edwards Auditoriums, Galileo Hall Join professors to experience a freshman lecture that your student may have had their first-year at Mudd. This year, we have the Department of Physics offering a first-year lecture that allows you to experience the first steps your student took along the way to discovering that time is relative, space is relative, and E=mc^2.” We also have a lecture from the Department of Chemistry highlighting real-world applications of chemistry principles. |
| 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Welcome Lunch ($) Liquidambar Mall Tent A casual buffet lunch for all guests, with brief remarks from a member of our parent leadership. |
| 12:45 & 1:15 p.m. | Machine Shop Tours Machine shop Tours led by Proctors |
| 1:00–3:00 p.m. | Makerspace Activities Makerspace, McGregor Computer Science Center Walk around our new Makerspace area and make something of your own! There will be button makers, friendship bracelets, and more. |
| 1:30–2:30 p.m. | Academic Spotlight McAlister Auditorium, Galileo Hall New topics every year! Join our faculty and students for short presentations to hear highlights from: an Engineering Clinic team, the Hixon Center for Climate and the Environment, and Math Department research. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Thriving at Mudd McAlister Auditorium, Galileo Hall Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Sharon Gerbode and Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs Elizabeth Connolly discuss academic affairs for all students, highlight information for first-years getting through their second semester and resources to help your student succeed at Mudd. |
| 3 p.m. | Campus Tour Meet in the Admission Office, Shanahan Center For those family members who haven’t yet had the opportunity to see the whole campus, join us for a ‘typical’ admission tour, led by our student tour-guides. Also great for families with other children interested in potentially attending Mudd in the future. Sign up here. |
| 3:30 p.m. | Machine Shop Demo Strict safety requirements, 30 people max, first come first served. Machine shop safety is required to participate in the demo. Personal Protective Equipment is required: – Closed toe and closed heel shoes – No danglies (loose necklaces, hoodie/sweatpants strings) – No rings or bracelets – Long hair must be tied back above the shoulders – Long sleeves must be rolled back – No flowy pieces of clothing – Eye protection will be provided The Machine Shop full PPE requirements can be found on the HMC Machine Shop Manual specifically page 11-13. Machine shop proctors are the only ones permitted to be demonstrating on the machines. |
| 4–6 p.m. | Academic Department Wine & Cheese Reception Strauss Plaza Mix and mingle with faculty and staff from all the Academic Departments. The academic departments will be indicated by the following color-coded cocktail tables: Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts – Yellow, Biology – Green, Engineering – Teal, Chemistry – Orange, Math – Purple, Computer Science – Blue, Physics – Red, Hixon Center – Magenta. |
| 6 p.m. | Dinner on the Town with your Student(s) Stroll or drive down to the Village to dine at one of the many unique restaurants and eateries. Explore a list of restaurants on Discover Claremont. |
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8 a.m.–noon | Registration/Continental Breakfast Thomas-Garrett Plaza, Shanahan Center Grab coffee and pastries and meet fellow families and pick up their Family Weekend nametags (if you didn’t get them Friday) at the registration tables. |
| 10–11 a.m. | State of the College Address McAlister Auditorium, Galileo Hall President Nembhard will share current campus news and future plans of the College as well as current events on campus. |
| 11 a.m. | Innovation Accelerator Labs: AI McAlister Auditorium, Galileo Hall The Innovation Accelerator powers this effort with institution-wide intentionality. We support bold, forward-thinking initiatives that drive excellence under our strategic plan while also cultivating philanthropic partnerships. Building on the momentum started last spring, we now are supporting Innovation Accelerator Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence (IAL–AI). |
| noon –1:00 p.m. | Lunch ($) Liquidambar Mall Tent |
| 1:00–2:00 p.m. | After Mudd Alumni Panel Shanahan Auditorium Hear from some of our newest alumni about their experience at Mudd and how it prepared them for their current roles in grad school and industry. |
| 2:00–3:30 p.m. | Student and Parent Competition: Bridge-building Lawn Between Kingston & Shanahan Join a friendly competition to build ‘the best’ bridge that withstands various elemental trials. Students and family members welcome! |
| 3:30–5 p.m. | President’s Farewell & Senior Toast Strauss Plaza A traditional Mudd event to close out Family Weekend with President Harriet Nembhard, featuring a toast to senior students and families as they complete their last semester at Mudd. |
| 5 p.m. | Dinner on the Town with your Student(s) Stroll or drive down to the Village to dine at one of the many unique restaurants and eateries. Explore a list of restaurants on Discover Claremont. |
Additional Information
Shanahan Café Hours
Friday, Feb. 6
7 a.m.–7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 7
8 a.m.–4 p.m.
[Credit Card Only]
CMS Athletics Calendar
Religious Services
All services are held at the McAlister Center for Religious Activities (919 N. Columbia Ave., Claremont).
The Chaplains Office Website details different denominations and meeting times.