Family Weekend 2026
Registration will open soon for you to join us on campus for Family Weekend 2026! 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.
This preliminary schedule is for the on-campus events during Family Weekend 2026, and all events are optional during your visit to campus. We will also be offering a series of Family Focus events throughout the spring which are all our virtual offerings for those unable to come to campus.
There is a registration fee associated with attending Family Weekend, which covers general event fees like rentals, reception foods, and complimentary activities.
$ – indicates a paid event
** This schedule is preliminary with details and information updated as programs are finalized.
| 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 ($) Discover new sights, sounds and experiences at the Garden, led by docent from the Botanic Gardens. (Limit 40) 5-C Architectural Tour (weather permitting)($) A casual, walk around the 5-Cs 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 Lecture for Families Recital Hall, Shanahan Center Join a professor to experience a freshman lecture that your student may have had their first-year at Mudd. Last year, we focused on physics. “First-year students took Physics 23: Special Relativity in the fall. At this re-creation of the first lecture of the course, you can experience the first steps your student took along the way to discovering that time is relative, space is relative, and E=mc^2.” This year’s program might be different |
| 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Welcome Lunch with the Parent Leadership Council ($) Liquidambar Mall Tent A casual buffet lunch for all guests, with brief remarks from a member of our Parent Leadership Council. |
| 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 a few quick presentations to hear academic highlights. |
| 2:30–3:30 p.m. | Parent to Parent Panel – Hosted by Parent Leadership Council McAlister Auditorium, Galileo Hall Come hear from other current families, get perspectives on student pathways through Mudd, and ask questions. This is a great chance to have a dialogue with families about questions and concerns. |
| 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 – Purple, Math – Orange, Computer Science – Blue, Physics – Red. |
| 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. |
| 7 p.m. | TBD Performance Drinkward Recital Hall, Shanahan Center |
| 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. |
| 10–11:30 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. |
| 12 –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. |
| 2:00–4 p.m. | Student and Parent Competition: Bridges Lawn Between Kingston & Shanahan Join a friendly competition to build ‘the best’ bridge that withsands various elemental trials. Students and family members welcome! |
| 4–5:30 p.m. | Tea with the President/Senior Parent Toast Strauss Plaza A traditional Mudd event to close out Family Weekend with President Harriet Nembhard and a toast to senior students and families on their last year at Mudd. |
| 5:30 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]
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.