Thursday, Oct 30, 2014
A highlight of the weekend will be Rider's attempt to break a world record
As Rider celebrates 150 years of excellence, the community turns to a favored tradition, welcoming families to campus with a full slate of events during Family Weekend, Nov. 7 through 9.
The highlight of this year’s three-day weekend will be Rider’s attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest line of fruit by stringing together more than 6,000 cranberries. The world record attempt will take place on the campus mall from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8. An official Guinness World Records adjudicator will be present for the attempt and will certify whether or not Rider breaks the world record by early afternoon. Certification of the record and announcement will take place between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
The cranberry stringing is also the latest in Rider's sesquicentennial celebration. Volunteers are needed to be a part of the “Cran Crew” to participate in the event, and the Rider community is invited to join by emailing Bev Braddock at [email protected].
On Friday, Nov. 7, several rehearsals will be open to attendees to enjoy the Westminster Choir College’s renowned ensembles and choirs. Recognized as one of the world’s leading choral ensembles, the Westminster Symphonic Choir will hold open rehearsals from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the recently opened Marion Buckelew Cullen Center on the Princeton campus. Other rehearsals include the Westminster Schola Cantorum, the Westminster Chapel Choir and the Westminster Choir.
After the rehearsal, participants are invited to stay for the choir's performance. Conducted by Amanda Quist, the Westminster Chapel Choir will perform classic and contemporary choral works in Westminster’s new Hillman Performance Hall on Nov. 8 at 3 and 8 p.m. To reserve tickets, please contact the Westminster Box Office at 609-921-2663. A special Family Weekend concert with the Rider Choir, featuring works by Bach, Vecchi, Lutkin, Berger, Kern, Mandel and Rutter, as well as arrangements by Bell, Shaw, Orr and Flummerfelt, will take place at 2 p.m. in Gill Chapel on the Lawrenceville campus.
Though Family Weekend occurs a week after Halloween, Delta Phi Epsilon will hold its haunted house from 6 to 10 p.m. on Nov. 7 and again from noon to 4 p.m. on Nov. 8. Food, vendors, prizes and giveaways will be on offer, with all proceeds going directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Saturday, Nov. 8, begins with with the Rider and Westminster Legacy Family Breakfast in the Mercer Room of Daly Dining Hall on the Lawrenceville campus from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Legacy alumni who are the parents or grandparents of a Rider or Westminster student are invited to celebrate their dual connection to the University. Later, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., complimentary lunches for students and families (with entertainment for the Little Broncs provided by the Residence Hall Association) will be served in the Student Recreation Center (Lawrenceville campus) and Dining Commons (Princeton campus).
At the annual Founder’s Day Program, Andrew J. Rider Scholars will be honored for their academic achievements. Named for Andrew J. Rider, the University’s namesake, this award is given only to the top one percent of seniors, juniors and sophomores in each of Rider’s six academic colleges and schools. The program takes place in the Bart Luedeke Center Theater on the Lawrenceville campus at 11 a.m. on Nov 8. A reception will follow in the Cavalla Room.
Sports fans can see the men’s basketball team play an exhibition game in Alumni Gym on the Lawrenceville campus at 4 p.m. Obtain your tickets at Family Weekend Headquarters. Rider Ice Hockey Club will also take on Temple in the “Pink in the Rink Breast Cancer Awareness Game” at 8:30 p.m. on Nov.7 in Loucks Ice Arena.
Sunday, Nov. 9, will begin with Rider’s Veterans Day flag display at 10 a.m. Join veteran-students as they create a display of American flags on the campus mall in celebration of Veterans Day. More than 10,000 flags will be placed on the mall throughout the day. Volunteer and show your support for Rider’s military students.
Another highlight of the weekend is the New Play Festival. At this event, audience members will be the first to hear brand-new plays by area playwrights, many from the Passage Theatre PlayLab with Rider students performing the staged readings. The readings will be followed by an audience discussion to provide valuable feedback to the playwrights as they continue to work on their plays. A different play will be presented each day of the festival, which will be held in Science 201 on the Lawrenceville campus on Nov. 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 9 at 2 p.m.
For more on these highlighted activities, as well as the full slate of events and the most up-to-date information, visit www.rider.edu/familyweekend.