Every year, junior Emmerson Clarke’s family makes the more than 800-mile trip from Florida to Baldwin City for Baker University Family Weekend.

“My mom knows that Family Weekend is the time for them to come,” Clarke said. “We have a pretty close family and it’s a good thing to share with them.”

Family Weekend starts Friday and is designed for all families of students to come experience what life is like as a student at Baker University.

“At this point, there’s been enough time since orientation when parents have dropped off their students for everyone to experience some transition time,” Dean of Student Cassy Bailey said. “It’s a time to come back and see their students’ rooms and classes, maybe go to the football game and experience life at Baker through their students.”

Bailey’s office members have organized Family Weekend and added a few new events this year, including classroom showcases.

“Our faculty are highlighted as the cream of the crop, so we wanted families to be able to sit in on classes,” Bailey said. “So some faculty have opened their doors for families to attend the class discussion.”

On Friday night, students and families are invited to come to the annual Baker’s Got Talent evening program, where students and faculty will showcase their talents.

Another new event this year is the Baker Legacy program.

“This is sponsored by the alumni house,” Bailey said. “We are inviting students and any of their extended family that also came to Baker to come over for a free breakfast on Saturday.”

Saturday will also include honor society inductions for new Phi Eta Sigma and National Society for Collegiate Scholars members.

The sorority houses of Alpha Chi Omega and Zeta Tau Alpha are offering events for families as well.

Alpha Chi Omega invites families to join for lunch and yard games, while Zeta Tau Alpha is opening up for house tours.

“We host an open house every year for family weekend,” Alyssa Paul, Zeta Tau Alpha member, said. “This year during the house tours, we’ll also take time to explain to our parents about the hundredth anniversary of our sorority on campus and what that means to us.”

The Baker football team will play the Missouri Valley College Vikings in a 6 p.m. matchup. Blackout game day T-shirts are available for fans to purchase to go along with the theme of blacking-out the stadium.

Clarke, a linebacker for the Wildcats, said his family especially looks forward to the game.

“My family gets to see me play about once every year, so I feel like I have to show them something,” Clarke said. “It’s something that my mom really values, too.”

Prior to the blackout game, a black-themed dinner of blackened chicken over black pepper pasta alfredo, cajun black beans and rice, black pepper extreme fries and blackberry cobbler will be served in the Allen Dining Hall.

While families are encouraged to attend all the events they want, Bailey said they also wanted to leave free time for families to have the opportunity to do as they wished.

“Family Weekend is so wonderful because we get to welcome back Baker families,” Bailey said. “Every year just gets better.”