MONMOUTH, Ill. — Monmouth College’s annual Family Weekend is part of a busy Sept. 26-28 schedule on campus. In addition to the popular celebration, which this year is titled "The Best Family Weekend on Earth," the college will welcome prospective students to its first admission open house of the academic year and will host the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) Minority Concerns Conference.

Family Weekend was designed primarily to help students enjoy the Monmouth College experience with their families. Parents are encouraged to visit their sons’ and daughters’ classes between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday. There will be activities for all ages in the quad area between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, including an obstacle course and a gladiator joust.

A special Family Weekend concert will be held on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Kasch Performance Hall of the Dahl Chapel and Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public.

Among the groups on the program will be the Monmouth Winds, formerly known as the Monmouth College Wind Ensemble; the Monmouth Chorale, the college’s most highly auditioned vocal ensemble; the Concert Choir and the Chamber Orchestra.

The Monmouth Winds, under the direction of Steve Richter, director of instrumental activities, will feature a special piece by Eric Whitacre titled "Sleep." The Chorale, directed by Carolyn Kellert-Griffiths, will perform a New Zealand welcome song, "Kua Rongo Mai Koe," along with the first movement of Vivaldi’s "Deus Im Adjutorium Domine," John Rutter’s "Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind" and Moses Hogan’s "Elijah Rock."

The Monmouth Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Carolyn Suda, director of the college’s string program, will perform Miriam Overholt’s tuneful "Irish Fantasy" and a string orchestra arrangement of the theme from "Jurassic Park" by John Williams.

Immediately following the concert, students and their families will be treated to The Ultimate Variety Show, featuring performers Chris Chelko and Michael DuBois. On Friday evening, families can attend a concert by The Cavern Beat, a Beatles tribute band.

Another feature of Family Weekend is a legacy reception at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday in the Hewes Library coffee shop. The event celebrates Monmouth’s long-standing family traditions.

Home athletic events include a football game against Carroll at 1 p.m. Saturday at April Zorn Memorial Stadium, a men’s soccer match vs. Knox at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and a women’s soccer match against Grinnell at 11 a.m. Sunday. Both soccer matches will be played at Peacock Memorial Athletic Park.

The office of admission’s open house begins at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday. Prospective students will have the opportunity to meet with current students, faculty and coaches, and will be led on guided campus tours. Visitors will also be able to attend sessions where they can learn more about the admission and financial aid process. For more information or to register for the open house, call 800-74-SCOTS or e-mail admit@monm.edu.

Titled "Assessing Recruitment and Retention Initiatives for Diversity," the ACM conference runs Sept. 26-28. For more information on the conference, contact MC staff members Mohsin Masood or Ruby Pentsil-Bukari, who are organizing the event.