Dear Families, 

I’m so excited that you’re joining us for Fall Family Weekend! I look forward every year to celebrating “the Western Experience” with families—the remarkable mixture of academic and cultural opportunities, breathtaking natural settings, and fun that makes us who we are. I know you’ll enjoy sharing this special time with your student, seeing our campus through their eyes, trying new things together, and enjoying all the events we’ve planned for you. And there’s so much to do! Planetarium shows, an escape room activity at the Library, Western Gallery shows, farm tours, pumpkin carving, Halloween classic movies in the theatre, along with informative presentations from academic departments, open houses, and workshops. We’re also reaching out into the Bellingham community with several special offerings, including guided walking, biking, as well as live comedy improv, museums, and more. And if that’s still not enough, you can work out at the Rec Center with your student, tour our internationally-known outdoor sculpture collection, or just enjoy strolling around campus. We want you to get a sense of Western as a working university, as well as your student’s new home away from home.  

I hope to see you around campus this weekend; please stop me to say hello!  

All the best,  

Melynda Huskey
Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services 

We are so excited to present our annual Fall Family Weekend program with so many opportunities to experience Western with your student!

We hope the flexible schedule of events is helpful for planning your time together, both on and off campus, in ways that feel fun and meaningful to you and your family.

Connect or reconnect with your extended Western family with a few newly added programs like the Family Resource Fair to learn more about campus and community support for your student’s continued success at Western.

Enjoy the additional spaces our community partners have created within their shows, tours, and programs - many of which are exclusive to Fall Family Weekend participants.

And take advantage of complimentary campus parking, WTA bus passes, and the late-night shuttle for commuting to and from campus to explore the region, taking in all the colors of the season with comfort and ease.

Stop by our table in Red Square to say hello, and let us know how we can help you navigate the weekend’s schedule. We’re happy to offer recommendations and local knowledge of additional ways to celebrate the fall season that will deepen your “sense of place” that is campus, Bellingham, Whatcom County, and your student’s home away from home.

Have a great weekend!

Visit Bellingham-Whatcom County Tourism for information about Bellingham hotels. Some may offer WWU discounts!

Explore regional transportation options for more information about getting to and from Bellingham and WWU. 

Enjoy complimentary parking on campus in the following lots and locations during Fall Family Weekend: 

• In the C lots from Friday October 20 at 7am to Sunday October 22 at 11:59pm
• In all lots other than 17G beginning Friday October 20 at 3pm until Sunday October 22 at 11:59pm

The closest lot to Red Square is 9G. We encourage folks to park in either 9G or the C lots on the other side of campus.

Visit Campus Maps for printable and interactive maps of campus, including parking maps. 

General Parking Restrictions:

• Only park in a disability parking space if you have a valid, state issued ADA placard.
• Do not park in Fire Lanes or reserved parking spaces.
• 20-minute load zone parking spaces are reserved for loading/unloading and only for 20 minutes.

Don't let parking in town get you down! Park on campus where you can easily grab a bus to commute to and from town, and around the county. Swing by the Transportation Services Table at the Family Resource & Info Fair to pick up free WTA bus passes (while supplies last).

Ride the bus during Fall Family Weekend! Limited number of weekend passes will be available at the Fall Family Info Table (Friday and Saturday). Buses are $1 per ride without the weekend pass and students ride for free with their Western Card. For routes, visit RideWTA.com.

Staying out late? Ride the Starlight Shuttle, Western's late night student shuttle. The shuttle begins operation at 10:30pm Friday and Saturday and ends at 2:30am. Students can request this door-to-door service through the app and during Fall Family Weekend families can ride with their student for free. Learn more on the Transportation Services Starlight Shuttle webpage. 

Choose from a full range of retail dining locations to suit your taste, budget and schedule. All cafes and markets on campus accept Dining Dollars, Viking Dollars, cash, and credit cards.

And don't forget about the residential dining commons! Your student's meal plan gives you access to any of the three all-you-care-to-eat dining halls across campus.

Check out what's open here, see options, menus, and more information! 

Connect with the Bellingham community with some of these fun, local events, restaurants, performances, tours, outdoor excursions, and more! 

• Community events - fun, local activities to enjoy during your visit. 
• Pumpkin patches - pick a pumpkin, explore local farms and seasonal goodies before joining your student for pumpkin carving in the residence halls!
• WWU students’ guide to Bellingham: Fall quarter is here and it’s a great time to explore some of these favorite finds in Bellingham! 
• Visit Bellingham and the surrounding Whatcom County for abundant nature, outdoor adventure and sweeping scenery from the Salish Sea to Mt. Baker and North Cascades National Park.
• Savor the bounty of Bellingham! From award–winning restaurants to fresh, budget-friendly food, Bellingham and Whatcom County is a foodie's paradise. Check out Washington State’s most famous European traveler, Rick Steves, through a series of videos. 
• Fall foliage walks and hikes - cooler temperatures, warmer colors, and fewer crowds make for ideal wandering conditions. Before setting out on an autumn stroll, you’ll want to be prepared for fall weather, and think rain! 
• Community Boating Center - looking to get out on Bellingham Bay? The Community Boating Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit fostering safe small-boat recreation on Bellingham Bay. There are no memberships and no dues. Programs and services are available to all.
• Whatcom Museum serves as both a community magnet and a regional destination for cultural experiences rooted in art, nature, and Northwest history. 
• Whatcom County Parks - Our 16,000 acres of natural lands encompasses ocean beaches to mountain peaks. You’ll find challenging mountain bike and hiking trails as well as playgrounds and historic sites.  

• Campus map - main cartography and design by Josh Jones, 2011-12.
• Campus map with gender neutral restrooms.
• Virtual tour of campus.
• Watch a YouTube tour led by students around our beautiful campus.
• WWU sculpture tour - explore this extensive public sculpture collection founded in the 1960’s.
• Multicultural Center tour - join the Associated Students on a tour of this beautiful, new facility.
• Western tree tour - four tree tours describe some of the more interesting specimens on campus and also provides some history about many of the trees.

Download one of our free Western pumpkin carving templates, grab a pumpkin and enjoy this favorite Halloween tradition together! Share your Viking pride this Halloween with one (or all) of these fun Western pumpkin carving templates! Show off your work by posting your Western pumpkin creation to your social channels using #WesternFFW! 

Download a template to carve your Western-inspired Jack-o-lantern:

• Make Waves
• Old Main
• WWU
• I <3 WWU
• Viking Helmet

Wondering what to do with all those pumpkin seeds?

Roast them for yourself or for the birds with these recipes:

• Pumpkin Seeds Recipe 
• Pumpkin Seeds Recipe for the birds