Dads can expect beer tasting, football, golf
For 125 years, parents of University of Idaho students have made the trek to Moscow to visit the campus their children chose to spend their college years living and learning.
It’s because of this milestone in the university’s history that this year’s theme for Dads’ Weekend is appropriately titled “125 Years of Vandal Dads.”
The same theme was used for Moms’ Weekend in April and was deemed successful, according to Rosemary Coldsnow, Dads’ Weekend committee co-chair.
“In the last year we have been emphasizing how the university is 125 years old because we are one of the older universities,” she said.
Ayla Neumeyer, spokeswoman for the Student Alumni Relations Board, said Dads’ Weekend is a fun way for students to spend time with visiting parents, but is also a great opportunity for parents to become acquainted with the university.
“Dads’ Weekend is an opportunity for dads specifically, but parents in general, to visit the campus, see the buildings the students are living in, where they are going to class, the kind of things they can do,” she said. “It’s also a great way for us to showcase our university.”
The tradition of Dads’ Weekend is a good bonding experience for students and their parents, Coldsnow said. Parents get to see how their kids are doing and briefly experience the Vandal culture, she said.
“I expect it to be a really good weekend,” Coldsnow said. “We have a lot of people signed up already and it sounds like a lot of dads are coming down this year.”
Dads’ Weekend kicks off Friday with “Postcards to Dad” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Idaho Commons. Neumeyer said the event is for students to say thank you to their dads who are coming, or to reach out to parents who are unable to attend the weekend festivities to let them know they miss and appreciate them.
Other Dads’ Weekend Friday festivities include events such as the “Iron Dad” challenge and Vandal Women’s Soccer game — both at 4 p.m. on Friday.
Later that day at 6 p.m., there is a beer tasting and Vandal Meats pairing under the canopy at the Moscow Ale House. Coldsnow said students under 21 could still attend the event even though they can’t drink.
From 5 to 7 p.m., there will be a “Tradition Keeper Scavenger Hunt.” In the VandalStore, there is a tradition keeper book available for purchase, and students can go around campus with their parents to get their book stamped at specified historical landmarks. Students who complete enough of the checkpoints will receive a pin to wear at graduation.
On Saturday, Neumeyer said one of the most popular events is the nine-hole golf tournament. As of Tuesday, almost 100 people have registered for the tournament. Check-in begins at 6:45 a.m. Saturday and the tournament starts promptly at 8 a.m. Breakfast is included and will be served at Bogey’s Restaurant before the tournament.
There will be a Vandal Meats tour at 10 a.m. Saturday, and at 2 p.m. the Vandal Football team plays against South Alabama at the Kibbie Dome.
Dads’ Weekend will come to an end with a farewell breakfast on Sunday in the Student Union Building Ballroom.
“Overall it’s a really fun event,” Neumeyer said. “It’s great to see the dads on campus because a lot of them went to school here, so they’re not just here because they want to visit their students, they are also here because they really love the University of Idaho.”
Mary Malone can be reached at [email protected]