MC students give their loved ones a peek into their college lives during Family Weekend 2026

Family Weekend has become a “can’t-miss” event for the Winks family, from left, Brodie, Patsy, Dallas and Hank.

Dallas Winks found a birthday surprise when he returned to his residence hall following his first Family Weekend at Mississippi Christian University in fall 2023: a large arch of blue-and-gold balloons in his room.

The gift was from his parents, Hank and Patsy Winks of Birmingham, Alabama, via the MC Family Engagement staff, who had used the balloons to decorate their departmental tent during the Family Weekend tailgate.

“It was such a fun surprise and a memory we will never forget,” Patsy Winks said. “Dallas left it there for over a week.”

During the weekend, Dallas treated his family to Squeal/Reveal Night, when MC students who went through recruitment find out their new social club or tribe; coffee and donuts with MC President Blake Thompson and an MC Singers performance; and tailgating with fellow Alabama parents and families.

“It is definitely a year we will always remember,” Patsy said.

Now a senior double-majoring in finance and business administration, Dallas will once again welcome his parents to Family Weekend, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25 and 26, on MC’s Clinton campus. Sponsored by the Offices of Alumni and Family Engagement, Student Engagement, and Event Services, this year’s event will feature a variety of activities for parents and families to get an inside look at what MC community life is like, according to Jake Donald, director of alumni and family engagement.

“Family Weekend is the first time families are invited back to campus after Move-in Day,” Donald said. “After several weeks apart, parents get to see their student settling in, building friendships and beginning to make MC feel like home. It’s an opportunity for families to connect with other MC families and experience what makes MC so special.

“We want families to know that MC is not simply the place their student attends college: it is a community that cares deeply about their student’s academic, personal and spiritual growth.”

Dallas said he enjoys having his family visit MC, participate in Family Weekend events and discover why MC faculty and staff and his fellow students have become so important to him.

“(As parents), we love watching God write Dallas’ story,” Patsy said. “We don’t want to miss one moment of seeing all God has given him on his MC journey.”

This year’s Family Weekend will feature a variety of events for MC students and families to enjoy together. Friday’s plans include a softball game vs. Coastal Alabama at 5 p.m.; a volleyball match against Valdosta State at 6 p.m.; open residence halls for families from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; a softball game against East Central Community College at 7:30 p.m.; and club and tribe Squeal/Reveal Night at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, Family Weekend tailgate setup will begin at 9 a.m., with “Coffee and Donuts with DBT” at 10 a.m. A special family Worship Time in historic Provine Chapel is slated for 11 a.m. and a tailgate meal will be available in the Caf at noon. Residence halls will be open to visitors from noon to 7 p.m., and MC’s Golden Girls dance team, cheerleaders and MC’s Marching Band will lead a Choctaw Spirit Showcase at 12:30 p.m. At 1 p.m., live music will begin, artist and MC alum Emily Fleming will draw caricatures of family members upon request, and a family cornhole tournament will liven up the Quad. The event schedule will conclude with a volleyball match against AUM at 2 p.m.

Apart from visiting with her son, Patsy said she would be hard-pressed to say what she is looking forward to the most about Family Weekend.

“We have been such a huge part of it all every year, and we try our best not to miss any of the things on the schedule,” she said.

For more information or to register for Family Weekend, visit https://www.mc.edu/students/policies/events-activities/family-weekend.