This year’s Family Day on Saturday, Sept. 10, will be held in new locations on the Southern Arkansas University campus but still promises to offer all the family fun and activities, honoring SAU traditions and culminating in Mulerider football.
One of the most exciting events, the annual Great Greek Canoe Races, will be moving from its traditional site at the duck pond to the pond in front of the new SAU Engineering building (formerly known as the Armory pond). Similarly, this year’s Residence Hall Association Bed Race will change locations to in front of the Science Center.
Parking at the Reynolds Center lot will accommodate the large crowds organizers expect. Additionally, families and students will get to see the inside of the Engineering facility – formerly the National Guard Armory – as this year’s Family Reception will be held there. The fountain in the pond will also add a new dimension of fun to the canoe races.
Family Day begins at noon with an SAU organization fair at the lawn of the Business Building/Science Center. The Family Reception will follow at 2 p.m. at the Engineering facility.
This year’s Residence Hall Association Bed Race starts at 2:30 p.m. It is the 36th installment of one of SAU’s most unique traditions. The race pits two teams of five beginning on the street in front of Science and continuing to Military Drive. Four members of each team push decorated beds on bicycle tires as a brave and helmeted fifth teammate clings to the bed for dear life.
The fun continues at 3:30 p.m. with the Canoe Races at the Engineering pond, and students and families can enjoy activities at the Mulegating Free Family Picnic, which begins at 4 p.m. A pep rally follows at 5 p.m. on the lawn of the former Welcome Center.
Visitors can also enjoy an open house for the new Athletic Training Facility, honoring Dr. Gregg Massanelli and Dr. Ken Gati. The open house will be held at 3:30 p.m. at the Watson Athletic Center/Brown HKR Complex. Refreshments will be available. The facility features new offices, a whirlpool room and additional taping and treatment areas.
Performing in the pep rally and also during halftime of the Mulerider football game will be the SAU Marching Band, which this year is 134 members strong – 20 more than last year – and includes 17 tubas. The larger SAU Cheerleading squads, a competitive and spirit squad, will also perform at the pep rally and entertain at the home stands at the game. At 6 p.m., the 1-0 Muleriders will be taking on Northwestern Oklahoma State University at Rip Powell Field.
The complete schedule for the 2016 Family Day is as follows:
- Noon-2 p.m. Organization Fair (lawn at Business Building)
- 2 p.m. Family Reception at the Engineering facility (former Armory)
- 2:30 p.m. Bed Races (Science Center/Military Drive)
- 3:30 p.m. Canoe Races (SAU Engineering pond)
- 4 p.m. Mulegating/Free Family Picnic (former Welcome Center lawn)
- 5 p.m. Pep rally at Mulegating
- 6 p.m. Mulerider Football (SAU vs. NW Oklahoma State University)
