Northwestern State University will welcome students’ families to campus Sept. 25-26 for Family Day 2026, a weekend of activities that will give families an opportunity to experience campus, Natchitoches and NSU gameday traditions with their students.
Hosted by First Year Experience, Family Day includes activities for family members of all ages, with much of Saturday’s schedule centered around the NSU Tailgate Field before the 6 p.m. football game against Southeastern Louisiana University. The Family Tailgate Party will include music, games, contests and activities before a pregame pep rally and kickoff at Turpin Stadium.
The family atmosphere surrounding NSU gamedays is familiar to Tiffany Chasteen, assistant director in the Department of Hospitality Management and Tourism. Chasteen earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from NSU, and her husband, Michael, is also an NSU graduate. They now share NSU traditions with their sons, Harrison and Graham, who attend NSU Elementary Lab School.
“We have a 9 year old and an almost 7 year old who are sport obsessed. We try to make it to as many of the sporting events as we can and we’re season ticket holders for several of the different sports. I love that I get to share it with my boys now and let them see the traditions and all the fun that’s involved on a football game day,” Chasteen said.
Family Day activities begin Friday, Sept. 25, with opportunities for families to play golf at Northwestern Hills Golf Course, take a guided walking tour of the Natchitoches National Historic Landmark District and attend a Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band practice at Turpin Stadium. The Natchitoches Parish Rodeo is also scheduled for Sept. 25-26.
Saturday activities begin with golf at Northwestern Hills Golf Course and events in downtown Natchitoches, including R&B on the River, a downtown walking tour and opportunities for shopping and dining.
Family Day check-in will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Family Day Headquarters on the east side of the NSU Tailgate Field behind Turpin Stadium. Families can pick up tailgate picnic tickets, game tickets and T-shirts at check-in.
The NSU Family Tailgate Party will begin at 2:30 p.m. with music, games, contests and other activities. A tailgate picnic will be served from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Individual meal tickets are $10.
A pregame pep rally will begin at 5 p.m. at the Tailgate Field with performances by NSU Cheerleading, Purple Pizazz Pom Line, Demon Dazzlers and the Spirit of Northwestern pep band. The pregame show will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by kickoff between NSU and Southeastern Louisiana at 6 p.m.
Game tickets are purchased separately from Family Day activities, and children ages 3 and older must have a ticket to attend the game. NSU students must have a ticket for the tailgate dinner. Close-proximity gameday parking will be available for $10 cash.
Several NSU student clubs and organizations will also host Family Day programs throughout the weekend. Families should check with their students for information about fraternity and sorority events, residence hall visits and other organization-specific activities.
For questions about Family Day, contact First Year Experience at [email protected].