University celebrates 20th annual Penn Family Day

It’s fun for all at the 20th Annual Penn Family Day, Saturday, Oct. 13. As with previous Family Days, the festivities will be held on the north side of Franklin Field, where visitors this year can also enjoy the new Shoemaker Green

“We are thrilled to have the event next to that beautiful new space,” says Marilyn Kraut, director of Quality of Worklife Programs for the Division of Human Resources (HR). “We’ve held the event in and around that area for several years while everything was under construction. Now that the work is completed, it will be an even more lovely environment for our frolicking, rollicking party.”

Show your Quaker spirit at the Penn Tailgate Party from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees can enjoy food, fun, and carnival games, followed by the Penn vs. Columbia football game. Tickets to the Tailgate Party and football game are required. Faculty and staff can receive up to four free tickets; additional tickets are $8 each.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., go behind the scenes to watch how Egyptian mummies are conserved at the Penn Museum’s “Mummies and Daddies Day.” Take part in a self-guided scavenger hunt to win prizes and explore the Museum’s many galleries. The event is free with a PennCard.

The Penn Ice Rink is offering PennCard holders a special $3.50 admission with $3 skate rental from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Kraut says Penn Family Day has two goals: “One, to share with employees the opportunity to have a fun time on campus and, secondly, to give people a chance to bring their family and friends to campus, take them around to their offices, and show them where they spend so much of their lives.”

The celebration was originally held at Hill Field before moving to Franklin Field to allow participants to tailgate.

“That’s when we added a lot of activities,” Kraut says. “We noticed that young guests were looking for something to do, so we added fun things like inflated play areas and face painting for the youngest kids, and basketball tosses and strength activities for the teens and older guests.

“And the connection with the Museum has been a lot of fun,” she adds. “It’s a great place to go before and after the game.”

For a complete schedule and a link to order tickets, visit the HR website. The deadline to order tickets is Friday, Oct. 5.

Free parking will be available with a PennCard at two University lots: the Penn Museum lot at South St. and Convention Blvd., and Chestnut 34 lot at 34th and Chestnut streets.

Penn Family Day