Bring on the Weekend: Liberty prepares to welcome CFAW guests, families, and Flames Football fans

Liberty University is gearing up for a packed weekend as it welcomes over 2,000 prospective students and families to campus for the first College For A Weekend of the academic year and thousands more for Family Weekend and Liberty Football, which faces off against in-state rival JMU on Saturday in front of an expected record-breaking crowd in Williams Stadium. With multiple events running over several days, students and families will be fully immersed in the Liberty community and culture.

CFAW will commence on Thursday night with the Worship & Connect Kickoff, where prospective students can join in the Vines Center from 8:30-10:30 p.m. to experience an example of Liberty’s weekly Campus Community service.

On Friday, CFAW guests are invited to Convocation, featuring bestselling speaker and author Bob Goff. Later that night, international recording artist and hip hop artist KB will perform in the Vines Center at 8 p.m. (Tickets are available through Student Activities). Also on Friday night, Liberty’s ACHA Division I Men’s Hockey team will take on UNC for the first time since the Tar Heels moved up to that level this season. It also will be the season’s first promotional night at the LaHaye Ice Center, with the theme being “Pucks and Polos.”

CFAW is always a chance for students to explore the exciting recreational options on campus, including Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre. The year-round facility is providing discounted rates for prospective students (a two-hour combo pass is $10 and includes rentals, skiing, snowboarding, trampolining, tubing, and sledding).

But prospective students won’t be the only ones who can take advantage of CFAW weekend — families can socialize with music and light refreshments and learn about the many resources provided by the Parent & Family Connections Office during a Parent Connect Event 9:30-11:30 p.m. Thursday at the Reber-Thomas Dining Center. They are also invited to the President’s Parent Session 9–10 a.m. Friday in Center for Music & Worship Arts, Concert Hall, where President Dondi E. Costin and other university executives will share how students are supported while at Liberty. A Parent-to-Parent Panel, where current LU parents will share their own stories, will be held on Saturday from 9–10 a.m. in the Montview Student Union, Alumni Ballroom. View the full list of parent activities and events. Prospective students can register for the next CFAW event, Nov. 6-8.

Parents of current students will also be enjoying campus during Family Weekend, hosted by the Parent & Family Connections Office. With no specific itinerary, the office encourages families to be flexible in designing their time around the interests and needs of their student, touring their favorite spots on campus or choosing from events highlighted on the Family Weekend webpage to build their own experience.

On Saturday, crowds will converge for Liberty Football’s showdown against the James Madison University Dukes in what is being called the “Battle of the Blue Ridge” and the most anticipated home matchup of the 2025 campaign. The Flames will take the field at 3:30 p.m. in front of an expected maximum capacity crowd of 25,000. Flames Fan Fest will begin at 1 p.m. and feature music, games, balloon animals, the Team Walk, a performance by the Spirit of the Mountain marching band, and an appearance by Sparky. The event is free and open to the public. Visit LibertyFlames.com/Gameday for details.