Family & Friends Weekend
October 23-25, 2026
Join us as we celebrate our families, support systems, and the larger Oredigger family! Colorado School of Mines Family & Friends Weekend will take place between Friday, October 23rd and Sunday, October 25th, 2026 and features 45+ events for Orediggers of all ages!
The full Family & Friends Weekend calendar can be viewed below! Please note that events with a * symbol will require a ticket. Families and friends will be asked to register for all events they plan to attend but some events have limited availability.
Registration for Family & Friends Weekend is now open!
Registration Information
Registration for Family & Friends Weekend is now open! Families will need to submit one general registration per party and will then have the opportunity to register for add-on events and merchandise as they are available. Some events also have a lottery system so please read below for important lottery details.
IMPORTANT!
If you have not already, you will need to create your Oredigger Family Portal account prior to registering. To create your account, please visit our Oredigger Family Portal Webpage.
Questions about registration specifics? Visit our FAQ section below!
Things to note
- There are over 45 events taking place throughout the weekend- the majority of events are free and will not appear on the registration form
- While most events are open to all, we ask that each party completes one general registration
- There are several events that have a limited number of spots and will require a reservation or lottery entry. Some of these events may also have an additional cost or a lottery system (please refer to the schedule below and the event information to learn which events have these restrictions)
- We will be offering exclusive Family & Friends Weekend merchandise for an additional cost- more information about these items will be coming soon!
Lottery Information
Due to the popularity of these experiences, the Edgar Mine Tours, Glass Shop Sessions, and Foundry Sessions will all operate on a lottery system this year.
- Families may enter the lottery for one timeslot per event.
- Lottery Registration will remain open until 12pm MDT on Tuesday, September 22 to ensure that all interested families have the opportunity to enter.
- Participants will be selected via randow drawing after the lotteries close on September 22.
- Families selected through the lottery will receive an email from New Student & Transition Services on or around September 23 with instructions for completing registration and purchasing tickets.
- Only families selected through the lottery will receive a notification email.
Events that require special registration
- MAC Oktoberfest
Families wanting to attending the MAC Oktoberfest event will need to register and pay for tickets. Everyone who plans to attend will need a ticket, INCLUDING students! You can purchase tickets by visiting this website.
- Mines Little Theatre Performances
Mines Little Theater presents an evening of laughter and creativity with a mix of short skits, talent acts, and surprises. Tickets for both Friday and Saturday performances can be purchased here!
- Mines Pickleball Tournament
Registration will be required for all participants wanting to participate in the Mines Pickleball tournament on Saturday, October 24. Reserve your spot today by visiting the event registration page.
- Tailgate Reservations
Families interested in reserving a tailgating spot should fill out this form to submit their request.
- Football/Soccer Tickets
Students are admitted free of charge to the student section for Mines athletic events and can reserve their free ticket on their Athletics ticket account. All non-students will need tickets for athletic events. Tickets can be purchased on the Athletics Ticketing website.
Family & Friends Golden Discounts
To help make your visit even more enjoyable, we are partnering with local businesses to compile a list of shops, restaurants, and establishments offering special discounts and promotions throughout the weekend! Participating business are listed below and a handout will be available for pick up at Family & Friends Weekend check-in tables both Friday and Saturday!
Be sure to check back often as new business are being added regularly!
Participating Businesses
Alyth Active – 15% Discount
Cheese Ranch -10% off sandwiches and cheese plates
Earth Sweet Boutique – 15% Discount (not valid on sale items)
Golden Goods – 10% Discount when you show a valid BlasterCard
Goosetown Station – 20% Discount
Holidaily Brewing Company – Half-Off your first drink when you show a valid BlasterCard
Indulge Bistro & Wine Bar – 15% Discount (not valid during Happy Hour or with any other discounts or coupons)
Movement Golden – Discounted $25 day passess (including rental gear)
Old Crows Antiques & Root Beer Bar – 10% Discount on anything that is not firm-priced
State 38 Distilling – 10% off cocktails and bottles (excluding special releases)
Family & Friends Weekend Merchandise
Our exclusive Family & Friends Weekend zipper utility tote bags and stadium cups will be available for purchase when you complete your Family & Friends Weekend Registration! Tote bags will be sold for $21.50 and stadium cups will be sold for $5 with both prices including tax. Merchandise pickup will take place on campus on Friday, October 23rd and Saturday, October 24th. Supplies are limited so sales will be first come, first serve!
Stop by, check-in for the weekend, grab a coffee and a pastry, and mix and mingle with other Orediggers and their support systems! Mines faculty & staff will be present […] Meet staff from the Mines Center for Academic Support & Advising office to learn more about resources available to help students navigate through their academic journey at Mines, including advising, […] Do you ever feel unsure about how to support your student from home or talk about hard topics when they're not around as much? Stop by the Student Wellness Promotion […] Meet staff from the Mines Counseling Center to learn more about the resources available to help students take care of their holistic wellness! Additional Cost- TICKET REQUIRED (Tickets are required for ALL students and family members) Join us in the Mines Foundry to make your own casting! Please note that this event will […] Additional Cost- TICKET REQUIRED (Tickets are required for ALL students and family members) Join us for this special tour hosted by students and staff at our very own mine in […] With more than 2,000 items currently on display and more than 40,000 total items in our collection, there will always be something new to see! Visit the discovery cart by […] Stop by to learn how our Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering programs are impacting positive changes within each discipline. We will hold an open house from 10 am to 4 […] Join the Mining Engineering Department for a Flash Talk titled "What Put Mines on the Map: A Look at the Discipline That Started It All." How did Colorado School of […] Join Dr. Maxwell Brown (“Max”) as he gives a talk on energy systems and economic modeling, mineral demand in the power sector, and modeling of critical material markets. Note […]Events
Family & Friends Check-In and Welcome Coffee Mixer
CASA Tabling
Support Your Student’s Well-Being!
Mines Counseling Center Tabling
Mines Foundry Sessions*
Edgar Mines Tours*
Visit the Mines Museum
Civil & Environmental Engineering Open House
Faculty Flash Talk: Mining Engineering
Flash Talk: Economics & Business
FAQs
How do I register for Family & Friends Weekend?
Families will register for Family & Friends Weekend in the Oredigger Family Portal starting at 9am on Friday, September 11th. Families will need to complete one general registration for their entire group and will then have the option to add-on ticketed events, event lotteries, and merchandise as available.
What events require tickets? What events have an additional cost?
While the vast majority of the programs held during Family & Friends Weekend are free and open to all, some are ticketed or require an additional cost due to capacity limitations.
Events that Require a Ticket:
- Hot Shop Sessions
- Glass Shop Sessions
- Edgar Mine Tours
- NeST BINGO Event
- ORC Twilight Hike
- ORC Rock Climbing
- Any Athletic Event (except students, please see separate registration section above for details)
- MAC Oktoberfest (Please see separate registration section above for details)
- Mines Little Theatre Performances (Please see separate registration section above for details)
- Mines Pickleball Tournament (Please see the separate registration section above for details)
Events/ Products with an Additional Cost:
- Hot Shop Sessions
- Glass Shop Sessions
- Edgar Mine Tours
- ORC Twilight Hike
- ORC Rock Climbing
- Athletic Events (except for students)
- MAC Oktoberfest
- Mines Little Theatre Performances
- NeST BINGO Event
- Family & Friends Weekend Merchandise (tote bags and stadium cups)
What events are using the lottery system?
Due to the popularity of these experiences, the following events will be utilizing the lottery system this year:
- Edgar Mine Tours
- Glass Shop Sessions
- Foundry Sessions
The lottery registration for each of these events will remain open until 12pm MDT on Friday, September 25 to allow all interested parties to register.
How will I know if I was selected in the event lottery?
Families who were selected from the random lottery drawings will be notified via the email associated with their account on or around Septemeber 28. The email will contain instructions on how to complete your registration and purchase tickets for the event.
Please note: ONLY families selected for the events will be notified. If you do not hear from our office, you were not selected in the random drawing.
Can I trade or swap tickets with other famliies?
No, if you wish to return your tickets for any of our ticketed events, please email nest@mines.edu. Please note that there are No Refunds for any Family & Friends Weekend events or merchandise. Once you are removed, we will randomly select another family from the lottery pool. Our office sends registration lists to campus partners so any tickets traded outside of our platform will not be accepted at the events. Please do not swap/or sell tickets on any 3rd Party sites.
Do I need to register if I do not plan to attend any ticketed events?
Yes! Any family planning to attend Family & Friends Weekend should complete one general registration for the entire family. This registration will help us in planning the best possible experience for you.
Will my student have classes or exams during Family & Friends Weekend?
Students will have their regularly scheduled classes on Friday, October 23rd. We try our best to ensure academic faculty are aware of the weekend as they are planning their fall courses but it is not guarenteed that students will not have class or projects due during Family & Friends Weekend.
Can children attend Family & Friends Weekend events?
Yes! The vast majority of events held during the weekend are intended for Oredigger supporters of all ages. Some add-on events require participants to be 18 or older so please be sure to look for that information in the description of the add-on events.
Where can I park for Family & Friends Weekend?
Families can pay for parking in any of the blue parking lots on the Mines parking map. Please be sure to pay for your vehicle at the pay station located in each of the blue parking lots. Please note that families and guests can park in any campus parking lot for free between 5pm on Friday, October 23rd and 6am Monday, October 26.
More information about visitor parking including daily rates can be found here.
I was unable to get into the Sunset Hike. What other hikes are good for families?
Golden has a number of easy to moderate hikes that we recommend for families!
South Table Mountain:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/olivine-trail-loop?sh=k7fhg6&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality
Mount Galbraith Loop:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/mount-galbraith-loop-via-cedar-gulch-trail?sh=k7fhg6&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality
Windy Saddle Park: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/lookout-mountain-trail-via-windy-saddle-trailhead?sh=k7fhg6&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality
Clear Creek Canyon: us/colorado/peaks-to-plains-and-welch-ditch-loop?sh=k7fhg6&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality
Fossil Trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/fossil-trail
More information about visitor parking including daily rates can be found here.
Campus Map
See the Mines campus map for details.
Transportation Options
Need help getting around when in Golden? Check out the Ore Cart Shuttle and other transportation options. For information on parking, visit the Parking Services website.
Local Events & Attractions
For more information on local events & attractions in Golden, visit the City of Golden website.
Lodging
Explore lodging around Golden to help you stay comfortably over the weekend. Visit the Golden lodging page for hotel options in and around Golden. Be sure to ask about special rates when you make your reservation!
Questions?
Contact New Student & Transition Services at nest@mines.edu or (303) 869-5550