Moms Weekend kicked off with a gloomy beginning on Friday evening. What is traditionally a bustling campus of students and their moms socializing was replaced by fewer crowds and inside-out umbrellas due to the rain. 

Whether during a performance at the Illini Union or on a quick grocery run to Target, one could notice the decrease in the presence of students and moms out and about on campus. 

Moms Weekend at the University is a tale old as time, or specifically, an event that’s been hosted for over 100 years, since 1921. 

One student, Hugh Lang, junior in Business, talked about his and his mom’s plan for the weekend with the looming rainy weather. 

“We’ll probably play it by ear,” Hugh said. 

Jill Lang, Hugh’s mom, shared that Hugh’s fraternity hosts various activities for members and their moms to participate in throughout the weekend.

“We’re gonna do a barbecue with some of his friends and definitely do some walks,” Jill said. 

Jill continued by expressing concern over the weather, stating that the pair was “getting rained down a little bit.”

As for tonight, Jill and Hugh plan to go axe-throwing and finish the night off at a bar.  Bars on campus run special events for Moms Weekend with discounted drinks and fun activities.

This weekend promises to be full of events and fun-filled memories celebrating Illini moms. Families looking for events to attend can find them here. 

Stay tuned on The Daily Illini for more updates on Moms Weekend. 

[email protected]

[email protected]

Students, moms and other family members teamed up for a puzzling competition, as well as bingo at the Illini Union on Saturday. (Anna Williams)

While moms and students braved the rain on Green Street getting dinner or drinks, inside the Illini Union, a quieter Saturday night unfolded. 

Moms Weekend events have ranged all over campus, but the Union served as a convenient location away from the biggest crowds. However, although it was the site of a calmer Saturday night, competitive tensions still brewed.

Introduced last year, the Union’s puzzling competition consists of dozens of family teams competing to put together a puzzle the fastest. Each team receives the same identical keepsake puzzle, while the top three fastest finishers are awarded an additional prize.

“We thought it would be fun to do one of the Moms Weekend events,” said Lysandra Miller, mother of Josh Miller, sophomore in Engineering. “Last year, we threw axes, so this year, we thought it would be fun to do puzzles.”

Moms weren’t the only guests at events this weekend. Aunts, grandmothers, godmothers and the occasional dad were also in attendance, drawn by both the students and the potential for a good time.

“We’re here because we’re visiting Josh,” said Liz Duncanson, Josh’s aunt and godmother. “And I’m just a puzzle person, I puzzle every day of my life.”

A slightly larger competition progressed in the main ballroom, as students and moms gathered to play bingo. Also awarding prizes and offering a snack and dessert bar, the contest drew hundreds of participants.

Other notable events at the Illini Union on Saturday included the IU Board Moms Weekend Craft and Vendor Fair and the annual meeting of the Illini Moms Association.

[email protected]

As Moms Weekend draws to a close, The Daily Illini talked to more moms and students to get their final thoughts on the action-packed weekend. The sun was shining on the quad, and families were walking outside to enjoy the nicest weather the weekend had seen thus far.

The highlight of the day was the Moms Weekend brunch held at the Illini Union. There, the a cappella group Girls Next Door performed while attendees feasted on elaborate breakfast spreads. Angela Flood, a visiting mom, gave her thoughts on the performance. 

“Girls Next Door, they were very good,” Angela Flood said. “The beatboxing really set it off.”

Angela Flood and her daughter Avery, a freshman in LAS, also attended the puzzling competition on Saturday. The pair faced off against a room of four-person teams. 

“We won in spirit,” Angela said with a laugh. 

Ariel Spector, a sophomore in FAA and member of Girls Next Door, brought her mom to campus for a weekend filled with musical fun. 

“We have had a lot of gigs around campus at frats, we just sang at the moms day brunch in the Union,” Ariel said. “So she’s been coming along to all of the gigs.”

Ariel’s mom, Yael Spector, was a graduate student at the University, an alum of the class of 1999. This is her second time visiting for Moms Weekend. 

“I would say the Glee concert and the Girls Next Door concerts have been the absolute highlights,” Yael said. “But also, all the good food around campus.”

The pair visited Dim Sum House and Brew Lab over the weekend, both of which exceeded their expectations. 

Both food and hotels were in high demand throughout the weekend. Green Street was lined with hungry families throughout the day, and most hotels were completely booked. Some single hotel rooms were going for as much as $600 per night.

“The tip is that you book for next year’s Moms Weekend while you’re at this Moms Weekend, because (hotel rooms are) not even for sale yet,” Angela said. “Once they are, they jack the rates up.” 

Avery Flood also got to enjoy the benefits of her mom visiting campus. 

“I stayed at the Drury Inn and (Avery) actually came over and stayed with me,” Angela said. “She has a teeny-weeny room at the top of Busey Hall, and so it’s nice to escape.”

As Sunday wraps up, families will be saying their goodbyes and traveling home. Next year, many moms may consider  bringing umbrellas and booking their hotels at least 12 months in advance.

[email protected] 

[email protected]