Fall Weekend

October 2–4, 2026

Fall Weekend 2026 Activities and Schedule

Times and locations are subject to change; official schedules will be available at welcome/information tables on Friday evening and Saturday morning.

The Mitchell College community is excited to come together on campus for this year’s Fall Weekend, with events for students, alumni, parents, and friends of Mitchell College.

Most activities are free*, but we’d love to know you’re coming! Register Here

*Two events—the Thames 20th Anniversary Celebration and the Jazz Brunch—require ticket purchase through the registration form.

Friday, October 2, 2026

5:00–6:30pm | A Seat at the Table (Themed Dinner) | Milner Dining Hall (pay on site)

5:00–7:00pm | Warm Welcome & Community Art Project | Clarke Patio

5:30–7:30pm | Thames 20th Anniversary Celebration | The Red Barn ( ticket purchase deadline extended to Oct. 2) | Register Here

8:00–10:00pm | Family Night, Mitchell Style – Bingo Night | The Red Barn (free event)

Saturday, October 3, 2026

7:30am–10:30am | A Seat at the Table (Breakfast) | Milner Dining Hall (pay on site)

9:00am – 10:00am | Faculty Sessions | various locations (free events)

Choose from sessions led by:

Laura Picraux, Associate Professor, Chemistry | Bingham Hall 2020
The Chemistry of Color: Each fall in New England we watch the leaves change colors. Many people find these colors beautiful, but why do we see the various colors? In this session we will look at some of the chemistry behind color. We will consider molecules such as pigments and how they can produce different colors and sparkling effects. Finally, we will investigate the pigments found in leaves by using paper chromatography to separate them.
Joanna Gentsch, Associate Professor, Psychology | Nathan Hale Hall 110
Where Did I Go Wrong? The Wandering Mind in the Age of Distraction: Research suggests that our thoughts drift away from the task at hand nearly half of our waking hours and today’s apps and platforms are engineered to exploit that drift, capturing attention before we event notice it’s gone. In this talk and demonstration, you will catch your mind in the act of wandering, learn what’s happening when it does, and discover how to tell the difference between natural mind-wandering and attention that’s been hijacked.
Sarbjeet Kaur, Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice | Duques Center 108
Crime, Justice, and AI—What’s Changing Right Now: A look at how AI is reshaping policing, courts, and crime itself—from predictive tools to AI-enabled fraud—and what it means for the field.

10:00am – 11:00am | Student Intern Panel | Library (free event)
Facilitated by: Paul Dunn, Integrated Career Development
Hear a panel of Mitchell students discuss how they applied academic knowledge to hands-on internship experiences in professional settings. Learn firsthand about the projects they completed, the job-specific and transferable skills they developed, and how their internships contributed to their career readiness.

10:00am–4:00pm | Mariners Wharf Pop-Up Shop | Connector Between Michael’s Dairy and The Cove

10:00am–3:00pm | Painting I Student Exhibit | Mitchell College Library

11:00am–2:00pm | Vintage Gear Sale | Yarnall Green

11:00am–2:00pm | Beer Tent | Yarnall Green (pay on site)

11:00am–2:00pm | Tailgate Party & Concessions | Yarnall Green (pay on site)

11:00am–3:00pm | Athletic Varsity Games (free events)

11:00am | Women’s Soccer v. Rivier | Alumni Field

1:00pm | Women’s Volleyball v. St. Joseph’s (ME) | Yarnall Athletic Center

1:30pm | Men’s Soccer v. New England College | Alumni Field

11:30am–2:00pm | A Seat at the Table (Lunch) | Milner Dining Hall (pay on site)

1:00pm – 3:00 pm | Service Project | Breakwater Lounge (free event)
Join us to write handwritten letters of encouragement for women going through challenging times. Your kind words can provide comfort, hope, and support when they are needed most through the Girls Love Mail program.

Fun in the Sun at Mitchell Beach

1:00–4:00pm | Beach & Lawn Games

1:00–3:00pm | Kayak Tours with Coach Peretz (every 20 minutes)

2:00-4:00pm | Metal Detecting with CS Director Potts (every 30 minutes)

Evening Events

4:00–5:00pm | Alumni Reception | Mitchell College Library (free event) | Register Here

5:00–7:00pm | A Seat at the Table (Themed Dinner) | Milner Dining Hall (pay on site)

7:00-9:00pm | Mitchell College Cabaret & Talent Show | Clarke Center (free event)