Beginning Friday, students and their dads took part in various Dads Weekend activities, hosted by Ohio University. Accompanied by Halloween festivities, Athens was full of life and packed with events.
From free dining hall meals to mini golf in Alden Library, the weekend brought fun for all. Many students took the opportunity to invite other family members and friends to get a peek into their life in Athens.
“We view parents and family members as one of our greatest partners,” Mak Olaker, assistant dean of students and director of new student and family programs, said. “They know their students best and probably communicate with them a lot more than we do.”
Although students of all years are encouraged to invite their loved ones, Olaker highlights the importance of first-year students hosting visitors.
“That first semester is really hard,” Olaker said. “It’s just a time on the calendar that they know is coming. ‘Hey, my supporters are coming soon,’ so I like that aspect of it.”
Hosting four family weekends per year comes with plenty of planning. Olaker and her colleagues set dates for each weekend three years in advance and communicate with various campus partners to ensure important events do not overlap.
To outline activities for the weekend, data is surveyed about festivities that will be well-received. Notably, participants wanted to see more connections with university leadership. Thus, annual events like Pancakes with the President came to life.
On Saturday morning at Baker University Center, Donuts & Darts with Dads took over the third floor atrium and Bobcat HangOUt. Students and dads kicked off the weekend with free breakfast accompanied by darts and various games. At the event, fathers expressed their happiness at reuniting with their Bobcats.
“It’s great to get up and get back in touch,” Steve Cerullo, father of Gianna Cerullo, a junior studying nursing, said. “See what she is doing in the school, meet some of her friends, which is always nice.”
The Cerullos, who are Pennsylvania natives living in Florida, also watched the Ohio State University vs. Pennsylvania State University football game and attended events for Gianna Cerullo’s sorority.
*“We’re going to … just spend some good time together,” said Gianna Cerullo.
Dads Weekend visitors also took time to patronize local businesses and eat at local restaurants.
“It brings a pretty diverse group of folks in,” Chelsea Langlois, general manager at Jackie O’s Public House Restaurant, located at 22 W. Union St, said.
Jackie O’s, a popular spot for dinner and drinks in Athens, prepares for Dads Weekend by planning dishes that appeal to fathers. Specials like roast beef with mushroom gravy and hand-fried fish were added to the menu by Scott Bradley, head of Jackie O’s culinary operations.
As well as diverse food options, Jackie O’s brings wide options of beers to-go for out-of-town visitors trying their beer for the first time and purchasing a bottle to take home.
“We try to beef up our offerings,” Langlois said.
This influx of visitors on Dads Weekend can be great for local businesses.
“It’s really important for local businesses to be able to reach out to a broader community, so that when people come back again and again ... they know where to go,” Langlois said. “They get a sense of the character of Athens.”
Along with Jackie O’s, various other local businesses celebrate the festivities in their own way.
“The boys are back in town,” read the 2025 Dads Weekend merchandise sold at 10 West Clothing Co. on West Union Street.
Hospitality in Athens flourishes over these popular weekends; local hotels fill quickly and advertise their location ahead of the festivities. At Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, a resort in the Hocking Hills, roughly 45 minutes off campus, Dads Weekend lodging is promoted.
For students who could not have visitors over the weekend, the Ohio Honors program hosted AlternaDads on Saturday afternoon, an event featuring pizza and games.
