Union University’s annual Family Weekend included Union Night on the evening of September 28, although this year’s annual event was relocated to inside and around the George M. Savage Memorial Chapel due to unexpected rainfall.
Despite the rain, families arrived with umbrellas in tow for the evening’s activities.
Ryan Porter, a Union father celebrating Family Weekend for the fifth time, shared his perspective on the evening’s shift indoors.
“It is obviously different because it is usually out on the lawn, but Union has done a great job with the change,” he noted. “They really have made lemonade out of lemons. The show has to go on, right? There’s so much to do. Lots of food trucks, vendors, and families out here, it has been a great time.”
The event hosted an array of food trucks lining the street near the chapel, serving up a selection of street tacos, fried catfish, craft doughnuts, hot coffee, quesadillas, burgers, chicken salad and more. The choices drew in long lines of guests. Two bounce houses stood in the chapel roundabout.
Union’s retired mascot, Buster the bulldog, met the new bulldog mascot outside of Union Station, surrounded by students and families. Inside the chapel, various student organizations set up tents representative of their offerings, and the space was lit with string lights. The annual event came to a close as fireworks lit up the sky around 8pm.
Porter expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to connect with other families.
“I love Union Night because you get to meet your kid’s friends while also getting to know the community better. Union has made this event work beautifully despite the weather,” Porter added while eating a “Crazy Plate” from Polito Loco, a locally owned food truck at the event.
