Event Schedule

All weekend: Indigenous Land Campus Mural
The Link, DeWitt Wallace Library and Old Main
While on campus we invite students, families, friends, and alumni to view the acrylic mural on the columns under The Link between DeWitt Wallace Library and Old Main and view the Indigenous Land Mural Learning Guide to learn about the art and symbolism on the mural, the creative process, Dakota and Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) knowledge, stories, and ongoing work at Macalester, including the Macalester Native and Indigenous Initiative (MNI). 

10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Visit the current exhibition at Law Warschaw Gallery
Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, first floor
Enjoy the current exhibition at Macalester’s Law Warschaw Gallery.

12:30–1:30 p.m. | Lunch & Friday (Jumu’ah) Prayers
Weyerhaeuser Memorial Chapel, lower level
Members of the Muslim community and families are invited to gather for lunch, conversation, and Friday (Jumu’ah) prayer. Gathering in the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life (lower level of the chapel). Lunch at noon, followed by 1 p.m. prayers. The prayer room will remain open throughout the day.

12:30–6 p.m. | Mac Fest Check-In and Registration
Lowe Dayton Arts Commons, Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center
Check in for the Mac Fest weekend, pick up your name badge, and find information.
On-site registration is available.

12:30–6 p.m. | Mac Fest Welcome Hub/Tree Tour/Poetry Tour
Reissner Lounge, Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, second floor
Stop by the Mac Fest Welcome Hub (above Mac Fest Check-In) throughout the weekend to meet informally with other Mac families, alumni, and community members with light refreshments and information to enhance your time on campus, including a couple of campus walking tours. 

1–4 p.m. | Self-Guided Tours for Families & Alumni
Around campus
Campus maps are available at check in, or utilize our online guide.

1–4 p.m. | Highland Hunt (Find Coo!)
Around campus
Pick up clues for a Coo-themed scavenger hunt at Mac Fest Check-In. Turn in your completed hunt card for a prize at the registration table.

2:00–3:00 p.m. | Seat at the Table: Institutional Equity Open House
Kagin Commons
Join Institutional Equity for food, conversation, and connection. Pull up a chair, meet the team, share your ideas, and talk with us about what matters to you and the community you want to help build here at Macalester.

2:00–3:30 p.m. | Campus Open Office Hours
Around campus
Meet familiar and new faculty and staff members for an informal open house visit. Participating faculty and departments will be posted at Mac Fest Check-in as well as on the Mac Fest website.

3:30–4 p.m. | Coo Sculpture Installation Ceremony
Shaw Field
The Macalester community is invited to join senior leadership and world-renowned Scottish figurative sculptor Andy Scott O.B.E. for the unveiling of his new sculpture, Coo. Designed to celebrate Macalester’s heritage and spirit, the Highland cow sculpture was commissioned and gifted to the college through the Justin and Jansel Kelly Foundation in honor of Mac faculty. See the unveiling, learn more about the artistic journey behind the piece, and celebrate the generosity that made it possible.

4–5:30 p.m. | Academic Summer Showcase
Fieldhouse, Leonard Center
This past summer, over 200 Mac students engaged in summer internships, research projects, and entrepreneurial endeavors in collaboration with faculty, staff, and community partners. Come hear them present and celebrate their accomplishments. Light refreshments served.

6–7:30 p.m. | Shabbat Services and Dinner with Macalester Jewish Organization
Weyerhaeuser Memorial Chapel, Center for Religious and Spiritual Life
Join the student-led Macalester Jewish Organization (MJO) for a songful Shabbat service followed by a casual and friendly Shabbat dinner. We’ll be upstairs in the Weyerhaeuser Chapel for the service and downstairs in the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life for dinner. Questions? Reach out to Rabbi Emma: [email protected].

6–9 p.m. | M Club Hall of Fame Banquet
Alexander G. Hill Ballroom, Kagin Commons
Join in celebration of this year’s M Club Hall of Fame inductees: Erika Lilley ’01, Kimani Williams ’02, Joel Brettingen ’04, Elizabeth Fitzgerald ’04, and Koby Hagen ’06.
For questions or to modify your Banquet registration, contact the Alumni Office at [email protected] or at 651-696-6295.
Dinner cost: $40 adult entrée. $13 children’s entrée (12 and under). RSVP by Thursday, October 1.

Additional sign-up is required.

7–8 p.m. | Theater Performance
James A. Williams Black Box Theater, Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center (lower level)
Join us for an evening of theater as our talented students perform a staged reading of three brand new plays written by student playwrights through Macalester Theater and Dance Department’s playwriting classes. Directed by Jess Mallory ’28, enjoy new works written by Max Schuette ’28 , Moxie Strom ’27, and Sophia Okite ’27. 

Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., fifteen minutes before the performance begins.

7–10 p.m. | Club Sports: Open Ultimate & Gender Inclusive Ultimate Frisbee Alumni Event
Leaney Field, Macalester Stadium
Come and join us for the annual Ultimate Frisbee Alumni and Community Event. Compete with and against the current teams and fellow alumni or hang out and cheer your heart out! This is an alcohol-free event hosted by our Open and Gender Inclusive Ultimate teams. All Mac Fest attendees are invited to join as spectators.

8–9 p.m. | Music Concert
Mairs Concert Hall, Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center
The Music Department presents the Wind Symphony (Aaron Isakson, conductor), Symphony Orchestra, (Chi-Chi Bestmann, conductor), and Mac Jazz (David Milne, director). The concert will last an hour, and the audience is free to come and go between the different ensemble performances.

All weekend: Indigenous Land Campus Mural
The Link, DeWitt Wallace Library and Old Main
While on campus we invite students, families, friends, and alumni to view the acrylic mural on the columns under The Link between DeWitt Wallace Library and Old Main and view the Indigenous Land Mural Learning Guide to learn about the art and symbolism on the mural, the creative process, Dakota and Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) knowledge, stories, and ongoing work at Macalester, including the Macalester Native and Indigenous Initiative (MNI).

8−10 a.m. | 5K Fun Run/Walk
Shaw Field/Leonard Center Portico/Stadium Track
Join us for the Mac Fest 5k Run/Walk. This event is for the entire Macalester community and is designed to be fun—no need to be an Olympic athlete! Faculty, staff, students, family members, alumni, dogs, and strollers are welcome. There is no fee to participate, but all participants must have completed the waiver; registration is available on-site. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. at the Leonard Center Portico, and the run/walk begins promptly at 9 a.m. at Shaw Field.

Additional sign-up is required. Have your QR codes ready when you arrive. At-door registration will also be available.

8 a.m.–4 p.m. | Mac Fest Check-In and Registration
Lowe Dayton Commons, Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center
Check in for the Mac Fest weekend, pick up your name badge, and find information.
On-site registration for Mac Fest is available.

8 a.m.–4 p.m. | Mac Fest Welcome Hub/Tree Tour/Poetry Tour
Reissner Lounge, Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, second floor
Stop by the Mac Fest Welcome Hub (above Mac Fest Check-In) throughout the weekend to meet informally with other Mac families, alumni, and community members with light refreshments and information to enhance your time on campus, including a couple of campus walking tours. 

8:30–9:30 a.m. | Swim & Dive Alumni Practice Open Viewing
Riley Pool, Leonard Center
Watch the Macalester Scots varsity Swim & Dive team practice. All Mac Fest attendees are invited to observe from the Riley Pool Natatorium Balcony.

9:30–11 a.m. | Swim & Dive Alumni Meet and Open Viewing
Riley Pool, Leonard Center
Come and join us for the annual Alumni Swimming & Diving meet. Compete alongside the current team and your alumni peers, or stand on-deck and cheer your heart out! Either way, we would love for you to join us at Riley Pool during Mac Fest. Meet, mingle and warm up with the current team as early as 9:30 a.m. Competition will begin at 10:00 a.m. 

All Mac Fest attendees are invited to join as spectators from the Riley Pool Natatorium Balcony. Questions can be directed to Coach Kyllian Griffin at [email protected].

Additional sign-up is required.

9:45–11 a.m. | Women’s Soccer Social
Leonard Center Atrium
Join members of the women’s soccer team, coaching staff, alumni, and families for a social meet and greet. Please contact Coach Marissa Olson-Guillou at [email protected] with questions.

For alumni and families of the program. Additional sign-up is required.

10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Visit the current exhibition at Law Warschaw Gallery
Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, first floor
Enjoy the current exhibition at Macalester’s Law Warschaw Gallery.

10:30–11:30 a.m. | Parent Town Hall with President Rivera and Senior Leaders
Weyerhaeuser Memorial Chapel
Join President Suzanne M. Rivera, Executive Vice President and Provost Lisa Anderson-Levy, Vice President for Student Affairs Kathryn Kay Coquemont, and Vice President for Institutional Equity Alina Wong for updates on the start of the new academic year. Bring your questions for the Q&A session of the program.
Please note: This event is for parents of Macalester students.

11 a.m.–1 p.m. | Academic Summer Showcase Gallery/Open House
Fieldhouse, Leonard Center
Missed the Academic Summer Showcase on Friday? Stroll through the gallery of student posters highlighting the breadth and depth of summer internships, research projects, and entrepreneurial endeavors undertaken by Macalester students in collaboration with faculty, staff, and community partners.

11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Coo on Campus
Bell Tower, Great Lawn
Join us in welcoming Hartnett, a Highland Coo, back to campus! Get a family photo or selfie, give him some pets, and hang out with Mac’s very special guest.

11 a.m.–12 p.m. | Mac Wagon at Coo on Campus
Bell Tower, Great Lawn
A great Mac gathering means another stop for the Mac Wagon. Don’t miss the opportunity to come and meet members of your Alumni Board, purchase exclusive apparel for Mac Fest 2026, spin-to-win swag, and more!

11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Self-Guided Tours for Families & Alumni
Around campus
Campus maps are available at check in, or utilize our online guide.

11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Highland Hunt (Find Coo!)
Around campus
Pick up clues for a Coo-themed scavenger hunt at Mac Fest Check-In. Turn in your completed hunt card for a prize at the registration table.

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. | M Club Cookout
Macalester Stadium
Please join the M Club, Macalester Athletics, and the Engagement team for a cookout offering Macalester’s unique hot dogs—the SCOT DOG—served with chips, cookies, and beverages. Vegetarian and vegan alternatives will be available as supplies last. Stick around to support the men’s football team and interact with our mascot Coo the Highland Cow.

Additional sign-up is required. Have your QR codes ready at the door. At-door registration will also be available while supplies last.

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. | Track & Field/Cross Country Social
Macalester Stadium
Join Macalester Track & Field/Cross Country coaching staff, alumni, and families for a social gathering at the M Club Cookout. Tables will be marked with table tents.

11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. | Faculty Lecture
John B. Davis Lecture Hall, Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center
Details TBA.

12:30–2 p.m. | Mac Wagon at M Club Cookout
Macalester Stadium
A great Mac gathering means another stop for the Mac Wagon. Don’t miss the opportunity to come and meet members of your Alumni Board, purchase exclusive apparel for Mac Fest 2026, spin-to-win swag, and more!

1–2 p.m. | Center for Study Away Panel
Alexander G. Hill Ballroom, Kagin Commons
Join representatives from the Center for Study Away as they present an overview of the benefits of study away, different programs offered by Macalester, how we support students, info on finances, and timelines. Bring your questions for the Q&A portion of the program.

1–3:30 p.m. | Men’s Football vs. Saint John’s
Leaney Field, Macalester Stadium
Cheer on the Scots as Macalester Football hosts Saint John’s University for the first time in twenty-five years! All Macalester supporters are invited to join the Fan Zone on the north end of Leaney Field and visit the Macalester Athletics tent, and connect with fellow Athletics alumni at dedicated tents for football, men’s/women’s basketball, and baseball/softball. Go Scots!

1:30–2:30 p.m. | Faculty Lecture
John B. Davis Lecture Hall, Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center
Details TBA.

4–5:30 p.m. | Ethics Bowl Demonstration Round
Weyerhaeuser Board Room, Weyerhaeuser Hall
Hosted by Forensics. Join us for a competitive forensics round featuring our nationally-recognized Ethics Bowl team, winner of two APPE Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl National Championships in the last five years! Ethics Bowl team members will analyze and discuss a 2026–27 regionals case to illustrate the critical thinking, nuanced reasoning, and respectful debate that earned them their titles. You’ll witness how the champions explore complex ethical issues with clarity, empathy, and intellectual rigor. Whether you’re new to Ethics Bowl or an alum of the program, this is a unique opportunity to learn from the best! Stick around for a Q&A session where you can pose an ethical question for the students to answer or ask them about their journey to the championship.

7–8 p.m. | Theater Performance
James A. Williams Black Box Theater, Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center (lower level)
Join us for an evening of theater as our talented students perform a staged reading of three brand new plays written by student playwrights through Macalester Theater and Dance Department’s playwriting classes. Directed by Jess Mallory ’28, enjoy new works written by Max Schuette ’28 , Moxie Strom ’27, and Sophia Okite ’27. 

Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., fifteen minutes before the performance begins.

7:30–10:30 p.m. | Club Sports: Men’s Soccer Game
Leaney Field, Macalester Stadium
Join us as Macalester’s club men’s soccer team hosts Gustavus’ club team on Leaney Field.

8–9 p.m. | Music Concert
Mairs Concert Hall, Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center
The Music Department presents the Asian Music Ensemble (Chuen-Fung Wong, director), Chorale and Concert Choir (Michael McGaghie, director) and the African Music Ensemble (Sowah Mensah, director). The concert will last an hour, and the audience is free to come and go between the different ensemble performances.

Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., fifteen minutes before the performance begins.

October 10-11 | Men’s Golf at MIAC Championships
Brooklyn Park, MN

Saturday, October 10, 3–7 p.m. | Volleyball vs. St. Mary’s University and Coe College
St. Mary’s University, Winona, MN

Saturday, October 10, 3:30–5:30 p.m. | Men’s Soccer at Bethel University
Bethel University, Arden Hills, MN

Sunday, October 11, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Club Sports: Women’s Rugby
Leaney Field, Macalester Stadium
Macalester Women’s Rugby will be hosting a round robin competition on Leaney Field. Warm-ups begin at 8:30 a.m., with games starting at 9:30 a.m. More schedule details to come.

Sunday, October 11, 1–3 p.m. | Women’s Soccer at Bethel University
Bethel University, Arden Hills, MN