Plans are getting set for Family Weekend 2025! Families will be able to experience Luther College and explore Decorah. We hope you'll join us!
Typical family weekends are packed with activities for the whole family including athletic competitions, concerts, a downtown Decorah festival, hiking, biking and kayaking, internship showcases, guest lectures, shops and restaurants to explore, and so much more.
Please Note:
The schedule below is tentative and will be updated regularly. Â All events/details are subject to change. Â Registration is not necessary for Family Weekend, but some offerings may have sign-ups to ensure enough equipment or space is available.
There is something for everyone!
Family Weekend 2025
Please note: this schedule will be updated regularly and all events/details are subject to change). Registration is not necessary this year for Family Weekend events.
Schedule a visit for your NEXT Luther College student! Reserved times with the Luther College Admissions Office are available Friday, September 20th only only and are at 9 a.m.; 10:30 a.m.; or 1:00 p.m. Registration will close at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17th so be sure to register early.
8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. | Luther College Book Shop open, Dahl Centennial Union, main level
10:30 a.m. | Chapel, Center for Faith and Life
Speaker: Pastor Melissa Bills
Special Music: Cathedral Choir, Mark Potvin, director
WATCH THE LIVESTREAM
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Family Weekend Information Table, Dahl Centennial Union
4:30 p.m. | Canoeing/Kayaking on the Upper Iowa River Meeting Location: Library Lot, directly behind the Library and Olin
Recreational Services invites students and families to explore the Upper Iowa River! All supplies will be provided, and people should wear shoes and clothing that can get wet. Each trip can accommodate 20 individuals at a time – please sign-up in advance here. Each river trip should be about 2 hours.
6 p.m. | S’mores at Davidson Møteplass hosted by Luther College Parent and Family Council, Davidson Møteplass (located adjacent to Dahl Centennial Union)
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Live Music with Abby Towne at Pulpit Rock Brewing Company, 207 College Drive, Decorah
7:30 p.m. | Luther College Can Surprise You, presented by Nancy Barry, Professor Emeritus of English, Mott-Borlaug Room, Dahl Centennial Union
7:30 p.m. | Driftless Jazz at Impact Coffee, 101 W Water St. Downtown Decorah. Â
Decorah Area Dining Options – Check out downtown Decorah and take advantage of the restaurants, ice cream and pizza joints, coffee shops, and sports bars both downtown and in the surrounding area, many owned by Luther grads, offering a wide variety of cuisines from all over. We recommend reservations at most places – call ahead to check for sure!
Please note: this schedule will be updated regularly and all events/details are subject to change. Registration is not necessary this year for Family Weekend events.
9 a.m. | Walk to End Alzheimers | Pulpit Rock Brewing Company, 207 College Drive, Decorah
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Family Weekend Information Table, Dahl Centennial Union
9 to 11 a.m. | Experiential Learning Showcase – Oral Presentations, Mott-Borlaug, Dahl Centennial Union
Please note: in addition to the presentation, posters will be displayed throughout the first floor of Sampson Hoffland and Valders Pit all weekend. Experiential learning is an integral part of a Luther education. Internships and research are two popular avenues for students to pursue experiential learning. This showcase includes a variety of internships and research projects completed by Luther students from September 2024 through summer 2025. The goal of the Showcase is for students to share what they are learning and experiencing beyond our campus, increasing awareness of these valuable opportunities for fellow Luther students, faculty, staff, and friends of the college.
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Decorah Farmers Market – below the Oneota Co-op on Heivly St. The Decorah Farmers Market is the best place to find local food and goods from Northeast Iowa’s small producers and artisans. The outdoor market takes place May through October on Wednesday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Vesterheim Museum open, 502 W. Water St., Downtown Decorah
Vesterheim Museum invites Luther families to come and see the collection that began at Luther in 1877. Admission is free for Luther students. Be sure to take a few minutes to visit the new addition that opened in 2023 – it’s beautiful! Vesterheim will offer a tour of the main museum building at 11 a.m. and a tour of the historic Heritage Park at 1:30 p.m.
9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Luther College Book Shop open, Dahl Centennial Union, main level
9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Lobby, Dahl Centennial Union
Class Ring Promo: $30 off 10k, $50 off 14k, and $100 off 18k class rings! Visit with Luther’s Jostens representative to learn more and to place your order.
10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. | All-College Community Lunch in front of Dahl Centennial Union.
Students and their families are invited to a community lunch in front of the Union. The lunch will be provided by Bon Appetit, Luther’s new dining partner.Â
10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Lawn Games hosted by Student Senate, on the lawn in front of Dahl Centennial Union Â
12 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Live on Winnebago – Winnebago Street, Downtown Decorah Live on Winnebago is a one-day, all inclusive, free-to-attend music and arts festival and celebration in the heart of Decorah, Iowa, highlighting local and regional artists and musicians. Join us for events and activities up and down Winnebago St. in Decorah! Activities for all ages, live music, an art fair, and so much more! Â
12:30 p.m. | Concert, featuring Concert Band and Jazz Orchestra, Center for Faith and Life | WATCH THE LIVESTREAM
1 p.m. | Canoeing/Kayaking on the Upper Iowa River Meeting Location: Library Lot, directly behind the Library and Olin
Recreational Services invites students and families to explore the Upper Iowa River! All supplies will be provided, and people should wear shoes and clothing that can get wet. Each trip can accommodate 20 individuals at a time, please sign-up in advance here. Each river trip should be about 2 hours.
1 p.m. | Football vs. Central College, Legacy Field in Carlson Stadium –Â Tailgate on the patio outside Oneota Market / WATCH THE LIVESTREAM
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Ballroom and Swing Showcase, Studio 2, Center for the Arts
Join the Luther College Ballroom & Swing Team for a Family Weekend showcase. Members of our competitive team, from newcomers to our most advanced dancers, will give a demonstration of both smooth and rhythm dances in which we compete. We look forward to displaying our vast array of talented ballroom dancers and showing off what our newcomers have learned in just a few short weeks. We will end the showcase by inviting friends and family to join us on the floor to learn the basic moves for Hustle, a popular social dance that is easy to both teach and learn, and enjoy some social dancing for all ages and experience levels. All are welcome!
3 p.m. Luther Trails Hike, meet in front of Dahl Centennial Union (hike will begin promptly after group gathers at 3 p.m.) Come for a leisurely hike on the trail system through Luther’s native habitats, including oak woodlands and tallgrass prairies. Student interns will talk about their stewardship work that maintains and improves the quality of our natural areas, including tree plantings, prairie and woodland management, and ongoing projects such as non-native invasive species control. A great hike for those who want to enjoy the fall weather and native habitats in Iowa’s driftless region. Wear footwear appropriate for light hiking.
7 p.m. | Concert, featuring Aurora, Collegiate Chorale, Cathedral Choir, Norskkor, and Symphonic Band, Center for Faith and Life | 7 p.m. | BINGO at Impact Coffee, 101 W Water St. Downtown Decorah /Â WATCH THE LIVESTREAM
8:30 p.m. | SAC Hop Soda Shoppe, featuring Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Band, Marty’s (lower level, Dahl Centennial Union)
Join SAC, Luther’s Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Band, and Ballroom & Swing for a fun night of music, dancing, and ice cream!
Please note: this schedule will be updated regularly and all events/details are subject to change. Registration is not necessary this year for Family Weekend events.
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Luther College Book Shop open, Dahl Centennial Union, main level
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Lobby, Dahl Centennial Union
Class Ring Promo: $30 off 10k, $50 off 14k, and $100 off 18k class rings! Visit with Luther’s Jostens representative to learn more and to place your order.
10 a.m. | Family Weekend Worship Service, Center for Faith and Life | WATCH THE LIVESTREAM
2 p.m.| Women’s Soccer vs. UW Stevens-Point, Luther Soccer Field / WATCH THE LIVESTREAM
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Equestrian Club Open House, AMF Équitation- 2538 307th Ave Ridgeway, IA. Join us for our fall open house! The open house is a fundraiser to help support the cost of horses and the equestrian club as we hope to compete in the ISHA circuit this spring. This event will offer the opportunity to take a guided horse ride around the arena, pet the horses, learn more about horses, and groom ponies. Riding ponies will cost $5, along with other donations.
Luther College Book Shop (located on the main level of Dahl Centennial Union)
Friday, September 20: 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Saturday, September 21: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, September 22: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cafeteria (located in the lower level of Dahl Centennial Union)
Meals are served continuously during open hours.
Friday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Oneota Market (located on the main level of Dahl Centennial Union)
Features pre-made items, Impact Coffee, baked good, breakfast all day, wraps, sandwiches, paninis, and daily specials.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: CLOSED
Nordic Brew (located in the lower level of Dahl Centennial Union)
Features ice cream, coffee (including specialty coffees), bakery items, cinnamon rolls, and crepes.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Nordic Mart (located in the lower level of Dahl Centennial Union)
Luther’s convenience store with cold drinks, snacks, health and wellness items, and household items.
Friday: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Lodging: Make Your Plans Today
Make your lodging reservations as soon as possible, and we recommend you use the Visit Decorah website. Between area hotels, motels, cabins, Airbnbs, VRBOS, and campgrounds, Decorah has plenty to offer.
Things To Do
In addition to catching up with your student and participating in events on campus, you may be wondering what you might do in Decorah and we’ve got some ideas:
- Hit the Luther Book Shop to stock (or restock) your Luther gear.
- Take a look at the view of the Valley from the deck of Dahl Centennial Union.
- Visit the Experiential Learning Showcase – posters will be displayed throughout the first floor of Sampson Hoffland and Valders Pit all weekend. This showcase includes a variety of internships and research projects completed by Luther students from September 2024 through summer 2025.
- Be sure to check-out the Art Exhibit: An Assembly of the Silly Fair Ones: Norwegian-American Women’s Organizations and Educational Opportunities in the Decorah Area
Norwegian-American women played a foundational yet frequently overlooked role in shaping both domestic and public life. This gallery exhibit highlights their vital contributions to community organizations in the Decorah area, from the early pioneer period to modern times. It also traces the journey to coeducation at Luther College, revealing women’s hidden roles on campus, evolving gender dynamics, and changing student demographics. Drawing from diaries, photographs, and student publications, the exhibit brings to light the perseverance, leadership, and community spirit of Norwegian-American women across generations.
Dahl Union Gallery Hours: 8am-10pm throughout the weekend. - Check out downtown Decorah and take advantage of the restaurants, ice cream and pizza joints, coffee shops, and sports bars both downtown and in the surrounding area, many owned by Luther grads, offering a wide variety of cuisines from all over. We recommend reservations at most places – call ahead to check for sure!
- Pack your hiking shoes or bicycles (you can also rent bicycles!), you can hit the trails early and still make lunch! With miles and miles of trails over the rolling hills as well as up into the bluffs, you can really get lost in this part of the Driftless Region. We also recommend visiting two of our favorite parks: Dunning’s Spring and Phelps Park.
- Learn a bit about Decorah’s heritage by stopping in at the Vesterheim Museum (they also have a new outdoor area that is lovely).
- With nearly every storefront full, downtown Decorah is bursting with retailers, offering nearly everything you might need to check some things off your holiday shopping list (no, it’s not too early). Clothing stores, gift shops, arts and crafts suppliers, candle shops, a food co-op, bookstores, and much more.
Future Family Weekend Dates
- September 18-20, 2026 (tentative)
- September 17-19, 2027 (tentative)
Contact Information
Advancement Office
Loyalty Hall
Luther College
700 College Drive
Decorah, Iowa 52101
Phone: 563-387-1861
Fax: 563-387-1322