Bicentennial Kickoff & Fall Weekend

7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Exhibit: Lafayette 200: A Bicentennial History of Lafayette College 
Simon Room, Skillman Library 
Take a step back in time and learn about the founding of Lafayette College, the evolution of our curriculum, the birth of athletics and student organizations, our resilience in the face of wars and financial crises, the impacts of the civil rights movement and coeducation, and more. Key documents, images, and artifacts from the Lafayette College Archives trace historic events that contributed to the development of one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the nation.

7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Exhibit: This Incomparable Site: From College Edifice to College Hill
Lass Gallery, Skillman Library
In the first volume of The Biography of a College, historian David Bishop Skillman characterizes College Hill as “…this incomparable site. No American college can boast a better one.” This exhibition features early engravings, maps, and photographs from the Lafayette College Archives and documents the evolution of the built environment on campus throughout the 19th century.

7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Exhibit: We’ll Gather by the Twilight’s Glow: 200 Years of Community at Lafayette College
Reference Area, Skillman Library
Historic panoramic and group photographs illustrate the growth of the Lafayette College community from its early years to the present. See our student, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustee populations transform as they gather in Convocation, Commencement, Reunion, and athletic and club photographs over the last three centuries.

8:25 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Classes@200
Various locations
Interested in the Lafayette classroom experience? Sit in on classes to learn from our stellar faculty and be a student for an hour. Ages 16 and over. Register now to receive a list of available classes prior to Kickoff Weekend.
Pre-registration required.
NOTE: Taking photos and/or video during open classroom sessions is not permitted. Thank you for your understanding.

12-5 p.m.
Exhibit: Facing Lafayette: Man, Myth, Image
Williams Center Gallery
Curated by Peter Godziela ’25 and Lillian Sampson ’27 as part of the College’s bicentennial celebration, this exhibition showcasing General Marquis de Lafayette will feature his likeness in various forms, highlighting ideals that reflect the College’s mission. Visitors can explore paintings, sculptures, and prints while our student curators present a fresh narrative that reexamines Lafayette’s story and the myths surrounding him.

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Sustainability S’mores and Tours 
LaFarm, Metzgar Campus
Head to LaFarm at Metzgar Campus for some hot chocolate, apple cider, s’mores, and a tour of Lafayette’s own farm. See the produce farmed by students and learn about the steps our team have taken with sustainability in mind.

6-10 p.m.
Marquis Founders Dinner (by invitation only)
March Field
This invitation-only dinner recognizes the generosity of alumni, parents, and friends who contribute annually at the Marquis Founders level. In celebration of the College’s bicentennial kickoff, this year’s event will feature a live band and dancing under the stars!

9-10:30 a.m.
LaFarm to Table Breakfast
LaFarm Greenhouse, Metzgar Campus
Join the Sustainability Alumni Affinity Network for a breakfast reception at LaFarm Greenhouse. The meal will be prepared with fresh, locally grown ingredients from LaFarm, as well as locally sourced ingredients. After breakfast, guests will enjoy a walking tour of LaFarm and have the opportunity to pick their own flowers.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited.
Registration fee: $40 for Young Alumni and $50 for General

10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Exhibit: Lafayette 200: A Bicentennial History of Lafayette College 
Simon Room, Skillman Library
Take a step back in time and learn about the founding of Lafayette College, the evolution of our curriculum, the birth of athletics and student organizations, our resilience in the face of wars and financial crises, the impacts of the civil rights movement and coeducation, and more. Key documents, images, and artifacts from the Lafayette College Archives trace historic events that contributed to the development of one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the nation.

10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Exhibit: This Incomparable Site: From College Edifice to College Hill
Lass Gallery, Skillman Library
In the first volume of The Biography of a College, historian David Bishop Skillman characterizes College Hill as “…this incomparable site. No American college can boast a better one.” This exhibition features early engravings, maps, and photographs from the Lafayette College Archives and documents the evolution of the built environment on campus throughout the 19th century.

10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Exhibit: We’ll Gather by the Twilight’s Glow: 200 Years of Community at Lafayette College
Reference Area, Skillman Library
Historic panoramic and group photographs illustrate the growth of the Lafayette College community from its early years to the present. See our student, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustee populations transform as they gather in Convocation, Commencement, Reunion, and athletic and club photographs over the last three centuries.

10-11 a.m.
Campus Architecture Tour
Depart from Farinon Student Center steps 
Take a walking tour of campus with Mary Wilford-Hunt, Senior Associate Director of Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations, and licensed architect, that highlights the architectural history of our buildings at Lafayette.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited.

10-11:30 a.m.
Campus Sustainability Tour
Depart from Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center entrance
Join this guided tour on a journey through sustainability lifestyle at Lafayette. From our pollinator gardens to refillable water bottle stations, find out how Lafayette students embody care for their surroundings and turn campus into a living laboratory.

Guides: Delicia Nahman, Director of Sustainability, Samantha Comas, Sustainability Outreach and Engagement Manager

Pre-registration required. Space is limited.

10-10:45 a.m.
Easton Historic District Walking Tour
Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton Street 
This fun 45-minute stroll through downtown Easton hosted by the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society will explore the town’s history. Beginning with its Lenape roots, through its colonial beginnings, and the Victorian heyday, this tour explores the development of Easton as an urban, diverse community.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited.

10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Bicentennial Treasures from Special Collections & College Archives
Rothkopf Reading Room, Skillman Library
Join us for this rare opportunity to view some of the earliest artifacts and documents preserved in Skillman Library’s Special Collections & College Archives. This display will feature selections relating to Lafayette College’s founding as well as the 2026 collaborative exhibition with the National Archives of France, “Lafayette between France and America: History and Legend.”
Limit admission to 30 guests in the room at a time; queuing may be required

10-10:30 a.m.
The Lafayette College Bicentennial Art Commission: A Sneak Peek with Elaine Stomber
Gendebien Room, Skillman Library
Join College Archivist Elaine Stomber for an insider view of the Bicentennial Art Commission and a preview of a special work in progress by one of the most internationally acclaimed American female artists of our time.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited.

10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Easton Cemetery Tour
Easton Cemetery, 401 North 7th Street
Learn about our historic chapel and mausoleum, George Taylor, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Traill Green, founder of the Easton Cemetery, a medal of honor recipient from the Civil War, the founders of Lafayette College, and many Easton notables. This special walking tour is our tribute to the remarkable men and women who have helped make Lafayette College so special, and to the College itself for being such an important part of Easton.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited.

10:30-11:30 a.m.
Easton Historic District Walking Tour
Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton Street 
This fun 45-minute stroll through downtown Easton hosted by the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society will explore the town’s history. Beginning with its Lenape roots, through its colonial beginnings, and the Victorian heyday, this tour explores the development of Easton as an urban, diverse community.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited.

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Campus Sustainability Tour
Depart from Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center entrance
Join this guided tour on a journey through sustainability lifestyle at Lafayette. From our pollinator gardens to refillable water bottle stations, find out how Lafayette students embody care for their surroundings and turn campus into a living laboratory.

Guides: Delicia Nahman, Director of Sustainability,
Samantha Comas, Sustainability Outreach and Engagement Manager

Pre-registration required. Space is limited.

11-11:30 a.m
Preview of Paris Exhibition with Olga Anna Duhl, Oliver E. Williams Professor of Languages
Gendebien Room, Skillman Library
On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America (1776) and the Bicentennial of Lafayette College (1826), the National Archives of France and Lafayette College will present Lafayette between France and America: History and Legend—an exhibition dedicated to the “hero of two worlds” and the political role that he played in both America and France for more than half a century. Come learn more about this special exhibition, to be held at the National Archives in Paris from April 1 to July 14, 2026.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited.

11-11:45 a.m.
Arborist Tour of Campus
Departs from the High Street side of Markle Hall
Enjoy a 45- to 60-minute walking tour showing a comprehensive overview of the campus landscape, including sustainability efforts, new landscape projects and design methods as they pertain to water conservation, LEED certification, use of native/naturalized species, and plant palettes. This tour covers all plant species, not just trees specifically, and provides a thorough explanation of “what plant goes where” as well as a description of new industry standards as they pertain to institutional application.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited.

11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Easton Historic District Walking Tour
Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton Street
This fun 45-minute stroll through downtown Easton hosted by the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society will explore the town’s history. Beginning with its Lenape roots, through its colonial beginnings, and the Victorian heyday, this tour explores the development of Easton as an urban, diverse community.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited.

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Campus Architecture Tour
Depart from Farinon Student Center steps 
Take a walking tour of campus with Mary Wilford-Hunt, Senior Associate Director of Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations, and licensed architect, that highlights the architectural history of our buildings at Lafayette.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited.

12-5 p.m.
Exhibit: Facing Lafayette: Man, Myth, Image
Williams Center Gallery
Curated by Peter Godziela ’25 and Lillian Sampson ’27 as part of the College’s bicentennial celebration, this exhibition showcasing General Marquis de Lafayette will feature his likeness in various forms, highlighting ideals that reflect the College’s mission. Visitors can explore paintings, sculptures, and prints while our student curators present a fresh narrative that reexamines Lafayette’s story and the myths surrounding him.

12-3 p.m.
La Fête Lafayette Tailgate—and so much more!
Quad
Join students, faculty, staff, alumni, families, and community members on the Quad for food, crafts, arts, and so much more. La Fête Lafayette Tailgate celebrates the Marquis de Lafayette’s French heritage. The lunch will feature a French culinary experience, including wine and cheese pairings, freshly made crepes, macarons, and more! The Quad will also feature the College’s annual Fall Fest (co-sponsored by Lafayette Activities Forum). Enjoy French jazz music as you stroll through local vendors, get your caricature done, participate in crafts, and enjoy a ride on a hot air balloon. Don’t forget to enjoy interactive crafts for the whole family—and view collections of art from our Lafayette students—at the College’s Block pARTy (co-sponsored by the Lafayette College Arts Society).
Pre-registration requested.

1 p.m.
Lafayette Men’s Soccer vs. Colgate
Gummeson Grounds, Metzgar Campus
Cheer on the Leopards! Lafayette hosts Colgate in an important Patriot League match at Gummeson Grounds.
Free admission.

3:30 p.m.
Lafayette Football vs. Princeton
Fisher Stadium
Cheer on the Leopards! Lafayette hosts Ivy League foe Princeton at Fisher Stadium.
This is a ticketed event. Purchase tickets.

7 p.m.
Lafayette Women’s Soccer vs. American
Gummeson Grounds, Metzgar Campus
Cheer on the Leopards! Lafayette hosts American in a critical Patriot League match at Gummeson Grounds.
Free admission.

8 p.m.
Headline Performance: Fitz and the Tantrums
Quad
Indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums, known for hits “HandClap,” “The Walker,” and “Out of My League,” will headline a concert.
Pre-registration requested.

10-11:30 a.m.
Legacy Brunch and Pinning Ceremony (by invitation only)
Wilson Room, Pfenning
The Lafayette Alumni Association honors the role of legacy families in continuing the Lafayette tradition.

10 a.m.-midnight
Exhibit: Lafayette 200: A Bicentennial History of Lafayette College 
Simon Room, Skillman Library 
Take a step back in time and learn about the founding of Lafayette College, the evolution of our curriculum, the birth of athletics and student organizations, our resilience in the face of wars and financial crises, the impacts of the civil rights movement and coeducation, and more. Key documents, images, and artifacts from the Lafayette College Archives trace historic events that contributed to the development of one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the nation.

10 a.m.-midnight
Exhibit: This Incomparable Site: From College Edifice to College Hill
Lass Gallery, Skillman Library
In the first volume of The Biography of a College, historian David Bishop Skillman characterizes College Hill as “…this incomparable site. No American college can boast a better one.” This exhibition features early engravings, maps, and photographs from the Lafayette College Archives and documents the evolution of the built environment on campus throughout the 19th century.

10 a.m.-midnight
Exhibit: We’ll Gather by the Twilight’s Glow: 200 Years of Community at Lafayette College
Reference Area, Skillman Library
Historic panoramic and group photographs illustrate the growth of the Lafayette College community from its early years to the present. See our student, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustee populations transform as they gather in Convocation, Commencement, Reunion, and athletic and club photographs over the last three centuries.

11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Easton Historic District Walking Tour  
Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton Street 
This fun 45-minute stroll through downtown Easton hosted by the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society will explore the town’s history. Beginning with its Lenape roots, through its colonial beginnings, and the Victorian heyday, this tour explores the development of Easton as an urban, diverse community.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited.

12-5 p.m.
Exhibit: Facing Lafayette: Man, Myth, Image
Williams Center Gallery
Curated by Peter Godziela ’25 and Lillian Sampson ’27 as part of the College’s bicentennial celebration, this exhibition showcasing General Marquis de Lafayette will feature his likeness in various forms, highlighting ideals that reflect the College’s mission. Visitors can explore paintings, sculptures, and prints while our student curators present a fresh narrative that reexamines Lafayette’s story and the myths surrounding him.