Yes. If you are planning to attend Fall Family Weekend please register all family members that will attend so that we can provide name tags and plan for meals.
We are pleased to welcome parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends to enjoy the Cushing experience at Fall Family Weekend.
Save the Date for Fall Family Weekend 2026!
Friday + Saturday
October 30-31, 2026
At the height of fall foliage, we invite parents and family of Cushing students to campus to get a first-hand sense of the Cushing experience at Fall Family Weekend. The weekend includes in-class visits, meetings with teachers and advisors, arts showcases, athletic events, and a parent reception with our Head of School.
Mark your calendars now! It's an event you won't want to miss.
Weekend Highlights
- Class visits. Sit in on abbreviated versions of your student’s classes on Friday to get a sense of academic life at Cushing.
- Meetings with teachers and advisors. Schedule appointments with the people at Cushing who work with your student every day. (Appointments will open to registered families about two weeks prior to October 30. College Counseling appointments are for families of senior and PG students only.)
- Enjoy meals with students and faculty in our bustling dining commons.
- Head of School Reception. Meet fellow parents under the tent Friday evening for an adults-only gathering.
- Athletics. Cheer the Penguins on at their home matches!
- Performing Arts Showcase featuring student performers.
- Open House at the Emily Fisher Landau Center for the Visual Arts. Marvel at the talent of Cushing's student artists.
Making Plans
Lodging options in the area are extremely limited. We recommend that you book as soon as possible. Please see a list of options below as well as a list of places to eat in the area.
Hotels
The Colonial Hotel
625 Betty Spring Road
Gardner, MA 01440
(978) 630-2500
6.5 miles
Great Wolf Lodge
150 Great Wolf Drive
Fitchburg, MA 01420
(978) 343-9653
9 miles
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
99 Erdman Way,
Leominster, MA 01453
(978) 534-9000
14 miles
Springhill Suites by Marriott – Devens Commons Center
27 Andrews Parkway
Devens, MA
(978) 772-3030
23 miles
Inns and Bed and Breakfasts
The Maguire House
30 Cobb Rd.
Ashburnham, MA 01430
(978) 827-5053
1.5 miles
Howarth House Bed and Breakfast
81 Ross Street
Fitchburg, MA
(978) 342-2851
10 miles
Cranberry Meadow Farm Inn
5 Old Street Road
Peterborough, NH
(603) 784-5766
20 miles
The Monadnock Inn
379 Main Street
Jaffrey, NH 03452
(603) 532-7800
20 miles
Restaurants
The Tavern on Central
3 Central Street
Ashburnham, MA
(978) 827-1272
.5 miles
The Gardner Ale House
74 Parker Street
Gardner, MA
(978) 669-0122
6.5 miles
Blueprint – American Bar & Grill
10 Village Square
Westminster, MA
(978) 668.5580
7 miles
The 1761 Old Mill
69 State Road East
Westminster, MA
978.874.5941
7.5 miles
Sawa Asian Bistro
360 Timpany Boulevard
Gardner, MA
(978) 632-3888
10 miles
Brady's - Chef Inspired Cuisine
37 Mechanic Street
Leominster, MA
(978) 537-7111
13 miles
Logan's Table
16 Central Street
Leominster, MA
(978) 401-2962
13 miles
Seoul Kitchen
20 Central Street
Leominster, MA
(978) 962-4180
13 miles
Fall Family Weekend FAQs
Do I have to register to attend Fall Family Weekend?
Can grandparents and siblings attend?
Absolutely! All family members are welcome.
How do I make appointments with teachers and advisors?
You can schedule individual meetings with teachers and advisors. The system is called Pick-a-Time. To access Pick-a-Time please login to MyCushing and go to the RESOURCE board. When the Pick-a-Time is available (a few weeks before Fall Family Weekend), you will see a yellow post-it note icon. If you are unable to attend or fit an appointment into your schedule you may email a teacher for a phone call or Zoom appointment after the weekend.
Can I take my student off campus?
Yes. A student can leave campus (after checking out properly using the REACH system) after their last commitment for the weekend. Students will not be excused from an athletic game. It is a long weekend. Boarding students should return by Tuesday, November 2 by 7:30 pm. (Varsity practices begin at 2:00 pm on November 2, so varsity athletes should plan to be on campus earlier on Tuesday.)
Can students stay on campus all weekend?
Yes. Not all students have family attending and will be on campus. Dorms are open and supervised and meals and activities are planned.
What is the dress code for Fall Family Weekend?
Fall Family Weekend is all about comfort and showing your Penguin spirit by wearing Cushing garb or purple and white if you have it!! The dress code is casual, even for the reception. You will do a lot of walking around campus so please wear comfortable footwear.