This weekend was bustling with visitors as moms came to campus for Ohio University’s annual Moms Weekend. The university curated various events for the weekend, even collaborating with local businesses and vendors.
Crowded streets, packed businesses and rainy weather marked the busy weekend as students introduced their mothers to their favorite spots on campus. Events included pop-up markets, group exercise classes and arts and crafts for students and moms to attend.
Lisa Miller, mother to a sophomore at OU, attended several events with her daughter, including The Food Show at Nelson Commons, an airing of “Mamma Mia!” at The Athena Cinema and the Spring Art and Craft Market at University Courtyard.
“We did end up deciding to go to The Food Show and the thrift market, and that was really nice to see everybody being able to promote themselves for things,” Miller said.
Interacting with many Athens residents, Miller’s mind was put at ease as she saw the people who surround her daughter throughout the school year.
“The community seems really supportive and that's very helpful for someone having a child so far away from them,” Miller said. “I thought I got used to it last year, but I guess not. This year is just as hard. Being able to be around the people that she gets to interact with at least semi-regularly, and seeing that they're actually good people is great.”
Many mothers became subject to the nightlife in Athens. Students wandered to the local bar scene and created lines as far as the eye can see in hopes of letting loose with their moms.
People gather in front of Jennings House for the Ohio University ceramics sale during Moms Weekend, April 5, 2025.
“We met up with my friends, their moms came down too, and we hung out in their dorm for a little and then we went out on Court Street,” Hannah Crevling, a junior studying business pre-law, said. “We ended up going to the bars. We ended up going down to Cat's Corner on Union Street, because the lines were just so long for any of the bars.”
Crevling also loved taking her mom to hang out with her friends and their moms. The two attended group reservations at Shade Winery and spent some time at an Airbnb.
“It was cute because all the girls are friends, all the moms are friends,” Crevling said.
Others took Moms Weekend as an opportunity to have a little get away. Madison Palmer, a sophomore studying psychology, spent most of her time with her mom staying at an Airbnb 40 minutes outside of Athens.
“We just hung out there, and occasionally we drove into Athens to do certain activities, like we went and got pedicures and then we went and got dinner,” Palmer said.
Although Palmer mentioned her mom does not frequently visit OU due to the distance of a two-hour drive, Palmer herself goes home quite often to combat homesickness.
“I think by having my mom come up, or my parents in general, I think having them come to Athens helps,” Palmer said. “I just think being with my family is always just something that I enjoy, and I don't always get that in Athens.”
Moms Weekend is a special event for moms to experience the campus atmosphere, albeit much busier than usual, and spend time with their children who spend most of the year in Athens.
