Brittany Kraft and her sister, Heather, have a tradition.

Brittany, sophomore mathematics and secondary education major, and Heather, senior accounting major at Bradley University, began the tradition at last year’s Family Weekend.

The two sisters took a picture together in front of Old Main.

Last year during Family Weekend, the two sisters took a picture together in front of Old Main.

Brittany said she and her sister plan on taking another picture at this year’s Family Weekend.

She said the two take a picture together at Bradley University when she visits Heather for BU’s Siblings Weekend.

Family Weekend at Eastern is a time for parents, siblings and friends to visit students and see what Eastern is all about.

Heather said she enjoyed visiting Eastern last year because she got a break from school and got to see the differences between the two universities.

The two sisters have been close throughout their lives, but Brittany thinks college life has allowed them to connect more with one another.

“We got closer once I finally came to college because then we could understand each other better,” Brittany said.

Brittany’s family came from Effingham last year to visit her and attend the weekend activities.

Brittany, who lived in Andrews Hall last year, said that was the first time her family saw her dorm and the campus, besides on move-in day.

“I walked them around campus and showed them where everything was,” she said.

Brittany and her family started out Family Weekend last year on Saturday morning. They went to the football game and supported the team by wearing blue.

For dinner Saturday night, the Kraft family ate at Jerry’s Pizza.

That night, Brittany and her family attended the Foreigner concert at Lantz Arena. Brittany said her parents knew Foreigner and spent time at the concert singing and dancing.

“It was a good thing we weren’t in the front row; I would have been very embarrassed,” she said.

Heather said she enjoyed visiting her sister and the participating in activities Eastern offered.

“It was a really nice place to see,” she said. “I had already moved back into school when (Brittany) had moved in, so it was the first time I had gotten to see the campus and where she was living.”

This year, Brittany’s family plans on visiting again for Family Weekend.

Brittany’s parents and sister are excited for the REO Speedwagon concert, which will take place Saturday night. They also plan on supporting Eastern at the football game Saturday afternoon and attending church at the Newman Catholic Center.

Ceci Brinker, director of Student Life, is responsible for the development and management of Family Weekend.

Brinker said REO Speedwagon was chosen because the music relates to the both students’ and parents’ generations.

“Their music is still very appealing, still very strong, and goes across a wide range of audiences,” she said.

In the past, Family Weekend has had performers such as Bill Cosby, Jeff Foxworthy and Aretha Franklin to relate with both age groups.

“We always try to get something that is a wide appeal in terms of entertainment for family weekend,” Brinker said.

Family Weekend started out as “Parents Weekend,” but evolved when siblings and other family members came as well. Activities have since expanded to welcome everyone.

This year, Family Weekend will include a performance by ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger.

Other activities will include a bingo game Friday evening and the football game Saturday afternoon.

Brinker said there will also be a tour of the observatory on campus, and a wine tasting event.

“There’s a wide range of activities to welcome the students and their parents,” she said.