Canisius University is welcoming back Griff Weekend from September 25-27, 2026
All alumni, families, students, faculty, staff, and future Griffs of Canisius are welcome to attend!
Graduates of class years ending in 1's and 6's will also be celebrating their class reunions. That means you, too, Class of 2026!
Registration will be open soon!
Weekend Schedule At-A-Glance
| Friday, September 25, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Time | Who Should Attend | Location | Description |
| Wehle Business School Alumni Association Reception | 5-7 p.m. | Alumni, Families, Current Students, Faculty/Staff | Grupp Fireside Lounge | Join alumni and current students of the Wehle Business School for a reception. More details to be shared soon. |
| Desmond Law Society Reception | 5-8 p.m. | Alumni in the legal profession | Lippes Mathias, 50 Fountain Plaza | Join fellow Canisius alumni in the legal profession for the Desmond Law Society Reception, an opportunity to reconnect and engage with members of our legal alumni community. |
| Class of 1976 50th Reunion Dinner | 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. | Class of 1976 | Chester HON '01 and Diane Stranczek Commons in Science Hall | Join your classmates of 1976 for a celebration reunion in the Stranczek Commons located in Science Hall. An open bar and dinner, with a carving station will be served. |
| Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner | 6-9 p.m. | Alumni and Family & Friends of Inductees | Montante Cultural Center | This event is invite only. Please contact the Office of Alumni & Constituent Engagement for questions. |
| Movie in the Quad | 8 p.m. | Alumni, Families, Current Students, Faculty/Staff | Bart Mitchell Quad | Enjoy some snacks and a classic movie, on the big screen in the Quad! Movie starts at sunset! Movie to be announced soon. |
| Saturday, September 26, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Time | Who Should Attend | Location | Description |
| Check-in | 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. | All | Richard E. Winter '42 Student Center - 1st Floor | Check-in to receive your lanyard and other Griff Weekend goodies. |
| Coffee & Conversation with President Steve K. Stoute | TBD | Alumni, Families, Current Students, Faculty/Staff | Science Hall | |
| Campus Tours for Alumni | 11:30-1 p.m. | Alumni | TBD | Following Coffee and Conversations with President Stoute, reminisce and see how the campus has evolved on your student-led tour of campus. Alumni are encouraged to attend. |
| Fall Fest | 4-7:30 p.m. | Alumni, Families, Current Students, Faculty/Staff | Bart Mitchell Quad | Join us for carnival games, food trucks, and more! |
| Class of 2001 Night Out | TBD | Class of 2001 | TBD | Join classmates from 2001 for a night out for their 25th reunion event. Time and location will be shared by the committee soon! |
| Blue & Gold Bash | 7-10 p.m. | Alumni, Families, Current Students, Faculty/Staff | Dining Hall in the Student Center | Catch up and connect with friends, alumni and the Canisius community! Enjoy live music, entertainment, and a photo booth! Food stations will be provided. More details will be shared soon! This celebration will be open to all guests and especially highlight all reunion years ending in 1 and 6. We can't wait to see you there! |
| Sunday, September 27, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Time | Who Should Attend | Location | Description |
| Mass | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Alumni, Families, Current Students, Faculty/Staff | Christ the King Chapel | Join us for Sunday service in the Christ the King chapel. All are welcome! |
| Golden Plus Brunch | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Class of 1976 graduates and earlier | Grupp Fireside Lounge | The Golden Plus Brunch celebrates Canisius alumni who have graduated 50 years ago or more. This group includes all 50th-reunion alumni from the class of 1976 and earlier. |
Sponsorship Opportunities!
Sponsorships are available for Griff Weekend! If you or your company is interested in sponsoring this weekend, please contact Liz Benkovich at @email.
Accommodations
Since there is a home Bills game the same weekend as Griff Weekend, we understand accommodations will fill up quickly. Please make your reservations as soon as possible! We have two hotels with a room block. Please call them to book your room.
Wyndham Garden Buffalo Downtown
125 High Street, Buffalo NY 14203
Group Name: Canisius University Griff Weekend (you must mention this group name when booking)
Dates: Friday, September 25 to Sunday, September 27, 2026, at a rate of $126 per night (plus tax).
Please make your reservation by August 25, 2026, to secure the room rate. Guests can either call the reservation line (877) 999-3223) or guests can book directly online on the Wyndham website (www.wyndhamhotels.com/hotels/49184) when booking the guest will need the following code which is the following GROUP/BLOCK CODE: 092526CAN
*Guests are responsible for all charges. Valet parking and airport shuttle are available for an additional fee. You can visit the website to the hotel linked here.
Best Western on the Avenue
510 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202, (716) 886-8333
Group Name: Canisius University Griff Weekend (you must mention this group name when booking)
Dates: Friday, September 25 for $249 to Sunday, September 27, 2026.
Rates: Friday night is $249 plus tax; Saturday is $285 plus tax.
Please make your reservation by August 27, 2026, to secure the room rate. Please call the hotel to book your room.
*Guests are responsible for all charges. You can visit the website to the hotel linked here.
Additional Accommodations
Alumni will receive a 20% discount to the two hotels below by mentioning their affiliation with Canisius University. Please note that booking is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fairfield Inn Buffalo Amherst/University: Marriott Find & Reserve - Choose Dates, Rooms & Rates
Comfort Inn Buffalo Airport: choicehotels.com/new-york/buffalo/comfort-inn-hotels/ny848/rates?hotel=NY848&pu=no&ratePlanCode=LCANIS
For other suggested hotels, please click here.
Dining Options
Enjoy a variety of dining options on campus. Locations and times will be shared soon!
Giving
For class years ending in 1's and 6's the weekend will be extra special as you celebrate your milestone reunions, including the class of 1976 for your 50th!
As part of your reunion celebration, we're asking alumni to participate in making a class gift to the university.
Who's Attending
Below you'll find a list of alumni who are attending Griff Weekend!
2020-2026
2010-2019
2000-2009
1990-1999
1980-1989
1970-1979
1960-1969
1950-1959
