If your family wants to get rowdy and go join in singing “Back Home” by Andy Grammer, go with the fall. If they are looking for a relaxing weekend to see the campus and have a nice dinner, I would opt for the Spring.

Fall and spring might have a lot of differences but neither family weekend is better than the other, rather more suitable for different attitudes.

Every year WSU produces a fun weekend for all the visiting families coming to visit their loved ones in Pullman.

From big guests playing at Beasley to centering the weekend around a big game, there are always plenty of events for the families of Cougs to take part in.

But which weekend is better for those looking to have their parents visit? Some students may opt for both, but due to lodging limitations and tough travel plans, not everyone can afford that luxury.

So which weekend is better to have your parents come to town, fall or spring?

The truth of the matter is, they both have their benefits depending on what you are looking for.

In the autumn, when the leaves begin to fall, one of the most chaotic weekends of the Pullman calendar year descends upon us.

The normal buzz of a football weekend in our tiny town is tripled as it is flooded by parents coming to visit their children at WSU.

There is an unmatched excitement, the football game will be one of the highest attended of the year, the Old European will be overrun. It is a fun time to be a part of Washington State and its culture.

The community is altogether in one place, and one time. However, this comes with some drawbacks.

Pullman’s infrastructure isn’t exactly built to deal with that amount of people. You might find you and your family having long waits at restaurants and stuck in very rare Pullman traffic.

Not to mention how hard it is going to be to find a place for your family to stay, unless you want your Dad snoring on your couch or in your dorm.

So while having your family in Pullman might be the whirlwind college atmosphere your family wants to experience for the weekend, it isn’t the easiest to pull off.

Spring, on the other hand, is a lot more relaxed.

If you weren’t paying attention, and your family isn’t visiting, then you may not even realize that an event is going on.

Pullman will feel like Pullman, with no busy streets or restaurants. There may be a slight uptick in foot traffic but not one that is noticeable to the naked eye.

Whoever is visiting will still get the authentic Pullman experiences, just not on the same amplified-crazed level as it would be in the fall.

If you are looking for a more laid-back stroll around Pullman with your relatives, the spring weekend is definitely the way to go.

That is not to say that WSU doesn’t do a good job with the events that they offer in the spring.

This weekend’s headliner, Hasan Minhaj, at Beasley Coliseum may be slightly underwhelming, but just last year global star Macklemore (singer of “Same Love,” the ally anthem) made a trip to the Palouse.

WSU family weekend(s) are well run and definitely worth having your family get a taste of what your college life is like.

Whether it is better for your relatives to come to town in the spring or fall, is a matter of personal preference.