Late last night, freshman Kirby Bumpus finally turned off the vacuum cleaner and began putting neatly folded stacks of shirts, jeans and sweaters in her dresser.

“I’ve spent about three to four hours cleaning my room already,” Bumpus said with a sheepish smile but without stopping. “It’s still not done.”

On the eve of parents’ arrival, there were probably many other students across campus in the same situation: vacuuming, tidying, fixing and organizing their rooms to be presentable.

Beginning today until Saturday, nearly 3,000 parents are expected to set foot on the Farm for Parents’ Weekend 2005. The annual event, sponsored by the Office of the President and Provost and coordinated by University Communications, is designed to let parents of undergraduates see their children’s natural habitat during the school year.

Along with Reunion Homecoming, Commencement, New Student Orientation and Admit Weekend, Parents’ Weekend is considered one of Stanford’s “Big 5” events.

During the dozens of activities planned for today and tomorrow, parents will be able to meet University President John Hennessy and Provost John Etchemendy, socialize with other parents, tour the campus and attend lectures and classes taught by Stanford faculty.

Many parents will begin arriving this evening to settle in and attend the Writing Center’s annual “Celebration of Writing” event in Margaret Jacks Hall. Both parents and students will read their own original works and original music will be performed.

Assistant Director of the Writing Center Wendy Goldberg expects three or four sets of parents and children to read their works tonight.

“The students speak in their own voices and you get a real feel for their interests and concerns,” Goldberg said. “You get a real cross-section of students and interests.”

Nearby hotels are prepared for the annual influx of visitors. The Westin on El Camino, directly adjacent to Palm Drive and the Stanford campus, has been completely booked for tonight and possibly for tomorrow, according to a front desk clerk.

“Every year we see a big increase in reservations over Parents’ Weekend,” Michele Lucien of Westin Guest Services said. “The high times are probably graduation, football season and then Parents’ Weekend.”

On Friday at 9:30 a.m., Etchemendy will welcome the parents and deliver a talk entitled “What Stanford Means by Multidisciplinary.”

The talk will be followed by three “Conversations with Parents” sessions planned for parents of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. On Friday afternoon, Hennessy will deliver an address and field questions from the audience.

Despite the packed schedule of events planned by the University, many parents will likely opt to spend some time off campus with their children. As the horde of parents arrive, some students admitted feeling slightly burdened, while others eagerly anticipate seeing their parents again.

Bumpus, for one, is already sure what she will do with her mom.

“She’s very excited and I can’t wait for her to come,” she said. “We’ll do some shopping, definitely.”

To wrap things up on Saturday afternoon, four student groups will perform in the “Entertainment Extravaganza” sponsored by the Stanford Parents’ Club. The show will feature the Stanford Fleet Street Singers, Cardinal Whirlwinds, Stanford Improvisors and Stanford Taiko. As a final farewell party, parents are invited to The Parents’ Club Reception, co-hosted by the Stanford Alumni Association at the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center.