Frequently Asked Questions

Family Weekend is an annual university event to provide families of current undergraduate students a glimpse into their student’s life and experience at Stanford.

Family Weekend is open to parents and families of currently enrolled Stanford undergraduate students in all four class years. Due to various capacity and logistical limitations, we must ask that you bring no more than four (4) family members to visit your undergraduate student during this weekend. Also, please note that activities are not geared towards young children.

Family Weekend 2023 will be held on February 24th and 25th. Registration opens on December 1, 2022 and closes at 11:59 p.m. PST on February 10, 2023. Please see the schedule at a glance for details about the weekend.

We are excited to offer the opportunity for families to visit campus on Friday and Saturday. There will be a variety of Family Weekend programs and events happening and the time you have on campus will be less structured to allow you to spend time with your undergraduate student.

There will be some in-person events that we will livestream online and/or record for viewing on the Family Weekend website, such as the Welcome Q&A with the President and Provost. Additional virtual content and links for families to explore will be added to the Family Weekend website as we approach the weekend.

PLEASE NOTE:  Online registration is required for all those who plan to visit the campus, attend events, and visit buildings in-person for Family Weekend.

There will be no on-site, walk-up, day-of registration available so it is important that you register online if you wish to attend Family Weekend in-person. Registration is free and closes at 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, February 10, 2023.

You must register in advance for Family Weekend to gain access to the in-person activities and programs offered on campus, including the ticketed Welcome Q&A with the President and Provost event. Registration ensures you will receive a Family Weekend badge to have access to events and weekend activities. Registration will also provide exclusive access to all information related to self-guided tours and venues.

Viewing virtual events does not require any prior registration.

Due to important pre-event logistical requirements, health and safety planning, and dining hall and venue access planning, on-site/day-of registration is not available for Family Weekend. We appreciate your understanding and support in helping us bring a successful weekend experience for all who plan to be on the campus in-person.

For instructions on how to update your registration through Eventbrite, please visit the Eventbrite support website. We ask that you please avoid registering online more than once, as this can create a duplicate registration for your family. Please view instructions on how to cancel your registration through Eventbrite or contact familyweekend@stanford.edu. If you still need help with or have questions about your online registration, please contact familyweekend@stanford.edu.

There is no cost to participate in Family Weekend. Additionally, there will be other free activities such as museum tours. Please note that some specific activities may require tickets to be purchased, such as certain athletic events and arts performances.

Yes, the Stanford Opportunity Fund provides one-time financial support for expenses associated with parent/guardian/family attendance at Family Weekend or a special occasion to campus. If you and your student are interested in receiving this support, please visit the FLI Office website to learn more.

Parents and guardians listed as contacts for currently enrolled undergraduate students are automatically added to our email list. If for some reason you are not on this list or didn’t receive an email we sent out, please complete this request form (verification of student information is required). Your request will be reviewed, and you may be contacted for further information. Additionally, all recent communications will be published on our website when they are sent.

Family Weekend check-in opens at 9:00 a.m. on Friday and the first event, the Welcome Q&A with the President & Provost, begins promptly at 10:30 a.m. If you are unable to arrive for the opening event, don't worry! It will be live-streamed and recorded for future viewing on this website. See the schedule at a glance for additional information to help you plan your weekend’s itinerary.

Information about traveling to campus, including directions, nearby airports, public transportation, shuttles and parking details can be found on the Plan Your Visit page.

Stanford does not reserve a room block, though some operators may offer a special rate for Stanford guests. We recommend contacting the hotels directly to inquire about special rates as all pricing and reservations are handled separately through the hotels and not by the university. Links to a general listing of accommodations in the Bay Area can be found on our Plan Your Visit page.

Free parking for the day will be provided in the Galvez Parking Lot, located across Campus Drive from the Alumni Center. It is a short distance to Arrillaga Alumni Center, the headquarters for check-in and information related to Family Weekend. Additional free overflow parking will be available in the Groves, adjacent to Galvez lot. No special pass is needed to park in these lots on these days. More information about parking and on-campus shuttles can be found on the Plan Your Visit page.

Your first stop on campus should be the Family Weekend Check-In and Information Center, located at the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center. This is where you will pick up your Family Weekend registration materials and access badge, and enjoy complimentary light refreshments to start your day. Be sure to wear your Family Weekend badge during your time on campus. It is your key to access Family Weekend activities.

Casual attire is acceptable as events are informal. Most events are accessible on foot. Please keep in mind that the campus is large, so comfortable shoes are encouraged.

The Bay Area can sometimes be rainy and cold in February. Be sure to bring a jacket and an umbrella and note that in the event of inclement weather, some activities may be canceled.

Stanford is a vibrant community and many events are organized by student groups, athletic teams and other campus organizations. Check the Stanford Events Calendar and Stanford Athletics website to see what else is happening during Family Weekend. Please note, these events are not organized by the University Family Weekend Planning Team and any inquiries about these events should be made directly to those event organizers listed. These events may require purchase of tickets or be limited to Stanford students/faculty/staff.

Campus tours will be available on a self-guided basis. You can enjoy these tours at your leisure with your student on either day during the weekend. A Family Weekend brochure with the campus map, highlights of iconic locations, and special QR codes to other Family Weekend website tour links will be available for you to make your touring plans. 

In addition, museums and other campus attractions may have scheduled special hours for self-guided tours or may be offering limited docent-led tours. Details will be shared on their websites as well as the Family Weekend website when available. Questions regarding these venues and tours should be directed to the host organization.

University academic classes are restricted to faculty and student attendees only.

Also, due to COVID health and safety restrictions, many academic buildings still may have restrictions for visitors. Information and updates will be available on the Family Weekend website.

We are planning specially hosted events at the residence halls and will continue to provide updates and protocols regarding access to student residences.

On Friday, February 24 we invite you to enjoy lunch with your student in the dining halls, compliments of Residential & Dining Enterprises. More information about these special lunches and dining halls can be found on the Residential Neighborhood Experiences page. Information about other dining options on campus and in the surrounding area can be found on our Plan Your Visit page.

Disability-related accommodations can be requested at the end of the registration process. See your confirmation email for the request form link. Please see the Disability Access & Accommodations page for additional information.

For questions about disability access, please contact:
Diversity & Access Office
For fastest response, email: disability.access@stanford.edu
Phone: (650) 725-0326

In the interest of health and safety and our Stanford residential community, if you feel sick or test positive for COVID-19, PLEASE DO NOT attend any events on campus and remain at home. At this time, there will be no verification of proof of vaccination or negative test status for Family Weekend attendees. 

Current Stanford COVID-19 policies are available on Stanford University Health Alerts. All visitors must follow the Stanford Visitor Policy and all travelers, including domestic and international, must follow the guidelines on the Stanford traveler's policy page. 

We recommend checking the following websites for current travel information and restrictions, updates and alerts:
Stanford’s current travel policies on the Health Alerts website
California State website
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website
World Health Organization (W.H.O.) website

Stanford strongly recommends masking indoors and in crowded outdoor settings regardless of vaccination status. Limited PPE will be available at the Family Weekend Information Center.

As with all policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, this guidance is subject to changing health conditions. Please visit this site regularly for updates. Visitor COVID-19 Information and Policies