Family Weekend FAQs

Many questions about Family Weekend are answered here. For any additional questions, please call the Parent & Family Programs office at (479) 575-5002 or e-­mail us at parents@uark.edu.

When is Family Weekend?

Family Weekend 2024 will be held September 13 - 15.  Family Weekend is a great opportunity to return to campus to visit with your student, learn more about University of Arkansas programs and services and explore the Northwest Arkansas area!

What is Family Weekend?

Family Weekend is an opportunity for you and your family to return to campus and visit your student. Our office hosts a variety of events for guests to partake in, including Cardinal Nights: Casino Night, the traditional Tailgate Party and Sunday Brunch. PFA Cardinal Members also have the opportunity to attend the PFA Cardinal Member Reception on Friday Night. Food is included in your Family Weekend package and will be available at all above-mentioned events. 

How do I register for Family Weekend?

Registration will go live for Cardinal Members of the Parent & Family Association on Wednesday, July 17 @ 10:00 am CST. All other parents and family members will be able to purchase tickets on Monday, July 22 @ 10:00 am CST.

How many packages do I need to purchase?

Everyone in your family that is planning on attending any Family Weekend festivities (not including the student that is attending the University of Arkansas) will need to have a Family Weekend package.  So, if you have four people in your family (not including the student that is attending the University of Arkansas), then you would need to purchase four Family Weekend packages, regardless of age. We abide by the Razorback Ticket Center Admission Policy. According to the Razorback Ticket Center Admission Policy: All persons, including children of any age, must have a ticket for admission into Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

What events can my UARK student attend?

Your student is invited to attend all Family Weekend events (Cardinal Nights: Casino Night, Tailgate Party, Sunday Brunch and the PFA Cardinal Member Reception) with you, as long as they have their student ID. 

When will the Family Weekend schedule be finalized?

We will have a finalized event schedule until 1 week prior to Family Weekend. If you are registered for the weekend, you will receive this information via the e-mail address you used to register with. 

Can my student pick up my packet for me during check-in?

Yes, if you are unable to attend check-in for the weekend, your student can pick up your package. All your student will need to provide is the name the Family Weekend packages were registered under. Check in will be held on Thursday, September 7 , Friday, September 8 and Saturday, September 9. Specific times are listed below: 

Where can I park during Family Weekend?

Friday, September 13, 2024

Guests arriving before 5:00 PM can utilize the Campus Visitor Parking Lot located next to Silas Hunt Hall on Maple Street and the Stadium Drive Parking Garage located behind the Student Union. Please note that these are metered lots until 8:00 PM and you will have to pay to park there. From 8:00 PM – 12:00 Midnight, parking will be available in the Stadium Drive Parking Garage free of charge. This Parking Garage is attached to the Arkansas Union and will have to be vacated by 12:00 midnight due to the football game.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Due to the high volume of vehicles on campus for Razorback football games, Family Weekend participants are encouraged to park in the Entertainment District and utilize the shuttle system. There will be free and paid parking spaces available and the shuttle system will run every 15-20 minutes starting 3 hours prior to kick off.

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Parking will be available in the Garland Avenue Parking Garage free of charge. This parking garage is next to the University Bookstore on Garland Avenue and was used for parking during Orientation this summer.

When should we plan to arrive? Do families stay for the whole weekend?

Families are encouraged to arrive Friday afternoon so they can get settled, spend some time with their student and enjoy the events planned that evening. Events are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so plan to stay for the entire weekend, if you can! Events should officially begin around 2:00 pm on Friday and end on Sunday around 1:00 pm; however, optional/additional events are available before and after the indicated times.

What if I can’t come until Saturday?

Family Weekend check-in will be available on Saturday from 12:00 to 3:00pm for your convenience. If you would like, your student can pick up your packages on Thursday, September 12 or Friday, September 13. Please remind your student to provide the name the Family Weekend packages were registered under. 

I want to sit with my student at the football game. What do I need to do?

If you would like your student to sit with you and your family at the game,  you will need to purchase your student a football ticket with your specialized discount link. However, please check with them to see if they have a ticket to the game already. It is common for parents and students to enjoy the Tailgate Party together and then meet up after the game. Your student should be able to meet his/her friends before entering the student section.

I want to sit with another family at the football game. What do I need to do?

If you would like to sit with another family, then you would need to purchase all of the Family Weekend football tickets together. Tickets are distributed as they are purchased, so no seat rearranging can be accommodated to ensure a fair process.

Are refunds available?

All Family Weekend purchases are non-refundable as the programmatic events that are planned are based off of the number of reservations made.