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On the last Friday in February, the line outside Memorial Auditorium starts early. Parents in red lanyards wait to hear the university president, then scatter across campus with their students for lunch in the dining halls. By evening there are receptions in dorm lounges. Saturday brings faculty talks, a resource fair and a student showcase on the lawn. This is Stanford Family Weekend, the event many families still call parents' weekend. It is one of the five big campus weekends Stanford plans each year.
This guide covers who can attend, how registration works, what the most recent weekend looked like and how to handle hotels and transportation. The 2027 Family Weekend is on Friday, February 26 and Saturday, February 27. For how it compares with commencement and the other big weekends, see our guide to Stanford event weekends.
What Family Weekend is
Family Weekend gives parents, guardians and other relatives a two-day look at their student's life at Stanford. Stanford's Office of Special Events and Protocol, at 326 Galvez Street, organizes it. The weekend is open to families of currently enrolled undergraduates in all four class years, so it is not only for first-year families.
The program mixes the official and the personal. Stanford lists conversations with university leaders, faculty lectures, panel discussions, student life open houses, residence hall receptions and student performances. Just as important is the unscheduled time: meals with your student, a walk around their part of campus and meeting their friends.
The university calls Family Weekend a long-standing tradition but does not publish the year it began, so we do not give one.
The 2027 weekend
| Detail | 2027 |
|---|---|
| Dates | Friday, February 26 and Saturday, February 27 |
| Who can attend | Families of current undergraduates, up to four per student |
| Cost | Free; some games and performances are ticketed |
| Registration | Required for campus visits, events and buildings; details posted at the end of autumn quarter |
| Detailed schedule | Shared toward the end of autumn quarter |
Parents and guardians listed as student contacts are added to the Family Weekend email list automatically unless they opted out. If nothing arrives by late autumn, check your spam folder, then ask your student to email the Family Weekend office to add you. Details are on the Family Weekend site.
What the 2026 weekend looked like
The 2026 weekend on February 27 and 28 gives a good picture of the format. Stanford Report said more than 5,500 visitors were expected, the highest turnout since before the pandemic. The weekend ran rain or shine and, as it turned out, in record-breaking heat, according to The Stanford Daily.
Friday
- 11 a.m. welcome in Memorial Auditorium with the president and provost, livestreamed to an overflow room for those who could not get a seat.
- Lunch in the dining halls with students at 12:30 p.m.
- Drop-in hours with student affairs leaders in the Oak Lounge at Tresidder Memorial Union.
- Residence hall receptions at 4 p.m. to meet resident fellows and resident assistants.
- Evening options such as a Stanford Parents' Club pizza party and Shabbat services with a kosher dinner.
Saturday
- Resource fair with academic advising, financial aid, Vaden Health Center and Bing Overseas Studies.
- Faculty talks on subjects that ranged from global democracy and AI to ocean sustainability.
- Cardinal Winter Showcase at 3 p.m. on Meyer Green and Canfield Court with games, snacks and student performers.
- Evening shows, including a comedy night and the third annual Young Choreographers Festival.
Through the weekend, families could take self-guided campus tours and a limited number of guided tours of the Cantor Arts Center, Memorial Church, the O'Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm and backstage at Frost Amphitheater. The Parents' Club also led a walk around the Dish.
Tips for the weekend
- Register as soon as it opens. No one gets in on the day without registration.
- Get to the Friday welcome early. Seats in Memorial Auditorium are limited. The overflow livestream is a fine backup.
- Ask your student what they want you to see. A dorm, a lab or a favorite cafe often means more than the official schedule.
- Book guided tours quickly. In 2026 the Cantor, Memorial Church and farm tours were limited.
- Leave little ones a plan B. Stanford says the program is not geared to young children.
- Pack layers. Late February can bring rain or, as in 2026, unusual heat.
A sample plan for the two days
The official schedule changes each year, but the 2026 program suggests a workable shape. Adjust it once Stanford posts the 2027 details.
- Thursday evening: arrive, check in at your hotel and pick up anything Stanford asks you to collect in advance.
- Friday morning: head to the welcome event, then meet your student for lunch in their dining hall.
- Friday afternoon: drop in on an open house or office hours, then go to the reception in your student's residence.
- Friday night: dinner off campus, or an evening event such as the Parents' Club gathering.
- Saturday morning: one or two faculty talks and the resource fair, with time for a guided tour if you booked one.
- Saturday afternoon: the student showcase, then a quiet hour in the Rodin garden or a walk to see your student's favorite corners of campus.
First-year families get the most from the residence receptions and the resource fair. Families of seniors often skip the big sessions in favor of time with their student and their friends before graduation.
Parking and Caltrain
Stanford posts check-in, parking and transportation details on the Family Weekend site and app before the weekend. Visitor parking on campus is paid through ParkMobile by zone, with many central zones free on evenings and weekends. Our Stanford parking and transit guide explains how it works.
From San Francisco or San Jose, Caltrain is a calm alternative to driving. Get off at Palo Alto station and walk up Palm Drive to the Main Quad in about 20 minutes, or use the free Marguerite shuttle, which runs its main lines on weekdays only. Friday riders can use it. Saturday visitors should plan to walk, bike or drive.
Hotels and the week around it
Family Weekend is busy but more manageable than commencement. A month or two of lead time usually works, though rooms closest to campus go first. Our guide to staying near Stanford lists the options, or you can compare hotels near Stanford for Family Weekend and pick a refundable rate.
The weekend before is the student-run Stanford Viennese Ball, set for Friday, February 19, 2027 in San Francisco, so some families with student dancers make a longer trip of it. Our February guide covers weather and other events that month.
What to do nearby
The Cantor Arts Center is free and open Thursday through Monday, so it fits both days of the weekend. Next door, the Rodin Sculpture Garden is outdoors and open all day. If you have a free Saturday morning, the Dish loop in the foothills gives a view over campus and the bay. In the evening, downtown Palo Alto on University Avenue is a short drive away for dinner with your student. Book a table ahead, since restaurants near campus fill quickly on Family Weekend.
Frequently asked questions
When is Stanford Family Weekend 2027?
Stanford lists Family Weekend 2027 for Friday, February 26 and Saturday, February 27. The 2026 edition was on February 27 and 28. Stanford says registration details will be posted at the end of autumn quarter.
Do I need to register for Stanford Family Weekend?
Yes, if you plan to be on campus. Stanford requires registration for anyone visiting campus, attending events or entering buildings during the weekend. There is no day-of registration on site. Family members watching from home do not need to register.
How many family members can attend?
Stanford asks each undergraduate to bring no more than four family members. The weekend is open to the families of currently enrolled undergraduates in all four class years.
Is Stanford Family Weekend good for young children?
Stanford says the activities are not geared toward young children. Siblings can come within the four-person limit, but most of the program is lectures, panels and receptions. Families with small children often plan breaks at nearby parks or the Junior Museum and Zoo.
Does Stanford Family Weekend cost anything?
Family Weekend activities are free and most campus attractions are free. Some campus events that weekend, such as athletic events and arts performances, need their own tickets.