Thank you to the parents, families and friends who attended the Families Weekend 2026 events! We look forward to seeing you next year.

FAQ & Resources

We are excited to welcome Rice families to campus Oct. 2-4 for Families Weekend. Use these resources to help plan your visit.

FAQ:

Do I need to register in advance for Families Weekend?
Yes, we strongly encourage you to register in advance. Walk-up registration is available at Headquarters and Check-in located in Moody Center for the Arts. There will be an additional $5 charge for walk-up registrations for the tailgate. We strongly encourage advance registration so our support teams can provide each attendee with an unforgettable experience.

If registering in advance, please be advised that the deadline for canceling registration and receiving a refund is Friday, September 25.

Please note that walk-up registration is a cashless process. Additionally, we are not able to accept payments using Apple Pay or Venmo. Credit and debit payments only.

Does my Owl need to register for Families Weekend events?
Yes. We ask that all attendees, including current students, register so we can provide the best experience and accommodations for everyone.

Where do I check in for Families Weekend?
Upon your arrival, check in at Families Weekend Headquarters located in Moody Center for the Arts during the hours noted below. At this location, you will be able to pick up name badges, ask questions and/or make any registration modifications.

Friday
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Please note: for walk-up registration, we are unable to accept payments using Apple Pay or Venmo. Credit and debit payments only.

At Headquarters, you can also visit our Families Give Back table to support Rice students. Donate gently used professional clothing to the Career Closet at the Center for Career Development, nonperishable food and hygiene products to The Pantry, or make a monetary gift to The Rice Fund. Your support helps ensure every Rice student has opportunities to thrive. To learn more about how you can contribute, see “What items can I bring for the Families Give Back initiative?” below.

Is parking available on campus during Families Weekend?
Parking is free in West Lot 4 during Families Weekend. Additional parking is available in West Lot 3 and Greenbriar Lot. Show the gate attendant your Families Weekend registration or badge for entry.

Can I attend class with my student during Families Weekend?
In keeping with Rice’s interpretation of FERPA, classes are closed to visitors, so family members and guests may not attend. However, the Saturday faculty lectures from 11 a.m.- noon offers a chance to hear from professors and get a glimpse into the classroom experience at Rice.

Why do some Families Weekend events require a separate registration?
In addition to the featured Families Weekend programming, many schools, organizations and residential colleges across campus host their own events to enhance the experience. Some of these activities require separate registrations to help organizers plan accordingly, but all are part of what makes Families Weekend fun, vibrant and uniquely Rice. Check out these campus events.

What items can I bring for the Families Give Back initiative?

Visit our Families Give Back table at Headquarters to support Rice students through our campus partners: the Career Closet at the Center for Career Development, The Pantry and The Rice Fund. Your contributions help ensure every Rice student has opportunities to thrive. More information about our campus partners and their immediate needs is below.

Center for Career Development (CCD) Career Closet: Help Rice students look and feel their best for interviews, career fairs and internships. The Career Closet provides free, gently used professional clothing donated by the Rice community.

• Immediate needs:
  • Business suits, slacks and skirts
  • Blazers, jackets and sport coats
  • Blouses and button-up dress shirts
  • Scrubs
  • Ties and belts
  • Black handbags, totes, messenger bags and portfolios
  • New or gently used dress shoes

The Pantry: The Pantry provides free, anonymous access to nonperishable food and hygiene products for Rice students, faculty, staff and community members.

• Immediate needs:
  • Canned chicken and tuna
  • Cereal
  • Pasta and rice
  • Seasonings
  • Deodorant
  • Laundry detergent
  • Soap and toiletries

The Rice Fund: Your gift to The Rice Fund directly supports the student experience, from scholarships and residential college life to student clubs, graduate research, wellness programs and more. Help ensure every Rice student has opportunities to thrive.

Resources:

Lodging
Please refer to this list of Rice University area hotels.

Navigating Campus
If you need help navigating around campus, use this Interactive Map or the Rice Google Map to get you where you need to go!

There will also be printed maps available at Headquarters, located in the Moody Center for the Arts (Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

Transportation
Visitors to campus have access to Rice’s shuttle system. In addition to circling the university’s inner loop, the shuttle also connects Rice Stadium, the Annex Building, Graduate Apartments on Bissonnet and Rice Village Apartments to the rest of campus. Explore available shuttles and specific routes.

Rice Football Tickets
Your ticket to the Family Tailgate on Oct. 3 does not include entry to the Rice football game. Information to purchase game tickets is below.

Football tickets can be purchased through Families Weekend registration until Sept. 25. Digital tickets are also available through Rice Athletics until game day or at the box office. Families may sit with their students in sections 106 and 107. General admission tickets cost $20. Current Rice students get in free with a Rice ID. Children 2 and under do not require a ticket. Tickets will be delivered via Rice Athletics, and purchasers will receive an email notification when their tickets are available in their account.

For questions, please visit the Rice Owls Mobile Ticketing Guide or contact the ticket office at 713-348-OWLS (6957).

If you have additional questions, please email us at parents@rice.edu.