Stanford welcomes parents, guardians, and relatives to campus for Family Weekend. (Image credit: Trever Tachis)

Stanford is gearing up for Family Weekend 2024, which will take place on campus this Friday, Feb. 23, and Saturday, Feb. 24. Approximately 5,500 people are expected to attend.

Each year, the event invites parents, guardians, relatives, and other loved ones of Stanford’s undergraduate students to visit campus and learn about life on the Farm. Programming includes campus tours, panel discussions, social events, dining in residence halls, and a resource fair.

“Family Weekend is a wonderful opportunity for your students to show you around our campus and introduce you to all of the things that make Stanford special to them,” President Richard Saller wrote in a recent message to families. “You’ll share a meal with your student in the dining hall, get to know their neighborhoods and residences, and meet their friends and peers.”

Family Weekend is coordinated by Stanford’s Office of Special Events & Protocol. The event is free and all programming will take place rain or shine.

Families visit the Farm

Check-in begins Friday at 8:30 a.m. at the Arrillaga Center for Sports & Recreation, where families can pick up Family Weekend access badges, which are required for anyone attending official events and visiting dorms and dining halls.

At 10 a.m., President Saller and Provost Jenny Martinez will deliver welcome remarks and participate in a Q&A session. From 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., guests are invited to enjoy lunch with their student in their residence.

In the afternoon, Dr. Shashank Joshi, assistant vice provost for academic well-being and a current Stanford parent, will host a panel discussion called “Frosh Talk” with Stanford administrators who are dedicated to supporting first-year students. The event is at 1:30 p.m. at Memorial Auditorium.

Parents and guardians of students majoring in the arts and humanities are invited to a panel discussion about career pathways and Stanford’s many resources to assist humanities students with their career exploration. The event is from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at CEMEX Auditorium at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Throughout the weekend, families are invited to take self-guided tours and attend numerous open houses, including at the Haas Center for Public Service, the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking, Disability Community Spaces (DisCo), and Hillel at Stanford. Families are also welcome to visit Stanford’s many community centers, including The Markaz, the Women’s Community Center, and El Centro Chicano y Latino. Docents will lead tours of the Stanford d.school, Memorial Church, and Denning House, among other locations.

Saturday’s program will include a Resource Fair from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Arrillaga Center for Sports and Recreation. Attendees can connect with university resources, services, and programs that enhance the student experience at Stanford, including the Financial Aid Office, the Bing Overseas Studies Program, Mind Over Money Stanford Financial Wellness, Stanford Career Education, and Vaden Health Center, among others.

Other Saturday events include talks about arts initiatives at Stanford, how the university is supporting mental health and well-being, and a discussion about 2024 elections and the state of global democracy.

Family Weekend will wrap up Saturday afternoon with the Cardinal Student Showcase, which will take place at lunchtime at Meyer Green and Canfield Courtyard. The event will include student performances, outdoor games, food, snacks, and a photo booth. The event will coincide with a student-led trivia contest and live performances by student bands at the Arbor at Tresidder Memorial Union.

Throughout the weekend, families are also welcome to attend a variety of regularly scheduled events across campus that are not part of the official Family Weekend program. These include arts performances and workshops and a book talk. There are also several athletic games happening throughout the weekend, including women’s basketball vs. Arizona on Friday, and men’s basketball vs. Oregon State on Saturday. Both games will be played at Maples Pavilion. Further details and a list of events are available online.

Stanford Parents’ Club centennial

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Stanford Parents’ Club. The organization was founded in 1924 by a group of Stanford mothers and has since grown to nearly 10,000 members from more than 50 countries, including mothers, fathers, and guardians of Stanford students.

The club has a deep culture of volunteerism and often works with the university to support Stanford families. The club offers opportunities to learn, connect, and socialize both on and off-campus, as well as online. All Stanford parents and guardians are welcome to join, and membership is free.

To mark the centennial, the club will host a special celebration on Friday at 5 p.m. at Burnham Pavilion. The event is sold out.