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Family Weekend 2026 will be Sept. 18 - Sept. 20!
Family Weekend offers an array of opportunities to amp up your Hawkeye Pride and connect with your student's experience on campus. The weekend is open to all supporters of our students -- parents, grandparents, siblings, family friends, all are welcome!
This year, our program will take place during the weekend of Sept. 18. Registration will be available in June. For now, we hope you can save the date and plan ahead as the Iowa Hawkeyes will face the Northern Iowa Panthers in Kinnick on Saturday, Sept. 19.
To ensure you stay in the loop on all things Hawkeye Family, including updates about our upcoming Family Weekend and registration, we encourage you to subscribe to our monthly Iowa Parent and Family News email.
Family Weekend 2025 Schedule
Thursday, October 23
Live Music on the Farm (J. Knight) – 5:00–9:00 p.m. CST
- Wilson’s Orchard
- Free to attend. More info here
Iowa Women’s Field Hockey vs. Michigan State – 6:00–8:00 p.m. CST
- Grant Field
- Free to attend. Fan Appreciation Night
Pre-Family Weekend Social, sponsored by University of Iowa Center for Advancement (UICA) – 6:30–8:30 p.m. CST (LC) *
- Big Grove Brewery Iowa City
- Family Weekend registration required to attend
- Appetizers and soft drinks provided. Full food and drink menu available to purchase on your own
- Advance RSVP encouraged. RSVP form sent via email, once registered for Family Weekend
Kelsey Cook: The Happy Hour Tour – 9:30 p.m. CST ($)
Hancher Auditorium
Friday, October 24
Fall Festival & Check-In – 2:00–6:00 p.m. CST *
- International Ballroom, Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
- Family Weekend registration required in advance. There is no on-site registration available
- Snacks and activities while you pick up your materials for the weekend
Renting Rumble: Student Legal Services (SLS) and Renting in Iowa City – 4:00–5:00 p.m. CST
- Big Ten Theater (Room 348), Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
- Interactive game-show style presentation with the chance to win prizes!
Iowa City Downtown District Fall Shop Crawl – 4:00–8:00 p.m. CST
- Downtown Iowa City. Many shops will have extended hours!
- More info and tickets here ($)
Discover Study or Intern Opportunities Abroad – 5:30–6:30 p.m. CST
- Iowa Theater (Room 166), Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
- Information session to help you begin your study abroad planning
Iowa Women’s Volleyball vs. Michigan State – 6:00–8:00 p.m. CST ($)
- Xtream Arena, Coralville
- Country Night with live performance by Jordan Beem following the match
- More info and tickets here
FilmScene in the Park: Frankenweenie – 7:00–9:30 p.m. CST
- Chauncey Swan Park
- Free to attend! Outdoor movie screening with concessions available
Haunted Tractor Ride – 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. CST ($)
- Wilson’s Orchard
- New ride available every 45 minutes
- More info and tickets here
CANCELLED: Night Sky Public Observing – 8:00–10:00 p.m. CST
- Van Allen Observatory
- Cancelled due to weather/low visibility
An Evening with Magician & Mentalist Noah Sonie – 8:30–10:00 p.m. CST (LC) *
- Main Lounge, Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
- Doors open at 8:00 p.m. – early arrival encouraged
Hawkeye Family Game Night – 8:30–10:00 p.m. CST (LC) *
- Hawkeye Room, Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
- Check out our pool and foosball tables, grab a board game, or access our e-sports arcade
Saturday, October 25
Yoga Class – 7:00–8:00 a.m. CST (LC) *
- Campus Recreation & Wellness Center
- Class is open to yogis of all levels. Comfortable, loose clothing encouraged
- Visit the Membership Service desk and let them know you're there for the Family Weekend class. No entry fee required
Iowa City Farmer’s Market – 7:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CST
- Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp
- Break in your new Hawkeye Family tote bag and support local. Grab a tasty morning treat or a new treasure to remember the weekend by!
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Football Game – 2:30 p.m. ($)
- Kinnick Stadium
Game Day Grab and Go Food – 11:00 a.m. - until supplies runs out
- Rienow Hall Green Space
- Grab a slice of pizza, bottle of water, and cookie on your way to Kinnick Stadium!
- More info here
Gameday Activities – Ongoing
- Surrounding Kinnick Stadium/Melrose Avenue
- Game watch locations: Field Day Brewery, Big Grove Brewery, Joe’s Place (and many other options downtown Iowa City/surrounding areas!)
- Pre-game timeline of events and more info here
SOLD OUT: Hawkeye Village Tailgate Experience – 11:30 a.m. ($)
- Duane Banks Field
B-I-N-G-O! – 8:00–10:00 p.m. CST (LC) *
- Main Lounge, Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
- Hosted by Campus Activities Board (CAB) this event is always a staple on our campus. Join us for an evening of fun and the chance to win BIG prizes!
- Doors open at 7:30 p.m. – early arrival encouraged
Fall Fun at Wilson’s Orchard – 9:00 a.m.– 9:00 p.m. CST ($)
- Wilson’s Orchard
- Visitor info and admission prices here
Haunted Tractor Ride – 7:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. CST ($)
- Wilson’s Orchard
- New rides every 45 minutes
- More info and tickets here
Sunday, October 26
Yoga Class – 8:00–9:00 a.m. CST (LC) *
- Campus Recreation & Wellness Center
- Family Weekend registration required to attend.
Exclusive Sunday Brunch Experience – 9:00–10:00 a.m. & 10:30–11:30 a.m. CST ($) *
- Big Grove Brewery Iowa City
- Two time options. Advance ticket purchase required. Ticket link sent via email, once registered for Family Weekend
Hawkeye Family Professional Photos – 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. CST
- Pentacrest East (facing downtown Iowa City)
- Swing by to get your updated family photos! Free, high resolution images sent directly to you within minutes. Coordinate your best black and gold outfits ahead of time or show up as you are before you leave Iowa City!
Dance Marathon Brunch – 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CST ($)
Main Lounge, Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
Additional tickets available to purchase day of, at the door
Iowa Women’s Field Hockey vs. Michigan – 12:00–2:00 p.m. CST
Grant Field
Free to attend. Family Weekend registration not required. Senior Day and regular season home finale
Iowa Women’s Volleyball vs. Rutgers – 2:00–4:00 p.m. CST ($)
Xtream Arena, Coralville
Spike or Treat night
Family Weekend registration not required. More info and tickets here
Fall Fun at Wilson’s Orchard – 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. CST ($)
Wilson’s Orchard
Family Weekend registration not required. Visitor info and admission prices here
Disney’s Moana Live-to-Film Concert – 6:00 p.m. CST ($)
Hancher Auditorium
- Events marked with a dollar sign ($) require advance ticket purchase
- Events marked with an asterisk (*) require Family Weekend regsitration
- Events marked with LC indicate limited capacity at the venue. Event entry honored on a first-come, first-served basis
Additional Opportunities
Exploring Iowa City
Make sure to visit downtown Iowa City on your visit to campus. Visit the Downtown Iowa City website for more information about events happening in Iowa City.
Campus Recreation Centers
Looking to utilize campus recreational facilities and equipment? Access passes can be purchased for $6 per person when completing your Family Weekend registration and will be picked up at check-in on Friday or Saturday. Pass can be used at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, the Field House, and the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center.
Exploring Outdoors Iowa
Looking to escape downtown Iowa City and explore scenic Iowa? Then check out two exciting University locations located about 15 minutes outside of Iowa City. The Macbride Nature Recreation Area (MNRA) is a 485-acre natural area that includes 14 trails all along Coralville Lake and Lake Macbride State Park. MNRA is also home to the Iowa Raptor Project and we encourage you to visit for a self-guided tour to explore their preservation efforts and to say hello to their 17 unreleasable birds of prey.
Performing Arts at Iowa
Although our fall programming is focused on Iowa athletics and student traditions, we also know that you may want to attend one of the many performances happening on campus during Family Weekend. For a complete schedule of events during Family Weekend, check out the Performing Arts at Iowa calendar here.
Campus Museums
Throughout the weekend, make sure to check out our Campus Museums.
- UI Stanley Museum of Art Tour
160 W Burlington St, Iowa City, IA 52242
The University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art welcomes families to discover and enjoy extraordinary works of art, explore new ideas, and cultivate new insights into history, culture, and the act of creation. Self-guided tour booklets and scavenger hunts are always available at the front desk; guided tours are also available when scheduled online (here) at least one month in advance. We hope you leave the Stanley with a sense of excitement and wonder, curious to learn more about art and culture. Open 10am-4:30pm Friday and Saturday, 12:00 pm-4:30pm Sunday - UI Museum of Natural History
17 N Clinton St, Iowa City, IA 52242
Explore the magical gallery spaces of a museum that has been part of the Hawkeye experience for more than 170 years. Journey through 500 million years of our state’s geological, cultural, and ecological history in Iowa Hall where you will meet our famous museum mascot, Rusty the Giant Sloth (#SelfieWithRusty), and find our gift shop. Next, make your way up to Bird and Mammal Halls to find the real hidden treasures including the Laysan Island Cyclorama and “the whale”. Be sure to follow the museums on IG to keep up with programming and special events for students and families @pentacrest.museums. Open 10am-5pm Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday. - Old Capitol Museum
17 N Clinton St, Iowa City, IA 52242
The Golden Old Capitol is the heart of our beautiful campus in downtown Iowa City. The museum features history of our National Historic Landmark which served as Iowa's first state capitol from 1846-1857 and the University of Iowa's founding building. Be sure to visit the changing exhibits on the ground floor, too. A rite of passage for all Hawkeyes, a visit to the Old Capitol Museum is a must and a souvenir from our gift shop is a treat. Be sure to follow the museums on IG to keep up with programming and special events for students and families @pentacrest.museums. Open 10am-5pm Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Dining
For meals on your own, make sure to check out one of Iowa City’s vibrant restaurants, or you can check out one of our Market Places (Catlett, Burge, and Hillcrest) and IMU dining options. Registrants of Family Weekend can find a coupon in the program they received at check-in for lunch at one of our market places!
Places of Worship
There are many local places of worship near campus. Here are a few that have reached out and shared their service information:
St. Paul's Lutheran Chapel - The Lutheran Curch - Missouri Synd
404 E. Jefferson St., Iowa City, IA
Sunday services is at 9:00 AM
Newman Catholic Student Center
104 E. Jefferson St., Iowa City, IA
Sunday services at 9:00 AM and 11:00AM. Following both masses, there will be a free pancake breakfast with a free-will donation that benefits their weekly "Wake Up Wednesday" Brunch for students.