What you need to know about Family Weekend 2018

Stanford Family Weekend is Feb. 23 and 24

Family Weekend, which will be held Feb. 23 and 24, annually draws more than 3,000 visitors to campus. The following is information we hope family members planning to attend find useful.

If we didn’t register by the deadline, can we still come?

Yes. If you haven’t registered in advance, you can check in at the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center and do onsite registration. But definitely register. Only those who register can attend Family Weekend events. Advance registration enables us to plan for room sizes, food orders and so on. But family members are welcome to join us even if they did not have the opportunity to register in advance.

What happens during Family Weekend, and are there any events designed for younger siblings?

Be sure to visit the online schedule of events. There are a plethora of activities-from special campus tours to Back to School classes to a resource fair that aggregates all the Stanford offices that interact with parents and guardians. It’s one-stop shopping for all your questions. The president and provost also will be on hand to talk to parents and guardians during the weekend, as will administrators who specialize in everything from academic advising to career services to campus food offerings. Unfortunately, we do not offer specific activities for younger siblings, although we suspect many of high school age will enjoy some of the Back to School Classes and the opportunity to interact with faculty members who specialize in such subjects as virtual reality. We are confident the entire family will enjoy the Entertainment Extravaganza!, which wraps up the weekend.

Where can we park?

As in the past, parking is at the Galvez Lot at the intersection of Galvez and Campus Drive, which is across the street from the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center.

Will I be able to get Internet access on campus?

Yes. Family members are able to join the “Stanford Visitor” network for free access to the Internet while on campus. With the Stanford Visitor network, you can use the university’s wireless network to access the Internet while on campus. The visitor network offers limited bandwidth and sessions are limited to 12 hours. Services are limited to email, web browsing, VPN and SSH.

How to get online
1. Select the SSID Stanford Visitor from your device’s list of available wireless networks.
2. Open a browser and load any URL; you will be redirected to an access page (on a mobile phone, the access page should open automatically).
3. Click Accept to acknowledge the terms of use. Your browser will be sent to a confirmation page and from there you can get online.

How should we dress for Family Weekend?

All events are informal. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. The events are located throughout campus. Bring an umbrella because the Bay Area can be rainy in February. We advise dressing in layers. It is often cool in the mornings and evenings but can be quite warm midday.

Groups performing in the Entertainment Extravaganza include Alliance Streetdance, Cardinal Calypso, Kaorihiva, Raagapella, Stanford Light Opera Company and Swingtime.

Visit the Family Weekend FAQ page to learn more. For any questions about the weekend, email familyweekend@stanford.edu or call the information line at (650) 736-9018.