UC Family
Weekend

Campus Recreation Center

• Friday - 6am-9pm
• Saturday - 8am-9pm
• Sunday - 10am-9pm

Registered families can show their nametag and photo ID for access to the Campus Recreation Center's facilities, including the track, cardio and weight equipment, group fitness classes, swimming pools, climbing wall, and more! Guests will have to sign a waiver. If any family members are under 18 years old, please review our Minors Policy for facility expectations listed under the “general facility rules & regulations” section. Interested in joining for a group fitness class? Check out the schedule and sign-up on the app for classes throughout Family Weekend!

Campus Recreation Center Rock Climbing Wall

• Friday, Saturday, Sunday (3-5pm)

Head on over to the Climbing Gym to scale the wall! Check in at the member services desk with your UC Family Weekend nametag. Sign the waiver at the desk in order to participate. 

Marketpointe, CenterCourt, and On the Green Dining Centers

Visit UC's dining centers throughout Family Weekend for a discounted rate or use your student's guest meal swipes. If your student lives in the residence halls and has the Residential All-Access Meal Plan, they get 15 guest meal swipes per semester included in their plan. 

Tangeman University Center, 2nd and 3rd Floor

• Friday 8am-5pm
• Saturday 10am-4pm

Students can show their UC ID for 15% off, so stock up on UC gear and goodies! 

Various Locations

Download the Goosechase app! Log in or create an account. You will enter our experience code which we will post on Friday of UC Family Weekend. Then, join as a guest or register as a user and you’re on your way!  Complete missions to earn points! The top team will receive the Grand Prize of an autographed UC football. The top 10 teams will receive a gift pack of assorted Bearcats swag, which can be picked up by your student next week!

Trabert-Talbert Tennis Center (2906 O'Varsity Way, near the Richard E. Lindner Athletics Center)

• Friday 8am-7pm
• Saturday 8am-7pm
• Sunday 8am-12pm

Come out and cheer on the Bearcats as Student Affairs and UC Adaptive Athletics welcomes some of the nation’s top collegiate wheelchair tennis players to Cincinnati! This tournament is a great opportunity to support the Bearcats, experience wheelchair tennis up close, and watch some of the best collegiate players in the country compete right here on UC’s campus. Matches will take place throughout the day on Friday and Saturday with the tournament concluding on Sunday. Check back the week of the tournament for scheduled match times!

Meyers Gallery Exhibit, Steger Student Life Center 418

• Friday, Saturday, Sunday (10am-5pm)
  
  A solo exhibition by Julia Orquera Bianco that brings together more than ten years of the artist’s work. The exhibition traces a journey through different territories and stages in Bianco’s practice, from her early experiences of migration to her most recent work in the United States. Water runs through the exhibition as a connecting thread: always the same, always different, linking us to the past through its cycles.

Reed Gallery Exhibit, DAAP 5275

• Friday, Saturday, Sunday (10am-5pm)

Long Exposure surveys the breadth and vitality of contemporary lens-based practice by alumni of the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. The exhibition draws from work created since the year 2000, tracing the range of approaches, concerns, and aesthetics that graduates carry into the broader field. The exhibition highlights the continued relevance of a program grounded in critical inquiry and expanded photographic practice.

Various Locations

Over 15 RecRe lockers across campus and in residence halls are stocked with outdoor activities and games your family can enjoy during your time on campus. The 3rd Floor TUC locker has disc golf discs available, which can be used at the nearby Burnet Woods 18-hole disc golf course. Simply scan the QR code on the set of lockers containing the item you want to rent. On your first use, you'll need to create an account, but after that, it’s simple! Just scan and go.

Tangeman University Center, 2nd Floor Food Court
10am - 2pm

The newly renovated Chick-fil-A is back and better than ever! Stop by during Family Weekend for a grand re-opening celebration featuring new menu item samples, a visit from the Chick-fil-A Cow, exclusive giveaways, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion.

DAAP Printmaking Lab (Wolfson 6335)
11am - 1:30pm

Print the final layer of a family weekend-themed mini poster in the DAAP Printmaking Lab (Wolfson 6335). No experience necessary!

455 Steger Student Life Center, Parent & Family Programs Lobby
1 - 7pm

Check in to receive your Family Weekend materials and badges to access events. If you're one of the first 4,000 to check-in, you will also receive our 2026 Family Weekend t-shirt! Look for the signs on UC MainStreet to find your way to Check-in!

UC MainStreet (near Family Weekend Check In)
1 - 4pm

Enjoy a BBQ to kick off Family Weekend! Grab hot dogs, cookies, chips, and more before setting off to enjoy today’s events. Sponsored by UC MainStreet/Campus Services.

Bearcat Commons (Rain location: Tangeman University Center, 3rd Floor Atrium)
1 - 4pm

Explore off-campus housing options for next school year and resources all in one place! Students and families can meet housing providers, ask questions, grab giveaways, and learn more about living off campus or commuting to campus. Hosted by UC’s Off-Campus & Commuter Student Engagement team, this event is all about helping Bearcats feel connected, supported, and at home—wherever they live.

Rieveschl Hall 520 and 521 (west side of the 5th floor)
1 - 4pm

Drop-in to see the nationally-recognized Oesper Collections in the History of Chemistry, one of the world’s largest curated collections of scientific artifacts, books, journals, photos, and prints related to the history of chemistry. On display, you’ll find an exhibit highlighting trailblazing women in chemistry, a period room of an 1890s chemist’s lab, rare books dating back to the 16^th century, and unique treasures like our portrait of Marie Curie signed to the students of the University of Cincinnati. Librarians will be available to discuss the collection. Enter Rieveschl (6^th floor) from the Zimmer Rooftop on the side nearest Old Chem and take the stairs down one floor to the 5^th floor and you will be right by the entrance to the Oesper Collections.

CCM Village, Baur Room
1:30pm

As part of CCM's Thinking About Music Lecture Series, Dr. Robert Clarida, attorney at Reitler, Kailas, and Rosenblatt LLP will deliver this month's lecture.

CECH Library MakerLab (Teachers-Dyer Complex 300)
2 - 4pm

Back by popular demand! Stop by the College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology for hands-on family fun! Enjoy crafts, coloring, and games! Students and families from any academic college are welcome to join.

Bearcat's Den (Steger 539)
2:30-4:30pm

Visit the Bearcat's Den to sing your heart out! Solo or group numbers welcome!

Swift Hall 620 (behind Steger Student Life Center)
3 - 4:30pm

Soul Palette art coaches will guide you in creating your UC-themed canvas masterpiece! Advance ticket purchase required.

Steger Student Life Center, Suite 480
4:30 - 5:30pm

Join the Student Wellness Center to play trivia as a individual or a team. Enjoy snacks, tea and compete for a chance to win some prizes. Rounds include: Round 1: Film, Round 2: Theatre, and Round 3: GOATs.

Tangeman University Center, Room 417
4:30 - 7:30pm

Join us for SoulCollage® Open Studio @ Family Weekend! SoulCollage® is the process of making a personal deck of cards (much like tarot!), one card at a time. In SoulCollage® we collage one aspect of our self on each card, gradually adding cards to build a very personal and meaningful SoulCollage® deck. Using magazine and other curated supplies, you will create a meaningful takeaway that represents a part of you, or follow our special Family Weekend prompt to collage about your experience of “belonging!” All materials are included. This event is led by CAPS Counselor Keysha Alston, LPCC-S, and SoulCollage® Facilitator.

Tangeman University Center, 400ABC
5 - 6:30pm

It will take every generation of the family to win this trivia game! Team Tune Trivia presents trivia across the decades (80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, and today)! May the most musical family win! 

Schneider Quad, behind Swift Hall
5 - 7pm

Join CEAS Tribunal, the College of Engineering and Applied Science student organization, for a cookout and cornhole tournament. Stop by and sign up for the cornhole tournament and compete for a chance to win a set of UC cornhole boards! Enjoy friendly competition and campus spirit with food and refreshments provided by CEAS Tribunal.

Campus Recreation Center Pool (lower level)
5 - 7pm

Join us Friday evening and enjoy a float with your float – rootbeer and other soda ice cream floats available on the pool deck for a chill hang. Don't forget your swimsuit and towel!

PNC Bank, 3rd floor Tangeman University Center
5 - 8:30pm

Bring the whole family for some Friday night fun! Pop on over for popcorn, face painting, and a photo op with PNC Bank! 

Tangeman University Center, 3rd floor atrium
6 - 8pm

Join us for a dessert bar and meet UC's Vice Provost for Student Affairs Nicole Mayo, EdD. If you're heading to our evening events, feel free to grab some treats before you head over!

Tangeman University Center, Great Hall
6 - 8pm

WIN BIG with Bearcats BingGLOW - our three-round, glowing bingo night event! Be first to get five in a row to win prizes! Don't miss this out of this popular event hosted by the Center for Student Involvement (CSI). Limited to 500 guests at a time.

Tangeman University Center, 3rd floor Atrium
6 - 10pm

Challenge your family to a little friendly competition with family game night. Take on your student or find a fellow Bearcat family to square off in your favorite family board games!

Depart/Return from UC Clermont Student Activities Lot. Travel to Downtown Cincinnati for BLINK!
6:15 - 11:45pm

Join UC Clermont to travel to downtown Cincinnati for BLINK! Bus transportation will be provided for those who wish to travel to/from campus. If you would like to take the bus, meet by 6:15pm in the parking lot of the Student Activities Center. If you would like to meet us downtown, we will communicate the meeting location and time at a later date. Walk around and see the exhibits and installations with a larger group or explore on your own. We will meet back at our drop-off location at 10:45 p.m. for the return trip to UC Clermont.

RSVP on GetInvolvedUC. This event is prioritized for students and families registered for UC Family Weekend. Students can bring up to 2 guests. Any space available as of Monday, October 5 will be opened to the larger UC Clermont community.

Tangeman University Center, 400ABC
7 - 8:30pm

It will take every generation of the family to win this trivia game! Team Tune Trivia presents trivia across the decades (80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, and today)! May the most musical family win! 

100 W. 5th St. at the Elm Street Plaza
7 - 11pm

CCM Lighting Design and Technology students Jacob Kaplan, lighting designer; Lia Lubinsky, assistant designer; Lucy Dunn, assistant designer; and Jack Walter, programmer; with faculty advisor Sharon Huizinga, CCM Associate Professor of Lighting Design and Technology will illuminate the largest continuous mural in Ohio, created by artist Tristan Eaton in 2022. The mural honors the rich spectrum of music history in Cincinnati, honoring 10 music legends in a larger-than-life representation — standing at an estimated 18,000 sq ft. The project will honor these musicians by creating a dynamic lighting spectacle through a mashup of their music.

Bearcat Commons
8:30pm - 10:30pm

Join us on the lawn for a live concert from Cincinnati's infamous Karate Girls Band! With music covered through the ages, everyone in the family will have a reason to dance! Bring your blankets and chairs for food trucks and a performance you won't want to miss! Sponsored by UC Enrollment Management.

455 Steger Student Life Center, Parent & Family Programs Lobby
9am - 12pm

Check in to receive your Family Weekend materials and badges to access events. If you're one of the first 4,000 to check-in, you will also receive our 2026 Family Weekend t-shirt! Look for the signs on UC MainStreet to find your way to Check-in!

Baldwin Hall, 6th Floor Lobby
9 - 11am

Meet representatives from the Office of the Dean, Department Heads, Advising, Professional Development and Community Impact, and faculty and staff members. Attendees can pick up exclusive CEAS swag, enter a raffle for a CEAS prize basket, and enjoy breakfast boxes, pastries, and beverages. Refreshments are available in the Baldwin Hall sixth-floor lobby for the first 250 guests.

Keating Aquatic Center, located in the Campus Recreation Center
9am

Cheer on the Bearcats in the pool against the Northern Kentucky University Norse! 

Bearcat's Den, Steger Student Life Center 539 (enter from MainStreet near TUC)
10am - 12pm

Join us to enjoy some of Cincinnati's favorite donuts and coffee while you hang out with Dean of Students Shaka Sydnor and the team from UC's Dean of Students Office. The DOS team serves as the primary student advocates for our campus and delivers timely support through a variety of programs, including crisis management, conflict resolution, and emergency response.

Center Court Dining Center, located in the Campus Recreation Center
10am - 2pm (special hours for Family Weekend!)

Experience the best of campus dining at Taste of 513, where guests can sample signature dishes from locations included in the UC Dining meal plan. This year's highlight is CincyXSeoul, our exciting new concept that brings together local Cincinnati influences and Korean-inspired cuisine.

Bearcat Commons
11am - 12pm

Bring your family to an outdoor pilates class! Bring your own mat and prepare for a traditional, body weight-based Mat Pilates in the sun. Enjoy a refreshing Poppi water and hang out with other Bearcat families after class. 

Sigma Sigma Commons
11am - 3pm

Shop 'til you drop at the Net Impact Small Business Market! Come find handmade jewelry, crochet and knit goods, vintage and retro finds, art prints, and other one-of-a-kind creations from student and local small businesses. Enjoy music and soak up the Family Weekend energy right on Sigma Sigma. Whether you're hunting for a unique find or just want to support Bearcat entrepreneurs, this is one stop you won't want to miss!

Sigma Sigma Commons
11am - 3pm

Spend your Saturday with us in one of the best and brightest spots on campus! Sigma Sigma will be full of fun with inflatables, lawn games, food trucks (for the first 500 guests) and more! Dress for the weather and come to have a good time!

Sigma Sigma Commons
11am - 3pm

Be sure to stop by the PNC Bank Booth this afternoon! Come on over to spin the prize wheel and take a silly family photo to commemorate your Family Weekend! 

Sigma Sigma Commons
1pm

Earn your bumper sticker and participate in our .5K run (yes, that says POINT zero five). See who can dash through Sigma Sigma the fastest (or the slowest!). Sure to bring laughs to the whole family!

Sand Volleyball Court outside of Dabney Hall
2-4pm

Join the fun on our sand courts and compete with other Bearcat families for a coveted Championship shirt!  Space is limited for this event. Sign up in the UC Family Portal!

UC Baseball Stadium (Jefferson Ave &, W Corry St, Cincinnati, OH 45219)
2pm

Cheer on the Bearcats for a fall ballgame as they take on the Flyers from up the road! The Stadium has a clear bag policy.

Bearcats Promise Career Studio (Tangeman University Center, Suite 310)
2:30-4:30pm

Enjoy free professional headshots! Families can also pick up quick tips on supporting their Bearcat’s career journey. Whether you’re curious about co-ops, career coaching, or just want a great photo, we’d love to meet you and share how the Career Studio helps students prepare for their future.

Various Residence Hall Lobbies
3pm

Come hang out with fellow families and get to know your Bearcat's community. 

Locations by Community:

• 101 Corry (101 Corry Lobby)
• Calhoun (Tables outside Marketpointe)
• CRC (In front of Daniels)
• Dabney (In front of Daniels)
• Daniels (In front of Daniels)
• Gateway (Verge Lobby)
• Marian Spencer Hall (Between Morgens and Scioto)
• Morgens (Between Morgens and Scioto)
• Scioto (Between Morgens and Scioto)
• Siddall (Tables outside Marketpointe)
• Stratford Heights (Outside of Building 16)
• Turner (Turner/Schneider Courtyard)
• Schneider (Turner/Schneider Courtyard)
• University Park Apartments (Tables outside UPA North)
• USquare (USquare Lobby)
• Verge (Verge Lobby)

Commuter Student Lounge (6th floor Steger)
3pm

Come hang out with fellow families and get to know more traveling Bearcats & their families. Team members from the Center for Community Engagement will be hosting fun activities!

Catskeller, TUC Ground Floor
5 - 7pm

It's music + it's bingo = IT'S FUN! Come listen to tunes and get five in a row with your family. The first to shout Singo wins!

Tangeman University Center, Room 220 - Cinema
6 - 9pm

 Join us for a UC take on the classic game show, Family Feud! Teams will face off to answer the questions before getting three strikes. Bring the whole family for a chance to win prizes! 

Tangeman University Center, 2nd Floor Food Court (near the building main entrance)
6 - 10pm

Challenge your family to a little friendly competition with family game night. Take on your student or find a fellow Bearcat family to square off in your favorite family board games!

Roebling Event Center, 140 Marian Spencer Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
6:30-8pm, 8:30-10pm

Join us downtown in the heart of Cincinnati for an unforgettable evening where music, celebration, and the beauty of the riverfront come together. At this premium add-on event, we will offer a place to launch your BLINK experience. Enjoy delicious bites, a cash bar, music, glow accessories, a photobooth, and scenic views during the largest festival of light and art in the nation. Advance ticket purchase required.

100 W. 5th St. at the Elm Street Plaza
7-11pm

CCM Lighting Design and Technology students Jacob Kaplan, lighting designer; Lia Lubinsky, assistant designer; Lucy Dunn, assistant designer; and Jack Walter, programmer; with faculty advisor Sharon Huizinga, CCM Associate Professor of Lighting Design and Technology will illuminate the largest continuous mural in Ohio, created by artist Tristan Eaton in 2022. The mural honors the rich spectrum of music history in Cincinnati, honoring 10 music legends in a larger-than-life representation — standing at an estimated 18,000 sq ft. The project will honor these musicians by creating a dynamic lighting spectacle through a mashup of their music.

Nippert Stadium
7:30pm

Bring a cozy blanket to relax on the football field or take a seat in the stands to enjoy The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the animated adventure comedy film based on Nintendo's beloved video game. 

Marketpointe Dining Center (2580 Corbett Drive, between Siddall and Calhoun Hall)
7am - 7pm

Celebrate the magic of Cincinnati's BLINK festival at our BLINK Brunch! Enjoy special brunch favorites served ALL DAY. Pick up a branded glow stick, while supplies last, for a dining experience that shines.

BB Riverboats (101 Riverboat Row, Newport, KY, 41071)
10am - 1pm

A Family Weekend tradition! Join us for brunch and breathtaking city views from the Belle of Cincinnati! Advance ticket purchase required. Riverboat guests will not receive tickets. Arrive at BB Riverboats from 10-11am to board. The boat sails at 11am, so do not be late. We will return by 1pm. 

Arts & Sciences Hall, Room 53
12 - 1:30pm

Soul Palette art coaches will guide you in creating your UC-themed canvas masterpiece! Advance ticket purchase required.

Fifth Third Arena
1pm

Cheer on the Bearcats as they take on Iowa State in Volleyball for the Breast Cancer Awareness Game! Separate ticket purchase required.

Patricia Corbett Theater, CCM
1:30pm

Join this free performance at CCM. Skyler, a young hula dancer from Kaua'i, is guided into the Wao Akua (Realm of the Gods) by Pakele, the last 'Akikiki in the wild. Pakele's story is an intimate chronicle that mirrors the journey of her species, from primordial creation to extinction. Although initially overwhelmed, Skyler finds hope as her community rallies behind her, offering their support and aloha.

Tangeman University Center Great Hall
2pm

Families of students in Gen-1 and the Chaudry Scholars Program are invited to celebrate their students' official induction into the program.

100 W. 5th St. at the Elm Street Plaza
7 - 11pm

CCM Lighting Design and Technology students Jacob Kaplan, lighting designer; Lia Lubinsky, assistant designer; Lucy Dunn, assistant designer; and Jack Walter, programmer; with faculty advisor Sharon Huizinga, CCM Associate Professor of Lighting Design and Technology will illuminate the largest continuous mural in Ohio, created by artist Tristan Eaton in 2022. The mural honors the rich spectrum of music history in Cincinnati, honoring 10 music legends in a larger-than-life representation — standing at an estimated 18,000 sq ft. The project will honor these musicians by creating a dynamic lighting spectacle through a mashup of their music.

BLINK Cincinnati, the nation’s largest public art festival transforms the city into a vibrant, immersive experience of light, projection mapping, murals, and interactive art installations. Don’t miss this dynamic and luminous FREE event from October 8-11 (7-11pm daily) at various locations around Cincinnati, including the Banks, downtown, OTR, and Covington, KY.

100 W. 5th St. at the Elm Street Plaza
Nightly 7 - 11pm

CCM Lighting Design and Technology students Jacob Kaplan, lighting designer; Lia Lubinsky, assistant designer; Lucy Dunn, assistant designer; and Jack Walter, programmer; with faculty advisor Sharon Huizinga, CCM Associate Professor of Lighting Design and Technology will illuminate the largest continuous mural in Ohio, created by artist Tristan Eaton in 2022. The mural honors the rich spectrum of music history in Cincinnati, honoring 10 music legends in a larger-than-life representation — standing at an estimated 18,000 sq ft. The project will honor these musicians by creating a dynamic lighting spectacle through a mashup of their music.

Depart/Return from UC Clermont Student Activities Lot. Travel to Downtown Cincinnati for BLINK!
6:15 - 11:45pm

Join UC Clermont to travel to downtown Cincinnati for BLINK! Bus transportation will be provided for those who wish to travel to/from campus. If you would like to take the bus, meet by 6:15pm in the parking lot of the Student Activities Center. If you would like to meet us downtown, we will communicate the meeting location and time at a later date. Walk around and see the exhibits and installations with a larger group or explore on your own. We will meet back at our drop-off location at 10:45 p.m. for the return trip to UC Clermont.

RSVP on GetInvolvedUC. This event is prioritized for students and families registered for UC Family Weekend. Students can bring up to 2 guests. Any space available as of Monday, October 5 will be opened to the larger UC Clermont community.

Roebling Event Center, 140 Marian Spencer Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Saturday, October 10, 6:30-8pm, 8:30-10pm

Join us downtown in the heart of Cincinnati for an unforgettable evening where music, celebration, and the beauty of the riverfront come together. At this premium add-on event, we will offer a place to launch your BLINK experience. Enjoy delicious bites, a cash bar, music, glow accessories, a photobooth, and scenic views during the largest festival of light and art in the nation. Advance ticket purchase required. This event is sold out.

Whether attending BLINK Cincinnati or exploring other local events, don’t miss the opportunity to see all that our amazing city has to offer. VisitCincy.com provides a list of events happening around town. Some highlights between October 9-11 include BLINK Cincinnati, the Ohio Renaissance Festival, Findlay Market Self-Guided Tours, and Asianati Night Market. And of course, don’t forget to visit our favorite animal friends at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens (use discount code UCFamily), including Lucille the Bearcat!