Family Weekend

You must check-in to receive your Family Weekend t-shirt and wristband. Grab some freebies and win prizes! The wristband is your ticket to the weekend's events.

If you are checking in after 12pm on Saturday, October 9, please visit the Family Weekend Hospitality Suite in Steger Student Life Center (Suite 630) to obtain your materials during the hours listed above.

Printable Campus Map

Interactive Campus Map

Parking begins at 1pm on Game Day! Visit the Game Day Parking website to purchase a pre-paid pass in the Woodside, Stratford Heights, or Eden garages. Your digital parking pass will be scanned on entry to your assigned parking garage. Game Day cash parking will be available in the Eden garage. Shuttles will drop off at the intersection of West Daniels and Champions Way. Shuttles begin at 1pm and run until 1 hour post-game time.

Family Weekend guests should park in the Campus Green or Calhoun garages on Saturday and Sunday. When you check-in for Family Weekend, you will receive a parking voucher for $2 parking. You may enter and exit as much as you like for $2 per parking session. Each time you exit the garage, you will insert the voucher, pay $2 by credit card at the exit gate, and the voucher will be returned for you to use again throughout the weekend.

Visit any of UC's dining centers (Center Court, OTG, and Mick & Mack's) for a reduced rate of $6.99 per person or use your student's guest meal swipes!

Say cheese! Visit your student's residence hall for a fun photo opportunity in the lobby!

The programs within DAAP are ranked among the very best in both a world and national class. During the self-guided tour, you’ll see labs, studios, and other spaces that help make DAAP a top-notch place to study. Enter DAAP using the entrances on the east or south sides of the DAAP complex. All you need is a smartphone to scan the QR code and get started. Log onto the university wifi. Headphones are recommended. 

Students save 15% on all in-store purchases of apparel, gifts and supplies at the UC Bookstores! Show your Bearcats Pride with the latest styles from the store with the largest selection of UC apparel & gifts! Discount valid in all five store locations: TUC, DAAP, Medical Center, UC Blue Ash, and UC Clermont. UC ID required at checkout. Excludes course materials, Apple products, computer hardware and software, gift cards and purchases at campus convenience stores. Show your Family Weekend wristband when you check out at the TUC store and receive a UC cooling towel or stemless acrylic wine glass with a $50 or more purchase, while supplies last.

Join us as the Bearcat Bands perform on UC MainStreet and get everyone excited for tonight's game! 

Cheer on the men's and women's swimming and diving teams as they take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish!

Rain location: Campus Recreation Center Breezeway

Check in to receive your wristband (your pass to weekend events) and Family Weekend t-shirt. Grab some freebies and win prizes!

Rain location: Teachers-Dyer Room 407

Family members of students participating in UC's TAP program are invited to join their Bearcat for family social fun followed by their weekly learning community session.

You're invited to visit campus offices and resources to learn more about support and engagement opportunities for your student.

• Accessibility Resources Student Success Services (2nd floor lobby, University Pavilion)
• African American Cultural & Resource Center (60 W. Charlton St.)
• Bearcats Promise Career Studio (TUC 310, adjacent to PNC Bank)
• Fraternity & Sorority Life (Stratford Heights, Building 16, Suite 001)
• LGBTQ Center (Steger 565)
• OneStop - Bursar, Financial Aid, Registrar (University Pavilion, 2nd Floor)

Find us on the "GRID" for check-in, giveaways, and more. Music, marching band, the CATwalk, food for purchase, and more prior to kickoff.

Meet your student's residence hall community coordinators and student staff in their campus neighborhood! Grab some goodies, have fun, and learn more about campus living!

• Popcorn and crafts with North Location staff (Outside Morgens and Scioto)
• Snacks and yard games with Central Location staff (Dabney Circle)
• Kona ice and cornhole with South Location (Outside Stratford Heights Building 16) 

Rain Location for all the above will be the Campus Recreation Center outdoor breezeway.

Rain location: Teachers-Dyer, Room 407 (Annie Laws Room)

Students (and their families!) in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology are invited to join college staff and faculty for pizza and games before kick-off!

RSVP, if possible. Walk-ins will be accepted at the event, space permitting.

This event is currently sold out. 

Cheer on the Bearcats as they take on the Temple Owls! Discounted tickets purchased separately through UC Athletics. Purchase tickets from GoBearcats. Enter promo code UCFAMILY2021. Discount tickets for families range from $15-25 depending on selected seats.

If you're not going to the game, join us for a movie in the TUC Cinema. Free popcorn and bottled water distributed by UC MainStreet.

Fun fact: Black Panthers' Academy Award-winning Production Designer Hannah Beachler is a UC DAAP alum.

The programs within DAAP are ranked among the very best in both a world and national class. During the self-guided tour, you’ll see labs, studios, and other spaces that help make DAAP a top-notch place to study. Enter DAAP using the entrances on the east or south sides of the DAAP complex. All you need is a smartphone to scan the QR code and get started. Log onto the university wifi. Headphones are recommended. 

Stop by, ask questions, grab water or snacks, and take a bathroom break!

Rain location: Zimmer Hall lobby

Check in to receive your wristband (your pass to weekend events) and Family Weekend t-shirt. Grab some freebies and win prizes!

Rain location: Zimmer Hall lobby

Enjoy Cincinnati's favorite donuts and learn about how the Dean of Students Office supports your Bearcat!

Rain location: Zimmer Hall lobby and various classrooms

Don't miss this signature Family Weekend event! All kinds of fun and activities for family members of all ages, including life-size games, caricatures, tie-dye, rock painting, sidewalk chalk, henna tattoos, prizes, and more!

• Henna tattoos and stickers provided by United Asian Advocates.
• Prizes and giveaways provided by UC's Money Management team.
• Bottled water provided by PNC Bank.

Rain location: Zimmer Hall classrooms

The College for Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) Tribunal presents a showcase of student organizations, fun activities, informational booths, and demos of student projects! Students and families from all colleges welcome!

Rain location: Zimmer Hall lobby

Does your family have what it takes to win the UC Family Cup? Earn points to win big prizes!

Join Fraternity & Sorority Life staff and student leaders for coffee and pastries and learn more about how we support students in the fraternity and sorority community. This event is open to families of current, new, and prospective community members.

Rain location: Swift Hall, Room 608

First generation students and their families are invited to a family social! Join us for light refreshments and activities. Meet UC staff and fellow first generation students and their families.

Students save 15% on all in-store purchases of apparel, gifts and supplies at the UC Bookstores! Show your Bearcats Pride with the latest styles from the store with the largest selection of UC apparel & gifts! Discount valid in all five store locations: TUC, DAAP, Medical Center, UC Blue Ash, and UC Clermont. UC ID required at checkout. Excludes course materials, Apple products, computer hardware and software, gift cards and purchases at campus convenience stores. Show your Family Weekend wristband when you check out at the TUC store and receive a UC cooling towel or stemless acrylic wine glass with a $50 or more purchase, while supplies last

Visit Center Court for lunch to meet UC campus chefs and enjoy a special "Chef's Table" dish offered exclusively for Family Weekend. $6.99 at the door or use your student's guest meal swipes.

This event is currently sold out. Please contact our office at families@uc.edu to join a waitlist. We will contact you if space should become available.

Soul Palette art coaches will guide you in creating your UC-themed canvas masterpiece! Advance ticket purchase required. Select Painting with a Twist Session 1 add-on (one ticket per guest) when registering for Family Weekend. $20 per person. Space is limited.

Get a sneak peek at the brand new, state-of-the-art Student Wellness Center on UC MainStreet! Grab some wellness products, meet the staff, and discover how UC supports your student's wellbeing.

Habari Gani! Join us at the African American Cultural & Resource Center (AACRC) to meet the center staff, enjoy light refreshments, connect with other families, and explore the AACRC! From the Trailblazer Wall to the student lounge, discover why the AACRC is a treasured community and educational space at UC. All are welcome!

Rain location: LGBTQ Center (565 Steger)

Join us for a student and family social with LGBTQ Center staff. Make some new connections and learn about the center! Coffee and tea will be served.

Meet our new college dean, Dr. Margaret Hanson, Exploratory Advisor Raven Flanigan, and Associate Director of Advising Heather Kilgore. Ask questions, enjoy light refreshments, and learn how to best support your Bearcat's success, help them find the best fit for a major, and how to partner with advisors to maximize academic success. Exploratory students and College of Arts & Sciences students (and their family members) are welcome!

This event is currently sold out. Please contact our office at families@uc.edu to join a waitlist. We will contact you if space should become available.

Soul Palette art coaches will guide you in creating your UC-themed canvas masterpiece! Advance ticket purchase required. Select Painting with a Twist Session 2 add-on (one ticket per guest) when registering for Family Weekend. $20 per person. Space is limited.

Rain location: Meet at covered breezeway between Swift Hall and Steger Student Life Center

Select from several scavenger hunt options -- or do them all! Find and visit designated spots around UC! Photograph your family with each spot to win prizes! Complete the UC landmarks scavenger hunt to receive a t-shirt! Complete the Hero Bearcat statue scavenger hunt to receive a limited-edition miniature Hero Bearcat replica, while supplies last!

Visit Center Court for dinner to meet UC campus chefs and enjoy a special "Chef's Table" dish offered exclusively for Family Weekend. $6.99 at the door or use your student's guest meal swipes.

This event is currently sold out. Please contact our office at families@uc.edu to join a waitlist. We will contact you if space should become available.

Soul Palette art coaches will guide you in creating your UC-themed canvas masterpiece! Advance ticket purchase required. Select Painting with a Twist Session 3 add-on (one ticket per guest) when registering for Family Weekend. $20 per person. Space is limited.

"Cruella" follows the early days of one of cinema's most notorious - and notoriously fashionable - villains! Be sure to bring your blanket to curl up for movie night in Nippert Stadium! Blankets also will be on sale in the UC Bookstore. 

Movie night sponsored by UC's Resident Education & Development. Free popcorn sponsored by UC Dining Services. Drinks and additional food items available for purchase from stadium concessions.

The programs within DAAP are ranked among the very best in both a world and national class. During the self-guided tour, you’ll see labs, studios, and other spaces that help make DAAP a top-notch place to study. Enter DAAP using the entrances on the east or south sides of the DAAP complex. All you need is a smartphone to scan the QR code and get started. Log onto the university wifi. Headphones are recommended. 

This event will be conducted rain or shine. It will be canceled in the event of lightning or thunder.

Join UC staff to walk, run, or dash the 5k course. Note: UC's signature annual race is not being held this year, but you can still hit the pavement with us on this popular route! Course guides will be available to accommodate a variety of paces. All are welcome! T-shirts for each participant while supplies last. Medals distributed to finishers in the order of run completion while supplies last.

Stop by, ask questions, grab water and snacks, and take a bathroom break.

This event is currently sold out. Please contact our office at families@uc.edu to join a waitlist. We will contact you if space should become available.

A Family Weekend tradition! Join us for live jazz, brunch, and breathtaking views of Cincinnati from the River Queen! Advance ticket purchase required. Select the Riverboat Cruise add-on (one ticket per guest) when registering for Family Weekend. $48 per person. Space is limited. Riverboat guests will not need tickets. This event is held rain or shine.

In-person worship (masks required) followed by fellowship on the church lawn.

Visit the Meyers Gallery, accessible from UC MainStreet, to view the MSA DAAP Student Sculpture Exhibition.

Visit the Reed Gallery in the DAAP Building for MSA SELECT: Interdisciplinary Sculpture, juried by artist Jean Shin and in conjunction with the MSA: Interdisciplinary Sculpture Conference 2021. The Mid-South Sculpture Alliance (MSA) is an affiliate organization of the International Sculpture Center (ISC). The MSA is a non-profit that seeks to advance the creation and awareness of sculpture in its many and varied forms, to promote a supportive environment for sculpture and sculptors, and to create opportunities for its members through exhibition, education, and networking events centered on traditional and contemporary approaches to sculpture. It seeks to advance the understanding that sculpture educates, affects social change, and engages artists, art professionals, and the community in dialogue. Juror Jean Shin is recognized for her monumental installations, where she transforms large accumulations of everyday objects into expressions of identity and community engagement. Shin’s innovative work has been widely exhibited in over 150 major museums and cultural institutions, including solo exhibitions at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington DC, and The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco among others. Her works have been featured in many publications, including The New York Times, Art in America, Sculpture Magazine, ArtNews, Hyperallergic, and Brooklyn Rail. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Shin is a tenured Adjunct Professor at the Pratt Institute and recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award. 

Families and students are invited to join H20 Church for sunday services.

Watch the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Green Bay Packers with an exclusive Family Weekend discount. Tickets prices vary and are available while supplies last. Purchase your tickets.

Cheer on the Bearcats as they take on the Temple Owls! Learn more about UC Volleyball.

Enjoy DISCOUNTED tickets to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden just for guests of UC Family Weekend! Don't miss your chance to meet Cincy's most famous animals -- Lucille the Bearcat and Fiona the Hippo. Purchase tickets ($13 adults, $7.50 children/seniors). Parking is not included. Discount tickets can be redeemed anytime October 8-10.

Take a walk (or ride the streetcar) and enjoy over 180 public art installations around the city. With over 40 in the downtown area alone, this is a great place to start your masterpiece tour. View the map of murals here.  ArtWorks provides a public art program that enriches our region while providing job opportunities to youth apprentices and professional artists.

The multi-Platinum singer/songwriter hits the stage at Cincinnati's outdoor music pavilion with special guest Riley Green. Reserved seating, General admission pit, and lawn seating available.

Asian Food Fest celebrates the culture, cuisine, drinks, and entertainment of Asian communities, including Cambodia, China, Hawaii, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. This is free, public event is hosted by Kroger in partnership with the Cincinnati Chamber and Asian American Cultural Assocation of Cincinnati.

Check Dashboard Confessional's Unplugged Tour 2021 with Into It. Over It. and Armon Jay at Bogart's, UC's closest music venue and popular spot for students. Known for their emo style and song lyrics, American rock band Dashboard Confessional celebrated it's 20th Anniversary in 2020. 

It's 1941 in Cincinnati's West End, and African Americans are migrating from the Deep South to forge new lives. At the same time, German residents face growing hostility on the brink of World War II, and Grace houses people of both backgrounds in her row house. But when a stranger arrives, she must confront her secret past. This world premiere drama by Cincinnati native Keith Josef Adkins shines a light on a transformative chapter of our city's history. Get tickets!

This spectacular musical production will make you laugh, dance, sing, and most of all, remember music icon James Brown. 2020 Broadway World Award-winner Dedrick Weathersby stars in the title role telling the story of the Godfather of Soul. You'll see how a divided country, the growing Civil Rights movement, and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. shaped the artist's work. An eight-piece band accompanies the show. Get tickets!

Asian Food Fest celebrates the culture, cuisine, drinks, and entertainment of Asian communities, including Cambodia, China, Hawaii, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. This is free, public event is hosted by Kroger in partnership with the Cincinnati Chamber and Asian American Cultural Assocation of Cincinnati.