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!

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.

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! 

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

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!

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 scoring teams receive prizes!

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.

Reed Gallery Exhibit, DAAP 5275
10am - 5pm

Long Exposure: Recent Work by Alumni of College of DAAP Fine Arts Photography Program
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.

Meyers Gallery Exhibit, Steger Student Life Center 418
10am - 5pm

In the Middle of the Endless Water
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.

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!

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.

Arts & Sciences Hall, Room 53
3 - 4:30pm

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

Campus Recreation Center Rock Climbing Wall
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. 

CECH Library MakerLab (Teachers-Dyer Complex 300)
Time TBA

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.

Tangeman University Center
4:30 - 7:30pm

SoulCollage® is focused on making a personalized deck of collaged cards, much like tarot, one card at a time. Get creative by collaging self-selected images to represent aspects of yourself, your community, or other meaningful themes in your life! 

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! 

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 suit!

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 Bingo! 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 the first 500 guests.

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!

• Academic College events

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!

Reed Gallery Exhibit, DAAP 5275
10am - 5pm

Long Exposure: Recent Work by Alumni of College of DAAP Fine Arts Photography Program
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.

Meyers Gallery Exhibit, Steger Student Life Center 418
10am - 5pm

In the Middle of the Endless Water
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.

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

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

Steger 5th Floor (outside Dean of Students Office, Suite 555)
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.

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
Time TBA

Earn your bumper sticker and participate in our .5K run (yes, that says point 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 coming 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 & Commuter Student Lounge (6th floor Steger)
3pm

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

Campus Recreation Center Rock Climbing Wall
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. 

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, 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!

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.

• Academic College events
• Afternoon Party on Sigma Sigma
• Evening signature events

Reed Gallery Exhibit, DAAP 5275
10am - 5pm

Long Exposure: Recent Work by Alumni of College of DAAP Fine Arts Photography Program
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.

Meyers Gallery Exhibit, Steger Student Life Center 418
10am - 5pm

In the Middle of the Endless Water
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.

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.

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.

Campus Recreation Center Rock Climbing Wall
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. 

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.

Various Locations
October 8-11, 7 - 11pm nightly

Arts Wave Cincinnati is hosting BLINK 2026 throughout the city of Cincinnati! This event is free to everyone. Explore 35 city blocks of illuminated art in a one-of-a-kind experience. Wear your glowing gear and dress for the weather! Don't miss it - plan your BLINK experience today!

3400 Vine Street

Cincinnati is home to the #1 zoo in the country! The Cincinnati Zoo has over 400 animal species and 3,000 plant species. During your visit, don't miss local celebrity hippos Fiona and Fritz.