Frequently Asked Questions

The cost to participate in Family Weekend helps cover the expenses associated with organizing the event, including food, activities, workshops, and special programming. These fees ensure we can offer a memorable and well-planned experience for families while maintaining the quality of the events and resources provided.

Due to space and safety limitations on our campus, hosting large events can be challenging. Interest in Family Weekend 2024 has far exceeded the space available on campus, and the event will likely sell out.

Unfortunately, due to space limitations, we won’t be able to accommodate additional registrations. However, we encourage you to join the waitlist, as spots may open closer to the event. Be sure to check out other ways to engage with campus, such as visiting during different times of the year or exploring online resources!

There is no fee to cancel your registration and can do so by emailing us at families@ucsc.edu to process your refund.

Santa Cruz casual! Proudly wear your UCSC-swag and be prepared with layers as mornings and evenings can be cool with warmer temps in the middle of the day.

All parents and family members of current UCSC students are welcome to attend. But, each guest must be registered in advance and have purchased the necessary ticket.

While your student can join you for Family Weekend programs, please keep in mind that the majority of sessions are aimed at helping you support your student better and might not be as interesting to your student. Family Weekend is designed to allow you to explore campus, connect with other families, and spend time with your student!

Please visit Animals on Campus to learn more about campus policies on domestic and service animals.

UCSC-Guest is an open-access, unencrypted wireless network for guests requiring temporary access to the Internet while visiting UCSC.

Campus will also host an Open House for prospective students on Saturday, November 2nd. Because both programs are quite large, we encourage you to utilize public transportation or carpool with another family. If you choose to drive to campus from your accommodations, you will want to give yourself plenty of time to get to campus and find parking. 

The housing contract allows students to have a visitor stay in their room, with restrictions. Please make sure students speak with their roommate(s) about guests. Residents are responsible for their guests' actions at all times and should review their housing terms and conditions.

To travel to Santa Cruz, most families fly into San Jose International Airport (about 45 minutes away) or San Francisco International Airport (about 1.5 hours away). From there, you can rent a car or use public transportation to reach the city. For accommodations, we recommend booking early as hotels fill up quickly. For a list of local hotels offering discounts for Family Weekend attendees, visit our accommodations page.

Visit our parking page to learn more about campus parking for Saturday and Sunday of Family weekend.