Family Weekend FAQs

What is Family Weekend?

Family Weekend is a wonderful opportunity for families to return to campus to visit their students and experience all that the University of Louisville has to offer. A series of events and activities will be hosted by various departments and student groups all over campus; a detailed schedule of events will be available at https://louisville.edu/parents/events/familyweekend.

Tens of thousands people visit the University of Louisville each day - even more on the weekends with special events like football games or Family Weekend. It is a busy weekend, so be prepared for large crowds.

When is the Family Weekend Tailgate and football game?

The Family Weekend Tailgate will be a brunch that starts at 10am on gameday. The football game time won’t be announced until roughly until 6-12 days prior to the game. Keep visiting https://gocards.com/sports/football/schedule for updated game times.

Do I need to purchase a Cardinal Family Weekend ticket for my student?

Yes, if your student is planning on attending any of the ticketed Cardinal Family Weekend events with you, they will need a separate ticket.

Do I need to purchase a football ticket for my student?

If your student does not have a Ville’ns Student Ticket Membership, they will need to purchase a ticket to enter the football game. If they are a member of the Ville’ns, they do not require a separate ticket, however your Cardinal Family Weekend football tickets will likely not be in the same section as your student. If you want to guarantee that your student is sitting next to you at the game, you will need to purchase them a separate ticket.

What can I expect during Family Weekend at UofL?

Family Weekend is a chance to experience the best of a busy fall weekend in Louisville! Anytime there is a home football game campus will be crowded as more than 60,000 Cardinal fans flock to Cardinal Stadium. If you’re planning on joining in the fun, expect larger crowds, traffic, and more limited parking. Investigate shuttle and walking options and plan accordingly. We’ll put together the information you need in the Family Weekend materials that you can pick up at the Family Weekend Welcome on Friday night. If you can’t attend the Welcome Event, we’ll be sharing that same information on our website, Facebook, and Instagram.

If football and tailgating aren’t your thing, there are still plenty of activities you can take part in. We hope families will review the schedule we have put together and will pick the events that most appeal to them. We won’t be offended if families ditch our schedule and do something entirely different. We just want you to have fun as a family here in Louisville!

Please note the events on the schedule that require an advanced ticket purchase. We do our very best to accommodate as many families as possible, but we are limited by venue capacities and safety regulations. Depending on the number of family members interested, we may have to cut off registration prior to the event. Please purchase tickets as soon as possible after they go on sale to avoid disappointment. Watch our Facebook and Instagram for continual updates.

Events will go on rain or shine, so please check the weather and plan accordingly. Fall weather in Kentucky can be unpredictable – be prepared!

No matter what you all choose to do with your time together – enjoy it!

When do families typically arrive on campus? When do they depart?

Our schedule of events will start on Friday and continue through Sunday morning. However, if you can only come for a portion of the weekend, that’s fine, too. Do whatever works for your family. Friday evening and Saturday morning are the only times we are able to offer an official welcome/check-in for the weekend. If you won’t be in town by then, feel free to send your student over to pick up some giveaways and information about the weekend during check-in. We’ll also post the information on Facebook and Instagram.

Can we bring grandparents and other family members?

Yes, we strive to offer activities that will entertain the youngest and oldest members of the family and everyone in between. If there are concerns about special needs in your party, reach out to the Parents Association staff at 502-852-6933 or parents@louisville.edu. We’re happy to help you make plans.

Can siblings stay in the residence halls?

Students are allowed to have two guests per resident stay overnight. Overnight guests are any person not assigned to that bedroom/suite/apartment staying for substantial portion of the night. All roommates/suite/apartment mates must be in agreement about whom, when, and the number of hours a visitor is allowed. Guests cannot stay more than 14 times a semester, with no more than three consecutive nights or six nights in a month. Violations may lead to student conduct charges and sanctions. For more information on this, please view the Campus Housing Visitation policy.

What is the residence hall check-in policy?

All guests, including family members and students who live in university housing, must be logged on the visitation log at the front desk and be escorted by their host at all times while in the building. In addition, the host and guest may be required to present an ID for verification. 

Why are hotel rooms so expensive?

Many families make their first visits to Louisville for UofL campus tours or orientations that aren’t scheduled at the height of demand for hotel rooms. The popularity of UofL football brings thousands of folks in every fall so hotel rooms are naturally going to be more expensive and in demand. You are strongly encouraged to make hotel reservations at your earliest convenience. If you find that the available accommodations aren’t in your budget, you might want to seek an alternate time to come to campus. Hotels will be less expensive when the football team is away.

Can events sell out?

Yes! The UofL Family Weekend ticketed events (the family tailgate and UofL Football game) may sell out. Please purchase tickets as soon as possible after they go on sale to avoid disappointment. We do our very best to accommodate as many families as possible, but we are limited by venue capacities and safety regulations.

How do I get tickets?

CLICK HERE to purchase Cardinal Family Weekend tickets.

Where do I park?

While parking lots/garages are spread throughout campus, please realize that you may have to park a short walk from your destination and allow extra time, and that there may be a small fee to park. Parking information will be available closer to the fall.

Will events go on if it rains?

Events will go on rain or shine, so please check the weather and plan accordingly. Fall weather in Kentucky can be unpredictable – pack an umbrella and jacket so you’ll be prepared!

Does my family have to go to all Family Weekend events?

We hope families will review the schedule we have put together and will pick the events that most appeal to them. We won’t be offended if families ditch our schedule and do something entirely different. We just want you to have fun as a family here in Louisville!

My family would like to try tailgating on our own. How can we get a game day parking permit?

Tailgating at athletic events is a popular tradition at UofL. Parking permits at Cardinal Stadium are only available to season ticket holders who have purchased them. A number of families report that they have had success paying to park at businesses or in neighborhoods around the stadium and tailgating there. For more information about parking and tailgating options, visit the UofL Athletics website.

What is the clear bag policy for Cardinal Stadium?

To improve public safety and help speed entry, the University of Louisville has adopted a clear bag policy for all football games.

What is your refund policy?

Email parents@louisville.edu if you need information regarding refunds.