Family Weekend

Family Weekend

October 2-3, 2026

Bring your families to campus for a fun filled weekend at Wichita State University! Family Weekend includes events and activities that family and friends can choose to participate in at their own leisure.

2026 REGISTRATION COMING SOON

Families who register by Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026 will receive a welcome bag, participant shirts, and access to exclusive Shocker family experiences.

Families who have not registered by Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026 may register on-site beginning Friday, Oct. 2. On-site registration will include a welcome packet and meal vouchers. Shirts may be available for purchase while supplies last.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS CLOSED -- ON-SITE REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE AT THE BRAEBURN SQUARE PATIO PARTY

About Family Weekend

How do I register to attend Family Weekend?

Families registered by Sunday, September 20, 2026 will receive a welcome bag, participant shirts, and access to exclusive Shocker family experiences. Read below to learn what is included in your registration, view rates, and get signed up! We look forward to seeing you in October!

REGISTER NOW! ---- ADVANCE REGISTRATION RATES PER PERSON ---- REGISTER NOW!
Registration Dates	WSU Student(s)	Adult Guests Ages 13 and Up	Youth Guests Ages 12 and under
FULL WEEKEND REGISTRATION Includes Oct. 2-3, 2026 Meal passes for all family members at the Wu's Birthday Bash Meal passes for breakfast Saturday morning Admission to the President's Garden Tour (Saturday) Admission to scheduled athletic games Admission to Magician Jack Kelly (Friday) All other Friday & Saturday events are free to attend Shirts for all registered youth and adult family members ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS CLOSED	Free	$28	$15
SINGLE DAY REGISTRATION Choose Oct. 2 or 3, 2026 Meal passes for either Wu's Birthday Bash (Friday) or the Breakfast (Saturday) Admission to the President's Garden Tour (Saturday only) Admission to either a Friday or Saturday athletic game Admission to Magician Jack Kelly (Friday) All other Friday & Saturday events are free to attend Shirts for all registered youth and adult family members ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS CLOSED	Free	$20	$12

ON-SITE REGISTRATION RATES PER PERSON
Registration Dates	WSU Student(s)	Adult Guests Ages 13 and Up	Youth Guests Ages 12 and under
FULL WEEKEND REGISTRATION Includes Oct. 2-3, 2026 Meal passes for all registered family members at the Wu's Birthday Bash (Friday) Admission to the President's Garden Tour Admission to Magician Jack Kelly (Friday) Tickets for athletic games available at the box office (WSU students are free) Saturday breakfast available for purchase at the door All other Friday & Saturday events are free to attend Shirts are not included and may be available for purchase while supplies last	Free	$15	$12
SINGLE DAY REGISTRATION - FRIDAY, OCT 2, 2026 Meal passes for all registered family members at the Patio Party (Friday) Admission to the President's Garden Tour (Saturday) Tickets for athletic games available at the box office (WSU students are free) Saturday breakfast available for purchase at the door All other Friday & Saturday events are free to attend Shirts are not included and may be available for purchase while supplies last	Free	$12	$8
SINGLE DAY REGISTRATION - SATURDAY, OCT 3, 2026 Saturday breakfast available for purchase at the door Admission to the President's Garden Tour (Saturday) Tickets for athletic games available at the box office (WSU students are free) All other Friday & Saturday events are free to attend Shirts are not included and may be available for purchase while supplies last	Free	Free	Free

What is the schedule?

What to expect?

Family Weekend kicks off at Braeburn Square with Wu's Birthday Bash. Check-in begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.

The 2026 Family Weekend is part of our annual celebration of Shocker Pride, Shocktoberfest. Saturday activities will include the Shocktoberfest Parade, Brew Market, and Shocker Exhibition Game.

2026 SCHEDULE OVERVIEW

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2

Check-in at Wu's Birthday Bash
4:30 – 7 p.m. | Braeburn Square
Registered families can check-in at the event and will receive a custom Family Weekend shopping tote. Dinner is included with registration, and families will receive a dinner voucher to be used at participating restaurants. Additional games and activities will be on-site in celebration of WSU's very own Wu Shock!

Shocker Volleyball v. Tulsa
6 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena
Free Admission with wristband received at registration. Families enter Koch Arena through the ticket box office and present your wristband to the staff.

Magician Jack Kelly
8 p.m. | CAC Theater
Jack Kelly is a nationally recognized magician who has been featured on The CW, NBC, FOX, and Kiss 95.1. Jack appeared on the hit primetime show Penn and Teller: Fool Us, where he won season 11 by fooling the legendary magic duo, becoming one of the youngest in series history to achieve this feat.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

Check-in & Information Center
8:30 – 10:30 a.m. | Rhatigan Student Center – Information Desk
Need to check-in or have questions about an upcoming Family Weekend activity? Stop by the RSC Info desk for help.

Parent & Family Meeting
9 - 10 a.m. | Rhatigan Student Center
Free Admission
Not sure what resources are available to your student? Want to learn how to get connected? Stop by the Parent and Family Meeting for information on how WSU Serves Your Shocker! The meeting is hosted by Alicia Newell, Assistant Vice President for Retention & Assessment.

Brunch at Shocker Hall Dining
10 a.m. - Noon | Shocker Hall Cafeteria
Breakfast is included in registration and includes a waffle station, omelet station, and other specialty items for our family members and guests.

Bowling & Billiards Free Play
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes
Free Admission to Registered Families
Grab a game of bowling or billiards in the Rhatigan Student Center. Game play is free to registered guests of Family Weekend. Shoe rental fees may apply.

Academic College Open Houses
Noon - 2 p.m. | Various Locations
Stay tuned for more information

President's Garden Tour
1-3 p.m. | The President's Residence
Join us at the residence of President Richard Muma and First Gentleman Rick Case for light refreshments and a self-guided walking tour of the properties gardens. Enjoy walking on the grounds of this home built in 1939. The front lawns have been the site of many university outdoor events throughout the years. The president and first gentleman enjoy gardening and hosting visitors in the beautiful, landscaped areas around the residence.

Honors Induction Ceremony

1:00 p.m. | Wiedemann Hall

First-year Cohen Honors students and their guests are invited to Honors Induction. This cherished tradition formally welcomes students into the honors community and includes an annual book dedication by the dean of the college to the incoming class.

The dress is casual or business casual with Shocker colors encouraged. We ask students to RSVP for themselves and their guests by filling out this form.

Honors College Open House

1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | Honors College - Shocker Hall Building A

All Cohen Honors College Families are invited to the Honors College Open House. Enjoy light refreshments, and conversations with our faculty and staff.

Brew Market
3 - 6 p.m. | Corbin Education Center Lot

Free admission

Enjoy an afternoon on-campus filled with beverages from your favorite local vendors. The Shocktoberfest Brew Garden + Fan Fest, in partnership with Shocker Athletics, will fill the alley and parking lot east of Koch Arena with music, breweries, food trucks and fun activities for the whole family!

Shocktoberfest Parade
4 p.m. | Viewing area north of Hubbard Lawn

Everyone is invited to attend the 2026 Shocktoberfest Parade, the highlight of the weeklong celebration of Shocker spirit and pride. Participants will enjoy entertainment from the Shocker Sound Machine marching band, dance teams, and decorated cars and floats from student groups and community members.

For the best parade experience, grab a spot along Innovation Boulevard, Mike Oatman Drive, or Perimeter Road.

Do I need to buy tickets to athletic events?

As part of Family Weekend, families are invited to cheer on our Shocker athletes. Admission is free to pre-registered Family Weekend guests and on-site guests may purchase tickets at the box office.

Shocker Volleyball v. Tulsa | Friday, October 2 @ 6 p.m. | Free admission for students with a Shocker ID.
Saturday Event | TBA

Student tickets to Shocker Athletic events are free and all tickets may be picked up at the specific venue on game day.

Who can attend Family Weekend?

Family Weekend is not only for families of first-year students, and it’s definitely not just for parents. All families, extended families, grade school siblings and supporters are welcome to join us!

Should I surprise my student?

Students are typically eager for a visit from home by this time in the semester. They may be tired, overwhelmed, or stressed and in need of some family time. By late September, students are generally settled in and have a regular routine. Ask them to take you to their favorite study spot or explore a nearby restaurant they've been wanting to try.

Make sure to discuss your student’s schedule for the weekend in advance. Classes are still in session on Friday and your student may have a study group, work, or student organization activities already on their calendar.

Who do I contact for accommodations?

If a guest attending Family Weekend requires specific accommodations, such as a wheelchair, please contact our office to work through arrangements.

We strive to ensure there are ample options for various dietary needs at Family Weekend events. Dining menus and options on campus generally include vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free food options. Please contact us for additional meal accommodations.

Shocktoberfest

Shocktoberfest is Wichita State's annual celebration of Shocker Pride! Since 1991, Shockers of all ages have come together at WSU for events, competitions, and an immense amount of Shocker energy. This year we have added Family Weekend to our schedule of events to enhance the Shocker Experience and create a stronger connection to campus for our family members near and far. The official Family Weekend schedule has already been enhanced with all the Shocktoberfest offerings and we can't wait to see you on campus.

Sept. 28 - Oct. 3, 2026

Learn more

Additional Information

Dining on Campus

At Wichita State, dining is as diverse as it is delicious. With options available on and off campus—early or late—a meal, snack or caffeine fix is always within reach.

Parking

Parking on-campus will be free for Family Weekend and Shocktoberfest visitors beginning Friday afternoon. Click the parking link to view our interactive parking map.

Shocker Store

Stop by our Rhatigan Student Center or Braeburn Square location for all your Shocker gear needs!

Shock Stop Discount Program

Wichita State University has teamed up with local businesses to form Shock Stop, a university discount program. Students, faculty, staff and innovation partners with a valid Shocker ID can receive a minimum 10 percent discount at participating merchants.

Travel & Directions

Flying
The Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is the closest commercial airport to WSU. All necessary hotel accommodations for out-of-town guests should be made early to guarantee reservations.

Driving
Wichita is centrally located in the State of Kansas and is located off of I-135, I-35, and K-96.

Rendering of the Hyatt Place Hotel at Wichita State University

Hyatt Place at Wichita State

The Hyatt Place at Wichita State University features more than 100 guest rooms including standard king and double rooms, suites with kitchenettes and accessible accommodations located on the 1st floor. Reach out to Hyatt Place at Wichita State University to arrange your families stay.

Lactation & Wellness Rooms

Wichita State University has received designation as a Breastfeeding Welcome Here campus. This designation recognizes WSU as a supportive environment for all Shockers to reach their breastfeeding goals through providing accessible spaces throughout the main and satellite campus locations.

One Shocker Family

Shocker Family Programs partner with students’ families to help them thrive at WSU, on campus and in life. We strive to welcome, connect, and refer families to the resources they need to ensure their students succeed.