We are excited to welcome Rice families to campus Sept. 29-30 for Families Weekend. Use these resources to help plan your visit.

FAQ

Where do I check in?

Upon your arrival, check in at Families Weekend Headquarters located in the Anderson-Clarke Center during the hours noted below. At this location, you will be able to pick up name badges, ask questions and/or make any registration modifications.

Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday
9 a.m. to noon

Please note that we are not able to accept payments using Apple Pay or Venmo. Credit and debit payments only.

Is parking available on campus?

Parking is free in West Lot 4 during Families Weekend. Additional parking is available in West Lot 3 and Greenbriar Lot. The gates in West Lot 4 will be open on Friday. On Saturday, you will need to show the gate attendant your Families Weekend badge for entry. If needed, there are a limited number of 15-minute parking spots at Headquarters (located behind the Anderson-Clarke Center). 

Can I attend class with my student?

No visitors are allowed to attend classes. In lieu of this, all academic schools will be presenting at the Academic School Reception on Friday from 4-6 p.m. Attendees will have a chance to listen to leadership as well as ask questions. In addition, the Center for Teaching Excellence Showcase on Friday from 10:30 a.m. - noon provides an opportunity to hear lectures from faculty and highlight the classroom experience at Rice.

Do I need to register in advance?

Walk-up registration is available at Headquarters. There will be an additional $5 charge for walk-up registrations for the tailgate. We strongly encourage advance registration to give our support teams the information required to give each attendee an experience to remember.

If registering in advance, please be advised that the deadline for canceling registration and receiving a refund is September 24.

Please note that walk-up registration is a cashless process. Additionally, we are not able to accept payments using Apple Pay or Venmo. Credit and debit payments only.

Resources

Lodging

Please refer to this list of Rice University area hotels.

Navigating Campus

If you need help navigating around campus, use this handy Interactive Map or the Rice Google Map to get you where you need to go!

There will also be printed maps available at Headquarters, located in the Anderson-Clarke Center (Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon).

Transportation

Visitors to campus have access to Rice’s shuttle system that circles the university’s inner loop and connect Rice Stadium, the Annex Building (near RUPD, post office, etc.), Graduate Apartments on Bissonnet and Rice Village Apartments to the rest of campus. Explore available shuttles and specific routes.

Rice Football Tickets

Your ticket to the Family Tailgate on Sept. 30 does not include entry to the Rice football game. Information to purchase tickets is below.

Football tickets can be purchased via Families Weekend registration until Sept. 24. (Digital tickets can still be purchased through Rice Athletics up until the game day and at the box office.) Families have the opportunity to sit with their students in sections 115 and 116. General admission tickets are $20. Current Rice students can get in for free with their Rice ID. Children 2 and under do not need a ticket. Tickets will be sent to registrants via Rice Athletics the week of Families Weekend. 

Visit riceowls.com/myaccount or download the Rice Owls Game Day App to access your Account Manager. If you have not previously logged on to your account, click on “Sign Up” and you will be prompted to set up an account to access your tickets. Please make sure to use the same email that was used to purchase your tickets. Once logged in, your tickets will appear under “Manage Tickets.” 

For questions, please contact the ticket office at 713-348-OWLS (6957).

If you have questions, please call 713-348-6094 or email us at famweek@rice.edu.