Family Weekend Schedule
ATTENTION: To attend our signature events, families must purchase a Family Member Wristband for each person planning to attend Family Weekend AND a USC Student Wristband for their South Carolina student.
Registration is open! All wristbands must be purchased before registration closes at 3 p.m. on Mon., Aug. 31.
Plan to arrive to Columbia on Thursday late afternoon/early evening (Sept. 17) to take full advantage of the opportunities available throughout the weekend. We will host featured sessions, drop-in events, meet and greets, and more on Friday.
The schedule of events, available online in early summer, will be updated regularly with new events throughout the summer up until Family Weekend. We always recommend talking to your student to map out events you want to attend. Please note that student organizations may hold Family Weekend events separate from our official schedule.
Remember, Family Weekend wristbands are only for access to the three signature Family Weekend events (President Meet and Greet, Rock the Roost and Family Tailgate Party). You can still attend Family Weekend and visit your Carolina student while enjoying the celebratory atmosphere. Your student may have other events already planned for you. We invite you to bring the whole family. Family Weekend is for Gamecocks of all ages.
Need assistance loading digital football tickets into the Athletics app? Get help during check in at the Russell House Ballroom.
2026 Family Weekend Schedule
Events are rain or shine. Schedule subject to change.
2-5 p.m.
Family Weekend Check-In
Russell House Ballroom
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Family Weekend Check-In
Russell House Ballroom
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Off-Campus Housing Expo
Greene Street
Optional Family Weekend Experiences
Register for extra Family Weekend events and activities using Gamecock Family Hub. Some experiences are free; others require payment. New opportunities will be added during the summer and early fall.
After logging in, select Calendar of Events (right-hand column) to view and register. Example experiences include:
- State House Tours
- Color the Coop with Summer Doodles
- Honors Family Reunion
- Family Weekend Photo Opportunity
- Pickleball
- USC vs Mississippi State Watch Party
Registration for currently available experiences opens Thursday, July 9, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). Additional opportunities will open for registration as they are added. Space is limited for many events, so check back often and register early.
4-5:30 p.m.
President Meet and Greet (Signature Event)
Horseshoe
7-10 p.m.
Rock the Roost (Signature Event)
Wellness and Fitness Center
Independent events will be hosted by colleges, schools and other organizations. See
examples from 2025 Family Weekend.
12:45 p.m.
Family Tailgate Party (Signature Event)
USC football shuttle drop off is next to the entrance to the Family Tailgate Party.
State Fairgrounds Goodman Buiding (1200 Rosewood Drive)
4:15 p.m. kickoff
South Carolina vs. Mississippi State
Williams-Brice Stadium
Independent events will be hosted by colleges, schools and other organizations. See
examples from 2025 Family Weekend.
Independent events will be hosted by colleges, schools and other organizations. See examples from 2025 Family Weekend.
Family Weekend Check-in
We encourage students to pick up packets early for families on Thursday. Students will need their Carolina Card to pick up their family's packet. For assistance loading digital football tickets into the Athletics app, stop by during check in at the Russell House Ballroom on Thursday afternoon or Friday.
Russell House Ballroom
- Thursday, Sept. 17
2 - 5 p.m. - Friday, Sept. 18
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Rock the Roost at the Wellness and Fitness Center
- Friday, Sept. 18
7 - 10 p.m.
Family Tailgate Party
- Saturday, Sept. 19
12:45 - 2 p.m.
Campus Parking
An on-campus parking pass will be included in your Family Weekend packet that you
pick up at check-in. On the pass will be a list of available parking that are available
with your pass.
Campus Wi-Fi
Use the USC Guest Wi-Fi network USCguest inside campus buildings and around the main campus. Open an internet browser when
connecting and follow the prompts provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, USC students need a wristband to attend the Family Weekend events with other registered family members.
USC students are not guaranteed a ticket to the football game. We recommend that you discuss with your student if they would like to try to receive a ticket through the CockPit Student Ticketing process or if they would prefer to have a guaranteed ticket with your family. If your student wants to guarantee access to the football game, please plan to purchase the USC student ticket that includes a football ticket.
There are two options for family members and USC students. You can choose to purchase a ticket to only the events and you will not have a ticket to the football game OR you can purchase a ticket that includes the events and a football ticket. These are the same options for your USC student. Tickets to individual events are not available.
Yes, the football tickets for Family Weekend will sell out. However, we do not anticipate Family Weekend football tickets to sell out during the first week of registration. We would recommend, if attending the football game is a priority for your family, to purchase your Family Weekend wristbands with football tickets as soon as possible.
If you want your USC student to sit with your family at the football game, you will need to purchase a football ticket through the Family Weekend registration. The free student football tickets are not located in the same section with Family Weekend football tickets.
If you want to sit with another family during the football game, you have two options for registration:
1. Complete the registration separately at approximately the same time in order to have the best chances of securing tickets in the same section/rows.
OR
2. Complete a single registration for everyone, but the system will only allow four (4) USC students and eight (8) family members per registration.
We provide as much assistance as possible for ADA requests. If someone in your group has an ADA need, please complete this Family Weekend Accommodations Request by August 15 to ensure the Office of Parent & Family Programs can provide assistance.
Once you have completed and submitted your registration, confirmation will be sent to the email used in the registration. The email will be sent from FEVO Enterprises. Please check your Junk Mail, if you do not see the confirmation. If you cannot locate it, please reach out to Parent & Family programs at scparents@sc.edu for a copy.