Frequently Asked Questions
Family Weekend 2024 is from Friday, April 12 through Sunday, April 14.
Family Weekend is an annual event organized by Caltech to provide an opportunity for parents, siblings and other family members of first-year undergraduate students to visit campus, meet faculty and staff, and gain a better understanding of the academic, research and social environment at Caltech. We hope this event will foster connections, create a supportive network that extends to families of undergraduate first-year students, and provide families a glimpse into your student's academic and co-curricular experience at Caltech.
All events will be held on Caltech's campus. Here is an interactive campus map. Your first stop on campus should be the Family Weekend Check-in and Information Center. This is where you will pick up your name tags and weekend schedule. Check-in hours will be Friday, 1:00-5:00pm (Center for Student Services) and Saturday, 9:00-11:00am (Family Lounge)
For parking, visitors are required to display a permit if their vehicle is parked on campus between the hours of 7:00am and 5:00pm Monday through Friday. Parking is free on campus after 5 PM on Friday through Sunday. Please only park in numbered white spaces without names. For additional information on parking permits, please visit here.
Family Weekend 2024 will feature a variety of activities for families to participate in throughout the weekend.
Weekend highlights include:
- Welcome reception at the Athenaeum with student affairs staff
- Faculty talk
- On-campus dining experiences
- Cultural programs, including a jazz festival
- Student-led campus tour
- Student-led residential houses tours
- Upper-year student panel discussion: life at Caltech
- Athletic and recreational activities
Throughout the weekend, you will be able to explore your student's favorite spots on campus, foster connections with other Caltech families, and engage in an enlightening faculty talk featuring Dr. Michael Brown. Additionally, families may have some free time to explore the local Pasadena area and spend quality time with your students.
Please see here for the schedule of events. Family Weekend Schedule. Schedule is subject to change, please check the website for the most up-to-date programs.
Of course! Family Weekend is not limited to parents only. It is open to other family members, including siblings, grandparents, and extended family. Some activities may have age restrictions, so check the event details for verification.
Caltech does not reserve a room block, however select hotels in the neighboring areas will offer discounted room rates for Caltech guests. We recommend contacting area hotels directly to inquire about reservations and rates. Please see here for hotel information.
All events scheduled during the weekend are free to attend for families of enrolled first-year undergraduate students.
Online registration opens on Friday, Feb 23 and runs through Friday, March 22. Please register here (Family Weekend Registration Form) and indicate all events you are interested in attending. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate day-of-event walk-up registrations. If you are planning to attend Family Weekend, please register online before the deadline.
Consider wearing comfortable clothing and walking shoes. Check the weather forecast for the weekend and dress accordingly. Also, remember to bring any necessary personal items. We encourage you to wear any Caltech gear or orange attire! Visit the Caltech Bookstore, Operating Hours: April 12 (9am-5:30pm) and April 13 (9am-3pm) for apparel.
In the interest of health and safety for the campus community and event attendees, if you feel sick or test positive for COVID-19, please do not attend any events or visit campus. Limited masks will be available at the Family Weekend Information Center.
If your plans change and you are no longer able to attend Family Weekend, please email the Office of Student Experience (ose@caltech.edu).
The Associated Students of the California Institute of Technology (ASCIT) will be hosting their annual Formal the evening of Friday, April 12. This will be a student-only event. For first-year students planning to attend Family Weekend events, there will be a bus that leaves campus at 7:30pm to the formal venue.