Thank you to all families who attended Cyclone Family Weekend 2024! Dates for Cyclone Family Weekend 2025 will be announced Spring 2025 in the weeks following the release of the football schedule.
Cyclone Family Weekend
Cyclone Family Weekend 2024 has concluded
Why attend Cyclone Family Weekend?
Cyclone Family Weekend is the first time many families will see their student after the start of the Fall semester. By now, your student will have settled into their routine on campus and may have gained more knowledge about the campus culture and offerings. What better way to learn about their experience than to join them in Ames for a weekend full of activities? Cyclone Family Weekend will allow you to strengthen your connection with ISU while spending valuable time with your student at their new home away from home.
Events and Activities
The Cyclone Family Weekend 2024 lineup featured a variety of events and activities that immersed families in the Iowa State experience with the goal of strengthening their connection to campus. Some activities required tickets or wristbands, which were marked on the schedule. All other events were free to attend!
The purpose of Cyclone Family Weekend is for parents and families to engage and spend time with their student while learning about their experiences at Iowa State. The Parent and Family Programs staff also want to increase awareness of campus activities and programs available to students.
Dates for Cyclone Family Weekend are announced during the spring semester.
Many events during Cyclone Family Weekend are free for ISU students and families. Wristbands may be purchased to access a variety of featured events. Meal tickets may also be purchased for the Saturday lunch and Sunday brunch.
Registration for Cyclone Family Weekend will be available at the top of this page in Summer 2025. Information about the registration launch date will be available on the Parent and Family Programs website and ISU Cyclone Family Connection.
Yes. When registering for Cyclone Family Weekend, include your student in the total number of registrants. If you purchase meal tickets or a wristband or reserve tickets for tours, include your student in the count as well.
Please utilize the Cyclone Family Weekend parking map, which shows parking lots that are free for guests to use beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. See the below sign as an example:
Any event with specific parking instructions will be listed in the event description on the Schedule of Events.
The Schedule of Events will be available in Summer 2025. It will contain a list of all the events - ticketed and non-ticketed - along with their scheduled times and locations and a description of each event. If the ticketed events are sold out, there is no need to worry! There are still plenty of free, non-ticketed events and activities that families can enjoy.
Yes. A valid Department of Transportation parking permit/placard for persons with disabilities is required. Locate accessible doors, restrooms, parking, elevators, and automatic doors using this accessibility layer on the ISU campus map.
Please note that we cannot provide wheelchair rentals or golf cart transportation. If your family needs accommodations, we encourage you to seek out a local medical supply company.
Questions?
- Contact Parent and Family Programs, parents@iastate.edu
Feedback we received made it clear that hosting Cyclone Family Weekend when there is a home football game led to many difficulties, including:
- lack of parking availability
- prohibitively expensive hotel costs
- less time for families to learn about other fantastic opportunities on campus
Come back for a game
Parent and Family Programs partners with ISU Athletics to offer families discounted tickets for select football games. Information is announced in the ISU Cyclone Family Connection portal and on this website.
Saturday lunch and Sunday brunch are offered during Cyclone Family Weekend. The menus for those meals include gluten-free and vegetarian items. Additionally, all Iowa State dining halls are equipped to handle any dietary requirements you may have. You're also welcome to explore off-campus restaurants. Many Ames eateries offer gluten-free options.
The Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau's "Discover Ames" initiative provides a complete guide for visitors, with information about lodging, events, dining, shopping, and more.