Cyclone Family Weekend

Cyclone Family Weekend 2026

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 that time, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Cyclone Family Weekend 2026 will take place on October 23-25. Events will begin early Friday afternoon and will end Sunday. 

Many events during Cyclone Family Weekend are free for ISU students and families. Paid meal tickets may be available for hosted meals during the weekend. 

Registration for Cyclone Family Weekend will open September 1 at 12pm CT. Parent and Family Programs will host a webinar August 27 at 12pm CT to walk families through the registration process, and emails with instructions will be sent via ISU Cyclone Family Connection.

 

Yes. When registering for Cyclone Family Weekend, include your student in the total number of registrants.

Please utilize the Weekend Parking Map for information on where to park throughout the weekend. Most weekend parking begins at 5:30pm on Friday. Paid parking is also available in the Memorial Union parking garage and metered spaces across campus.

Any event with specific parking instructions will be listed in the event description on the Schedule of Events. 

The Schedule of Events has been released! Click on the schedule above to learn more.

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? 

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 about 2026 tickets will be announced in the ISU Cyclone Family Connection portal and on this website.

The menus for meals hosted by Cyclone Family Weekend will 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.