FAQ

General

Q: When is Parent & Family Weekend 2023?

A: Friday, November 3rd through Sunday, November 5th

Q: How is this event marketed to families?

A: Announcements for Parent & Family Weekend are shared by email to incoming undergraduate students’ parent/guardian if email addresses have been provided for new student orientation. Save the Date postcards are sent to permanent addresses of incoming students if the student provides no parent/guardian email address. Our preference is to send information electronically so we encourage parents/guardians to have information on file through their students.

 

Registration

Q: Is registration required for Parent & Family Weekend (PFW)?

A: Yes, each family/group must register for the weekend. The registration $65 fee per family covers your access to a variety of programs and activities and includes a souvenir gift.

Q: When does PFW registration begin?

A: Registration will open on September 18, 2023, at 12 pm Eastern Time and close on October 11, 2023 at 5 pm. 

Q: How does registration work?

A: Registering will be easy. The process of registering has been streamlined and will be different from previous years. During registration, users will start by clicking on the registration link that will be at the top of the Registration tab on this site and will directly access the Parent & Family Weekend registration system.

  • Users no longer need to create an Iris account for Parent & Family Weekend registration.
  • After accessing the Parent & Family Weekend registration link, users will have approximately 15 minutes to select options, including ticket purchases, reservations, and gift item orders, and check out.
  • This year, all of the Parent & Family Weekend activity options will be included in the registration site, and users can reserve spaces or purchase tickets in one place.
  • The only purchases for Parent & Family Weekend events that will take place outside of the registration system will be athletic event tickets. There will be an option in the registration process to indicate an interest in purchasing tickets to the Saturday, November 4th home football game and tickets to the Friday, November 3rd Michigan Men’s Basketball Exhibition game. If you would like to purchase tickets to these events, indicate it in registration. You will receive an email within 48 hours that provides directions for selecting your specific seats, purchasing the number of tickets you would like, and a special Parent & Family Weekend code. The codes will only be emailed to families that register for the weekend and indicate that they would like to purchase those tickets. 
Q: Do I need my student’s UMID or uniqname to complete the registration?

A: You do not need your student’s UMID to complete the registration but you will be asked for the student’s UMich email address and name.

Q: Will I receive a confirmation email after I complete my registration?

A: Yes. A confirmation email will be sent to the email used to register for PFW. Please contact us if you are still waiting to receive your confirmation within five business days. 

Q: I have more than one student enrolled at U-M. Which student information do I include in my registration?

A: It does not matter which student’s information you include as long as you are consistent. If you wish for your other student to be able to pick up the tickets at check-in, please include their name when prompted on the registration form. 

Q: After we register, can I make changes or cancel? 
  1. The Parent & Family Weekend Registration Fee is non-refundable.
  2. During the dates that registration is open, you may cancel your entire order for a refund (minus for the registration fee). If you have purchased football tickets, contact Athletics for the cancellation policy.
  3. Instructions on the cancellation process can be found on your registration confirmation.
  4. The deadline to cancel your registration is September 25, 2023, at 5 pm.
  5. Families have been successful in selling their tickets for the weekend to other families, either in advance or on-site. In the registration check-in room on that Friday, there will be a bulletin board where families can post a message if they are hoping to sell or trade tickets.  
Q: What does the $65 registration fee include?

A: What’s included? The Parent & Family Weekend schedule of events begins on Friday and ends on Sunday.

  • The registration fee provides access for a group to participate in the weekend and to receive a limited edition Wolverine Family souvenir.
  • Most events during the weekend are covered by the registration fee, such as school and college open houses, tours, presentations from various Student Life services and programs, and visits to residence halls and museums.
  • Some activities require ticket purchases, such as the annual Parent & Family Weekend Tailgate on Saturday, the home football game vs. Purdue, and the Student Life Brunch on Sunday. Tickets to these events can be purchased while registering and while supplies last.
  • In an effort to include as many families as possible in Parent & Family Weekend, group size and ticket quantities are limited to up to four per registration.
Q: When can I pick up the tickets that I purchased? 

A: Parent & Family Weekend check-in begins Friday, November 3, at 9 a.m. EST at the Michigan Union and will conclude at 7 p.m. EST that same day.  

Q: Can my student pick up our registration materials?

A: Students can pick up Parent & Family Weekend materials at the registration site on Friday between 9 a.m. EST and 7 p.m. EST Students must show their MCard to pick up registration materials. Make sure to list your student’s name when completing the registration so that they are designated as an authorized pick-up person. 

Q: It’s Saturday, and I haven’t picked up my tickets yet; what should I do?

A: You can pick up your registration materials at the Michigan Union Ticket Office (MUTO) between 10 a.m. EST and 5 p.m. EST located on the ground floor of the Michigan Union. These are special hours for the Parent and Family Weekend.

Note: If you can’t make it to the Tailgate to pick up your tickets, the tickets to all other events will be forfeited. 

We strongly recommend that you avoid this scenario by picking up your tickets on Friday at the Michigan Union. Your student can also pick up your tickets for you on Friday by presenting their MCard. Make sure to list your student’s name when completing the registration so that they are designated as an authorized pick-up person. 

Q: Can my souvenir items be shipped to our permanent address?

A: No. For logistical reasons, we are unable to ship out any items purchased through Parent & Family Weekend. We will hold any souvenir items not claimed during Check-in at the Dean of Students Office for two weeks after the Parent & Family Weekend event ends. You may send your student to retrieve your souvenir items from the Dean of Students Office. Make sure to list your student’s name when completing the registration so that they are designated as an authorized pick-up person. 

 

Football

Q: How do I get football tickets for Parent & Family Weekend?
The Parents & Family Weekend Football tickets are now sold out. Please visit the University of Michigan's secondary ticket partner SeatGeek for other options.
  1. Note: Families do not have to purchase football tickets through the PFW registration system. You may purchase the desired quantity and location of tickets you prefer through Athletics and register for the full PFW weekend separately.
  2. Registered Parent & Family Weekend participants can receive access to purchase football game tickets at a special rate.     
  3. The process for buying football tickets at a special rate has changed from previous years.  When registering for the Parent & Family Weekend, you should select the Football ticket option along with your other activity selections. 24 hours after your registration is completed, you will receive an access code by email that will lead to an online football ticket order process. You will select your actual seats, pay the $80 ticket price, and receive digital tickets directly.
  4. Groups that wish to sit together should coordinate with each other before making their ticket purchases in the online system.
  5. Special rate tickets are available while supplies last.
Q: What time is the football game/Tailgate?

A: Kickoff is TBD. The Maize tailgate begins 4.5 hours before the start of the game.  The Blue tailgate begins 2.5 hours before the start of the game.

Q: Does my football ticket grant me entry to the Tailgate?

A: No. The Tailgate is a separate event that requires its own ticket in addition to your ticket to the football game. 

Q: Do football tickets usually sell out?

A: Traditionally, tickets do sell out. We advise you to register early once it is open. You can also purchase tickets from Athletics or 3rd party sites like StubHub but may not receive the same special rate as Parent & Family Weekend participants.

Q: I have ADA needs, can I request ADA seating?

A: Yes, information on requesting accessible seats will be available in the online football ticket system.

Q: Do families who register earlier get better seats for the football game?

A: No. The time of registration has no impact on the location of your seats for the football game. Most seats bought through the Parent & Family Weekend program will be located in the south end zone, although some could be located elsewhere due to high demand. You will select your actual seats.

Q: How many football tickets can I purchase?

A: Each family is allotted four football tickets. 

Q: What if I need more than 4 football tickets?

A: Unfortunately, we can not make any exceptions, as we are only given a certain amount of tickets at the special rate. If you need more than four tickets, we recommend purchasing through Athletics or a third-party seller such as StubHub. This just means your seats will not be in the stadium's Parent & Family Weekend section. 

Q: Will my student need a separate football ticket?

A: If you want your student to sit with you and your family, YES, you will need to purchase a ticket for them. 

Note: Many students have purchased student football tickets, with seats in the designated Student Section. We recommend planning ahead and knowing whether or not your student will plan to sit with you and will therefore need to purchase a ticket with your group.

Q: Should I register for the event if I only want to purchase football tickets? We won’t be attending any other events.

A: There is a $65 registration fee for Parent & Family Weekend in addition to the football ticket price ($80). If you are confident you only want to attend the football game, it better suits your needs to purchase football tickets elsewhere. 

Q: I’m not attending the football game. Are there other events for the weekend?

A: Yes! Plenty of events exist for all interests; the weekend schedule begins on Friday and runs through Sunday. There are performances, campus tours, brunch, and receptions. There is a detailed list of events and their descriptions on the Parent & Family Weekend website. Please take a look to find which events interest you and your family most. 

 

Travel & Planning 

Q: What is the schedule for the weekend? 

A : The schedule of events for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be finalized before registration opens and there will be clear descriptions of each activity. You may choose which events you want to attend, which will impact when you want to arrive and depart. We recommend you review the events closely prior to registration so you are prepared to purchase your tickets once registration opens.

Q: When should we plan to arrive on Friday and leave on Sunday?

A: There are events going on all day Friday (open houses and welcome receptions in the various departments/colleges, campus tours, etc.), so it will be a matter of deciding what events you want to attend. We encourage families to arrive early on Friday to take advantage of the many free events (tours, museum exhibits, college receptions) that afternoon. The main event for Sunday is a brunch (tickets required), and some of the various museum exhibits and performances may also be going on.

Q: Are Hotel Blocks offered for Parents & Family Weekend?

A: Yes! The team has put together a handful of blocks at hotels in and around Ann Arbor. Please visit the “Plan Your Trip” part of the site to see a list of hotel blocks. 

Note: Availability is limited.

Q: All the hotels are booked. What should I do?

A: Yes, many hotels are booking quite quickly for Parent & Family Weekend, and there is not a specific hotel for first-year parents. You can look for options on  Destination Ann Arbor and also search nearby cities and hotels near the Detroit Metro Airport.

Q: Hotels in Ann Arbor are out of my price range. What do you recommend?

A: You may have luck finding hotels with lower rates in some of the neighboring towns just outside of Ann Arbor. This may involve about a 15-20 minute drive into Ann Arbor. 

Neighboring towns to explore:

  • Ypsilanti
  • Canton
  • Plymouth
  • Chelsea
  • Belleville
  • Novi
  • Livonia

 

Q: What are my parking options?
  • Throughout the Weekend
    • Parking in Ann Arbor can be challenging due to our large U-M community, but it will be even more limited during Parent & Family Weekend because of the home football game. Visit our Plan Your Trip page for in-depth details about parking. 
  • Parking and Shuttles for the PFW Tailgate and Football Game Saturday
    • Shuttles to the PFW Tailgate:
      • We will be offering a shuttle service from two on-campus parking structures to the tailgate location, which is the Indoor Training Facility before the game, so we encourage you to park near those shuttle stop locations. 
      • The shuttles will run from the Thompson Street Parking Structure, and the Hill Street Parking Structure.
      • The shuttle first pick-ups will begin at 2.5 hours before kick-off and will run approximately every 15 minutes, until 15 minutes after kick-off.
      • The shuttle pick locations will be indicated by a “Parent & Family Weekend Sign.”
  • Shuttles from the football game back to the parking
    • At the conclusion of the 3rd quarter of the game, we will be offering a shuttle service from the Crisler Center back to the Thompson Street and Hill Street Parking Structures. The last pick-up time is scheduled for an hour after the game ends.
    • Note: Times are approximate and as game day traffic allows. More specific information will be provided once the kick-off has been announced.
    • The shuttles are the UM Blue Buses.
    • Thompson Street Parking Structure Pick-up Location
    • Hill Street Parking Structure Pick-up Location
  •  
    • Crisler Center Pick-up Location
    • (Front of Crisler Center on Stadium Way)
  • Parking for the Football Game
    • For additional information about parking during the football game, visit mgoblue.com.
Q: Is there accessible parking at the football stadium?

A: Athletics has information regarding parking options for those with mobility concerns. This page has more detailed information.