Parent and Family Program
Connecting parents and families to the university
Image of Family Weekend participants enjoy lawn games during a Badger Family Fest event held outdoors at the Memorial Union Terrace along Lake Mendota

Welcome Badger Parent and Families

Badger Family Fest

This year Badger Family Fest will take place on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025

from 11 a.m. CT to 2 p.m. CT

We are excited to welcome you back to the Memorial Union Terrace to meet and mingle with your students and other UW-Madison families. For an idea on what to expect, check-out our our 2024 programming below.

Wheelhouse Studios Image

1. Wheelhouse Studios

11 A.M. – 2 P.M.

Unleash your creativity with Wheelhouse Studio and craft your very own UW-Madison custom-made swag! Dive into the fun of designing personalized friendship bracelets and so much more. Whether you’re looking to make a colorful accessory for yourself or a heartfelt gift for a friend, we’ve got all the materials and inspiration you need.

2. Caricaturist, Tattoo Artist, and Balloon Artist

11 A.M. – 2 P.M.

Swing by to choose your favorite design and get ready to shine with vibrant spray-on tattoos! If you’re instead in search of the perfect souvenir from Family Weekend, take a moment to sit for a quick sketch by a professional caricature artist or a fun ballon design! You’ll leave with a one-of-a-kind keepsake that will bring joy for years to come.

Image of Family Weekend participants enjoy food and conversation during a Badger Family Fest event held outside at the Memorial Union Terrace along Lake Mendota at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
Image of Bucky Badger posing

3. Photos with Bucky

12 P.M- 1 P.M.

Don’t miss your chance to strike a pose with UW-Madison’s infamous mascot and capture a memory you’ll cherish forever. Whether you’re showing off your Badger pride or just want a fun photo op, Bucky’s ready to make it unforgettable.

4. Food

11 A.M.

Come hungry and grab lunch on us! First-come, first-served, with food available for the first 2,000 attendees. Enjoy a classic Wisconsin meal featuring a brat (with gluten-free and vegan options available), chips, a and refreshing beverage.

Image of people on the Memorial Union Terrace

5. UW Credit Union Booth

Come stop by the UW Credit Union Booth to learn more about our proud sponsor and get some swag to take home!

6. Self-Guided Alumni Tour

11 A.M. – 2 P.M.

Enjoy the exhibitions in alumni park: a park to call home and a place where alumni stories are created and shared. Alumni, students, parents, community members, and all Badgers are invited to enjoy this campus landmark.

Image of pedestrians walk by the fountain at Alumni Park with Red Gym (Armory and Gymnasium) in the background on an autumn day on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus

7. Live Music

11 A.M. – 2 P.M.

Terrace Stage

Hailing from Madison, Get Well Now is an indie rock band blending heartfelt lyricism with a dynamic sound shaped by influences like Pinegrove, Her’s, Modest Mouse, and early 2000s pop-punk. The group–Jake Belongia, Will Dark, Logan Romberger, Nathan Tesman, and Jeremy Wisbey–craft songs that balance emotional vulnerability with punchy, melodic energy, channeling the nostalgia of mid-2000s angst through a modern, genre-blurring lens. With raw vocals, jangly guitars, and an undercurrent of introspection, Get Well Now invites listeners into a space where catharsis and catchy hooks collide.

Get Well Now is playing 11-12:30 and WSUM is DJ’ing from 12:30-2