Throughout the year, we formally welcome Badger families to campus through personalized events and offerings. Each low-cost, family-friendly event offers a unique opportunity to engage with UW–Madison, experience your student’s college life, and make lifelong memories together.
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Annual Events
Stay informed about upcoming events by subscribing to the Badger Family e-newsletter.
Family Weekend
Save the date! Family Weekend 2023 will take place Friday, October 20 - Sunday, October 22, and welcomes the whole family to experience life as a Badger. The event features a variety of events both on and off-campus, such as discounted Badger hockey game tickets, Chancellor's Welcome Reception, Cheese Walk along State Street, a spirited Badger Family Fest, open classes, entertainment acts and more. We hope to see you here!
SOAR
SOAR stands for Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration and is coordinated by the Center for the First-Year Experience (CFYE). At SOAR, your student will begin their transition to UW–Madison by learning about academic advising, degree requirements, and campus resources. They will also enroll in their first-semester courses.
Badger Family Spring Visit
Badger Family Spring Visit (BFSV) is an opportunity for you to visit your student(s) any weekend during the month of April and attend free or low-cost events in Madison that our team of local pros have compiled specifically for you. There is no fee to register— just come and enjoy time with your Badger.
Commencement
Congratulations, Badger grads! Find more information about the upcoming commencements, ceremonies, rental items and more can be found here.
Football Game Days for Parents and Families
Find out why Madison is ranked one of the top college football towns in the country! The Parent and Family Program annually partners with Wisconsin Athletics to offer three Badger football game day options to parents and family members before single home game tickets go on sale to the general public. This year's presale took place during June 23, 2023; all remaining tickets went on sale to the general public June 24, 2023. Please note, this is a separate event from Family Weekend.
Winter Family Event
Winter Family Event invites the family to warm up their spirits during a cold January weekend with a Badger game! This year's event took place January 20-22. Thank you to all the wonderful Badger Families who stopped by to see us! We can't wait to see you next year.