UC Davis to welcome families for Parent and Family Weekend Nov. 6-8
Events include a football game against Utah Tech and activities at the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art
By ZAYNAB MOHIUDDEEN — campus@theaggie.org
UC Davis will welcome students’ families to campus Nov. 6-8 for Parent and Family Weekend, offering opportunities to explore academic programs, visit museums and experience students’ daily lives.
The three-day event will feature campus tours, open houses and activities throughout Davis, according to the university’s event website. Families can also attend the Saturday, Nov. 7 football game against Utah Tech University and spend time discovering students’ favorite campus and downtown destinations.
Pauline Moreira, associate executive director of the UC Davis Cal Aggie Alumni Association and Aggie Parent and Family Association, described the weekend as an opportunity for families to better understand their students’ experiences.
“The main goal of Parent & Family Weekend is for parents and families to engage in and learn more about their student’s experience at UC Davis,” Moreira said in an email. “It is an opportunity for families to come back to campus and explore the buildings, walkways, favorite locations and activities their student experiences every day.
Visitor registration for the event has increased about 20% compared to last year, and about 50% compared to 2024, according to Moreira. Roughly 80% of attending parents and families have students in their first year at UC Davis.
Danyela Thurston, co-chair of the Aggie Parent and Family Council’s events committee and the mother of a current fourth-year electrical engineering student, said the weekend helped her connect with the campus community and support other UC Davis ffamilies.
“I have loved being able to volunteer my time and contribute to making events at Davis meaningful for other Davis families,” Thurston said in an email. “ I have children at other universities and Davis is uniquely engaging with parents in a way that I have not seen at any other university. ”
Alongside university-wide events, several campus departments and offices will be hosting their own open houses, tours and meet-and-greets. There will also be a resource fair for university organizations to showcase the different services they provide.
Moreira said the university separated Family Weekend from homecoming celebrations in 2023 and expanded it into a multiday event, allowing families more flexibility to explore Davis. Feedback from previous attendees also encouraged organizers to offer more open houses.
According to the official schedule, a welcome event and resource fair will take place Nov. 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the ARC ballroom. Saturday’s offerings include campus tours, a Botanical Conservatory open house and museum activities.
At the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, families can participate in Art Spark from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Visitors can create fabric collages and explore “The Gift of Fashion,” an installation featuring couture from Maria Manetti Shrem’s personal collection.
Linda Alvarez, the museum’s coordinator of museum programs and student connection, said activities accommodate different ages and skill levels. She also described the galleries as an introduction to the university’s artistic history.
“The permanent collection galleries are a fantastic way to get to know UC Davis,” Alvarez said in an email. “The current exhibitions, which span the length of UC Davis’ history up to the present, highlight the experimental nature of work by UC Davis affiliates and the creative networks and relationships that extend beyond campus, and can be a way of reflecting on how each new class of students builds on and expands the legacies of the university.”
While the official Family Weekend schedule is packed, Moreira encouraged families to explore beyond scheduled activities.
“This is an opportunity for students to share their experience and their environment with their families,” Moreira said. “It’s a great time of year to walk the Arboretum, explore downtown, and for students to also discover places on campus they didn’t know [...] whatever you choose to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy discovering the richness of all UC Davis offers.”
Those interested can find the complete schedule on the official Family Weekend Website.
Written by: Zaynab Mohiuddeen — campus@theaggie.org