Parent & Family Weekend Schedule
Parent & Family Weekend Schedule
September 25-26, 2026
Updated June 3, 2026
More events added often! Ask your student to check with their organizations; they may be hosting events for students and their families.
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Kentucky Museum (1444 Kentucky St.)
Free Admission!
🍰 Don’t Miss Out! The museum is giving away Dolly/Duncan Hines baking mixes to the first 100 visitors to the Duncan Hines exhibit!
Open Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26. Closed on Sunday. Visit wku.edu/kentuckymuseum for exhibit information.
12:00 PM -6:00 PM
Outside Housing & Residence Life Office; Centennial Mall
Families/students who purchased Parent & Family Weekend tshirts and/or tailgate tickets may pick up your order during this time.
Purchase Tailgate Tickets & Shirts4:00 - 6:00 PM
Grise Floor 2 Lobby
4:45-5:10 PM
Diddle statue- outside
between entrances 2 & 3
6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
ConundrumWorkshop
20 % with WKU ID
Escape Games - fun for the whole family
Ticket Link: www.conundrumworkshop.com
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Martens Alumni Center
Spooky-Good Ghost Tour with WKU alumni Dr. Tamela Smith
7:30 PM
Gordon Wilson Hall - Lab Theatre
8.00
Two Short Plays
The Thomas Paine Panther by T.J.Walsh
bigblue by Marissa Alaniz
7:30 PM
Van Meter Hall Auditorium
12.00
Conductor, Dr. Brian St. John
Shostakovich, Jazz Waltz No. 2
Prokofiev, Piano Concerto 1, Dr. Zachary Lopes, piano
Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5
8:30 AM- 2:30 PM
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Kentucky Museum (1444 Kentucky St.)
Free Admission!
Admission is FREE! Open Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26. Closed on Sunday. Visit wku.edu/kentuckymuseum for exhibit information.
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Grise Floor 2
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Martens Alumni Center
Explore the top of the Hill with this self-guided campus challenge! Visit six iconic WKU landmarks, complete each stop, and learn a little more about the places that make WKU special along the way. Whether you're revisiting favorite memories or experiencing campus for the first time, it's a fun way for the whole family to explore together. Return to the Martens Alumni Center after completing all six stops to claim your prize!
10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
ConundrumWorkshop
20 % with WKU ID
Escape Games - fun for the whole family
Ticket Link: www.conundrumworkshop.com
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Mahurin Honors College
Multipurpose Room
Join us for a casual brunch with MHC students, families, and guests! To connect, enjoy good food, and experience the Honors community.
11:00 AM(Doors open 10:30, show at 11)
Hardin Planetarium
Free Admission!
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Martens Alumni Center
Stop by the Martens Alumni Center for a sweet treat and a family photo to remember Parent & Family Weekend! Enjoy a complimentary snow cone, family photos with our professional photographer, and don't miss the chance to snap a picture with a very special guest. It's the perfect way to celebrate your Hilltopper family and create a lasting memory of your visit.
12:00 -5:00 PM
South Lawn; Parent & Family Weekend Tailgate Tent
Families/students who purchased Parent & Family Weekend tshirts and/or tailgate tickets may pick up your order during this time.
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Chandler Hall
Take a time out for snacks, meet the Gordon Ford College of Business Team, and check out your student's home in the Chan.
2:00 -5:00 PM
South Lawn
18.00
Bring the family and enjoy campus tailgating under the big tents on South Lawn!
Ticket includes one meal ticket to be used at one of the food trucks exclusively for Parent and Family tailgate ticket holders, plus soft drinks/water, and a dessert.
Purchase Tailgate Tickets & Shirts2:00- 5:00 PM
South Lawn
Letters from Home: Send Some Hilltopper Encouragement
Parents and families are invited to stop by during the SGA Parent & Family Weekend Tailgate to write a quick postcard of encouragement for their WKU student. SGA will collect the postcards and make sure they are delivered later in the semester as students head into finals—a small surprise and reminder that someone is cheering them on.
2:00 - 5:00 PM
South Lawn
3:00- 5:30 PM
South Lawn
National Concrete Canoe Champions
Join us on WKU South Lawn to celebrate these students on winning the Civil Engineers National Concrete Canoe Championship!
3:00 -5:00 PM
DSU Night Class
Contact Mr. Jimmie Martin at jimmie.martin@wku.edu.
6:00 PM
Houchens Industries - L.T. Smith Stadium
Promo Code Applied at Checkout
If you plan to have your student sit with you, include them in your ticket purchase.
7:30 PM
Gordon Wilson Hall - Lab Theatre
8.00
Two Short Plays
The Thomas Paine Panther by T.J.Walsh
bigblue by Marissa Alaniz
Check back often for more updates, and sign up on the WKU Parent & Family Portal to receive WKU news and updates directly to your inbox:
Other Events Around Town
Bowling Green, Kentucky is a vibrant city full of things to do. If you find yourself with some extra time during Parent & Family Weekend, check out what is going on around town!
Southern Tripper: Best Things to Do in Bowling Green
Crazy Family Adventure: Bowling Green
For more information about Parent & Family Weekend, contact parentsandfamilies@wku.edu
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