Join us for Family Weekend
October 2–4, 2026
Family Weekend registration will open in July.
Details below will be confirmed at that time.
Family Weekend is an excellent opportunity to visit your students and share in the rich traditions and culture of Wake Forest. Experience firsthand your students’ favorite places on campus, meet their friends and their families, and learn more about available resources and opportunities.
Weekend highlights include our Deacon Family Festivities on Friday, access to the student tailgate area before the game time, the big game against Stanford at Allegacy Stadium on Saturday, a Farewell Brunch on Sunday, and much more!
Key Dates
- May 2026 – Tickets for Wake Forest vs. Stanford to be available.
- July 2026 – Family Weekend registration and schedule to be released.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a number of things we must consider when selecting a date for Family Weekend. Some of those include hotel availability based on other events scheduled within the Piedmont Triad, the ideal timing based on the start and end of the academic semester, our home game schedule as determined by the NCAA and ACC, and more. We are excited to welcome you to campus again this year!
The Family Weekend schedule and registration will be available in early July. Updates will be reflected here on our site, and additional information will be communicated through the Daily Deac and parents.wfu.edu. As usual, the schedule includes various open houses or tours, the Deacon Family Fest, the Night of Student Performances, and so much more!
The $50 Family Registration includes visitor badges for up to 4 visiting family members, Deacon Family Festival activities and giveaways, and a game-day spirit pack and provides access to all signature Family Weekend campus activities; not to mention, families registered for the weekend are welcome to join their Deacons for food trucks, music, and fun at the tailgates before kickoff!
The Sunday morning breakfast/brunch meal requires a separate ticket for everyone who wants to attend, including a current WFU student.
Students will not need credentials to participate in activities on campus.
If your party will include more than 4 campus visitors, additional badges may also be purchased at $15 each.
Note that tickets to the Football game will need to be purchased from the Athletics website (coming soon).
There are a small number of ticketed events during the weekend. Please check the list below for which will require tickets for students to attend with the family:
- Family Weekend credentials badge – students will not need a badge
- WF vs. Stanford game – students can get a free ticket to sit in the students’ football section with the Screamin’ Demon Rewards App (ticket claims open at noon the Monday before the game). If your student wants to sit with you, you will need to purchase a ticket for your student.
- Farewell Brunch – your student will need a ticket
Not a problem! You can register on-site. On-site registration is $75.
Once you have registered, making changes is easy. We’ll have a guide available with instructions in July.
Yes! While there may be a few menu adjustments as the weekend draws closer, a sample menu will be available in July.
The game at Allegacy Stadium is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, against Stanford. Game time will be released at a later date. Tickets for the Family Weekend football game will be available in May.
Do I need a ticket for my student? Students can get a free ticket to sit in the students’ football section with the Screamin’ Demon Rewards App (ticket claims open at noon the Monday before the game). If your student wants to sit with you, you will need to purchase a ticket for your student.
The football game will take place on Saturday, October 3, at Allegacy Stadium. Tickets will be available in May. An email will be sent to ticket purchasers following the game-time announcement.
For ticketing questions, please contact the WFU Athletic Ticket Office at 336.758.3322 or email tix@wfu.edu.
To learn more about Game Day parking, clear bag policies, mobile ticketing instructions, and more, visit the Game Day Guide page at godeacs.com.
The student tailgate area opens 3 hours before game time for Family Weekend. Family Weekend participants are welcome to join students at that time if they have a Family Weekend credential and a game ticket. Those without Family Weekend credentials but with a valid ticket may join the students when gates open for the game. Family Weekend credentials can be purchased at registration.
Check with your student directly to find out if their organization is hosting a tailgate. Many organizations will host their own tailgates in the parking lots and may also have food and beverages.
Note that we follow a Clear bag policy for entry into the stadium. Please review prior to arrival.
21. Local Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) has been known to attend tailgates and look for underage drinkers and have issued citations to students for underage consumption. In some families’ home states, the consumption of alcohol by a child, when the alcohol is provided by the parent, is allowed, but that is not the case in NC.
Families may wish to act now to secure a hotel or other lodging for the weekend. We encourage families to consider Air BNBs, VRBOs, etc., as well as hotels outside the immediate near-campus/downtown Winston-Salem vicinity; there are some great hotels in Greensboro and High Point (about a 30-minute drive from campus). For a list of local hotels, check visitwinstonsalem.com.
Family Weekend Check-In will be open on Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3. Check-in will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday. Saturday check-in will depend on game time and will close 2 hours before kickoff.
Families are welcome to park in our guest lots on campus when they arrive. Those lots can be located on our campus map.
Based on previous feedback, we have removed the requirement to pre-register for tours that do not require a pre-purchased ticket. This change removes any angst families may have about availability and allows us to accommodate our guests on a first-come, first-served basis when they arrive on campus with additional time in their schedule.
Since we are always looking for ways to enhance the weekend, we will be adding some new options as they arise. Specifically, final updates will be published after the football game time is announced and the Saturday programming can be finalized.
There are several tours, open houses, and other experiences being offered throughout the weekend. Please note that unless it is explicitly stated that tickets are required for an event, all tours, open houses, presentations, and performances will be open to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The cut-off date for refund requests will be available in July.
- Processing time for refunds is 3-5 business days. After processing, the posting time is determined by your bank. Please note that all handling fees are non-refundable.
- If you cancel items on the same day you purchased them, you will receive a system email that indicates your refund has failed. This happens when a refund is requested before the original purchase has been processed. You can disregard this message as it simply indicates your refund is pending and will be processed the following day. If you received this message for any other scenario, please get in touch at familyweekend@wfu.edu and we will do our best to help.
- In the event of inclement weather, this refund policy continues to apply.