Frequently Asked Questions

Family Weekend is a chance to experience the best of a busy fall weekend in Lexington! If you’re planning on joining the fun, expect larger crowds, traffic, and more limited parking. Investigate bus, ride-share, and walking options and plan accordingly. We’ll put together the information you need in the Family Weekend materials that you can pick up at Family Weekend Check-in. You’ll find that same information on our website and in the UK Guides mobile app. 

Parent and Family Engagement and other campus partners will host signature events that will be included in your Family Weekend registration fee. The Family Weekend schedule will be available prior to registration opening in mid-July and will be updated throughout the summer and fall as new events and more details are added.

We do our very best to accommodate as many families as possible, but we are limited by venue capacities and safety regulations. Please read the schedule carefully and note any events that require advanced registration or a separate purchase beyond the registration fee.

Events will go on rain or shine, so please check the weather and plan accordingly. Fall weather in Kentucky can be unpredictable – be prepared! 

Every year when we ask families to report the highlight of their UK Family Weekend experience, the top answer is spending time with family. No matter what you all choose to do with your time together – enjoy it! 

Beginning July 8, families will register for Family Weekend through our Cat Chat Family Community. If you are not currently a member of the Cat Chat Family Community, you can sign up at go.uky.edu/catchat to update your profile and communication preferences and register for Family Weekend. 

All UK students, guests, and children must be registered to attend Family Weekend events on campus, access discounted football tickets, and register for off-site excursions through our system.
 

• Current UK students: Free with registered guest
• Guests: $55 per guest (Children under the age of 3 are free but must be registered.)
• Late guest registration will be available September 1 - 20 until 4 p.m. ET for $65 per guest.

Registration for Family Weekend will include:
 

• A Family Weekend VIP event pass button that will get you into all Family Weekend campus events
• Food and drinks during A Taste of the Kentucky Doughnut Trail and Bowman's Bash (both will be held on Saturday, September 21)
• Access to discounts on Family Weekend football tickets (first-come, first-served, sold separately through UK Athletics)
• Family Weekend and UK giveaways throughout the weekend
• Special guests and surprises!

Please note that Family Weekend t-shirts are not included in the registration fee but will be available for purchase on the registration form through September 15. T-shirts and other apparel will not be sold on site. 

Optional add-on Lexington excursions are also available for additional purchase with your Family Weekend registration.

The University of Kentucky does not want financial hardship to deter families from participating in Family Weekend. If your family is experiencing hardship, you can request a fee waiver by emailing parents@uky.edu or calling 859-257-2752, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET. 

If you would like to provide a UK family experiencing hardship the opportunity to attend Family Weekend, consider donating to the UK Parents Philanthropy Fund. Families experiencing hardship can request a fee waiver by emailing parents@uky.edu or calling 859-257-2752, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET. Gifts made to the University of Kentucky are tax deductible.

Registration is required to gain entry into most Family Weekend events. The registration fee covers most of the major on-campus events except the UK vs. Ohio football game. 

If your family is interested in off-campus excursions, we have several options available for an additional fee. 

More information can be found in the schedule of events online and in the UK Guides mobile app. 

All UK students, guests, and children must be registered to attend Family Weekend events on campus, access discounted football tickets, and register for off-site excursions through our system. You may register your entire group on one registration form. 

• Current UK students: Free with registered guest
• Guests: $55 per guest (Children under the age of 3 are free but must be registered.)
• Late guest registration will be available September 1 - 22 until 4 p.m. ET for $65 per guest.

Yes, children 3 years of age and younger will need to be included on your Family Weekend registration. There is no charge for them to attend, but they must be included on your registration for planning purposes. 

Yes, your UK student will need to be included on your Family Weekend registration. There is no charge for your student to attend, but they must be included on your registration for planning purposes. 

Students will be asked to check in at Family Weekend events using their BBNvolved Event Pass, which UK uses to track participation in a variety of campus events, including K Week, Student Activities Board events, and more. 

Refunds will only be available through September 15, 2024. After that time, we are unable to offer refunds since plans will have already been made based on initial registration numbers. 

All Family Weekend registrants will receive a Family Weekend button at check-in that will grant them access to all events on the Family Weekend schedule (unless otherwise specified on the schedule).

We will not have the ability to register families on site. You can register through your mobile devices or computers through Friday, September 20, at 4 p.m. ET.

Though Family Weekend registration will not sell out, there may be events with limited capacities. Be sure to pay close attention to the schedule to note any event with limited capacities. If any tours or excursions reach capacity, you will be able to join a waitlist and will be contacted if space becomes available.

Family Weekend check-in will be located on the 1st floor of Frazee Hall (406 Administration Drive), Monday through Saturday of Family Weekend. Send your student early to pick up your Family Weekend information, swag, and apparel to avoid long lines. 

Check-in will be open:

• Monday, September 16 - Thursday, September 19 from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Friday, September 20 from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• Saturday, September 21 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Yes, all families must check in for Family Weekend to receive important information, swag, and apparel. We highly recommend that  you send your student to check in your family early to avoid long lines. All they will need is their BBNvolved event pass.

While t-shirts have been included in the registration fee at times in the past, we decided that families would rather have their student get free access to Family Weekend events than get a t-shirt. So this year students do not have to pay for Family Weekend registration (they do still need to be included in their family's registration but there is no charge for them) but t-shirts are an additional charge. We are also excited to add other apparel and swag options for families to purchase this year! Please note that apparel sales will conclude on September 15 and will not be available during Family Weekend. If we have items left over after Family Weekend, sales will reopen at that time. 

We will have a limited number of additional sizes available on a first-come, first-served basis at Family Weekend check-in. 

You can go back into the Family Weekend registration form to add another person to your order. No need to create a separate order!

The Family Weekend event schedule can be found on the Family Weekend website and on the UK Guides Family Weekend mobile app in July. Events and updates may be added to the schedule throughout the summer and fall. 

Events will go on rain or shine, so please check the weather and plan accordingly. Fall weather in Kentucky can be unpredictable – pack an umbrella and jacket so you’ll be prepared!

We hope families will review the schedule we have put together and pick the events that most appeal to them. We won’t be offended if families ditch our schedule and do something entirely different. We just want you to have fun as a family here in Lexington! Check out www.visitlex.com for more information about Lexington.

All the Family Weekend information you need on the go is available in the UK Guides mobile app beginning in July! You may have downloaded UK Guides while you were on campus for Big Blue Nation Orientation, so you'll want to go into the app and add the Family Weekend guide. You'll find the full schedule of events and can add the events your family wants to attend to create a personalized schedule. Beyond that, you'll find FAQs, links to campus maps and Lexington visitor information, discounts for you and your family to use while you're in town for Family Weekend, and more. It is a handy guide for your time on campus and exploring Lexington! 

We’re excited to be able to offer a home football game to Family Weekend participants this year, but we had hoped for a kickoff later in the day! With UK Football taking on the Ohio Bobcats at 12:45 p.m., there is not enough time to offer A Taste of the Kentucky Doughnut Trail and the Family Weekend Tent Party in the morning. Past experience has also shown that the tent party is not as popular with students and families in the morning.

Our wonderful Family Weekend student staff helped come up with an alternative to the tent party, and we’re hard at work planning a fun event in the Gatton Student Center on Saturday evening called Bowman's Bash. After we cheer on the Cats to victory at Kroger Field, Bowman's Bash will provide an evening of games, inflatables, magic, prizes, refreshments, and fun with other UK families!

The Family Weekend planning team reviews survey feedback each year and noted a theme in last fall’s responses about the cost of travel and overnight accommodations. There were also a number of families who live within driving distance of Lexington and wanted to come to campus for gameday but not necessarily stay overnight. 

In talking to UK students, many expressed an interest in a laid-back Friday night with their families going out to dinner off campus and running errands (no doubt they hope you’ll take them grocery shopping or a tour of horse country!). With families departing at a variety of times on Sunday, a decision was made to schedule A Taste of the Kentucky Doughnut Trail on Saturday morning instead. This decision to consolidate major events to Saturday was made in consultation with UK’s Parent Advisory Council.

For families staying through the weekend, we have a variety of additional opportunities scheduled for your consideration. We also encourage you to chat with your Wildcat about how they’d like to spend the weekend with you. 

A post-Family Weekend survey will be sent to all registrants this fall, and we hope that you will share your feedback with us!

We recognize that not all families will want to partake in the official Family Weekend activities, and we encourage you to do what is best for your unique family. Family Weekend registration is required to book excursions with other Family Weekend participants. If your family does not want to register for Family Weekend, you are welcome to contact our local partners and ask about arrangements to book tours or visits independently. Whatever you do during Family Weekend, we hope you have fun with your Wildcat family! 

No, any family member of a current UK student is eligible to buy discounted football tickets to the UK - Ohio game. Registration for Family Weekend is not required for eligibility.

Single-game tickets will go on sale prior to July 29, but we encourage families to wait for the Family Weekend discounted tickets that will be available starting on the 29th. UK Athletics anticipates ample ticket inventory for UK families. 

If families want to sit in the student section with their Wildcat, guest tickets will go on sale within a week or two of the game in September. The Family Weekend discounted tickets will not be in the student section. 

Even if they have purchased a student season pass, current UK students who would like to sit with their guests will need to purchase a discounted student ticket to be seated with their party. To ensure all tickets in your group are seated together, please be sure to purchase in the same transaction. 

Visit UKathletics.com/gameday this fall for more information on gameday policies.

More than 40,000 people a day visit the University of Kentucky – even more during Family Weekend. While parking lots are spread throughout campus, please realize that you may have to park a short walk from your destination and allow extra time.

Most employee lots and student commuter lots are accessible and available on weekends and do not require permits after 3:30 p.m. on Friday afternoons until 5 a.m. Monday mornings. These include many North and Central Campus E (employee), C (commuter) and K (Kroger Field) lots.

The Cornerstone Parking Garage on S. Limestone will be open Friday - Sunday and will not require a permit.

The Scott Street parking lot, across from the Taylor Education Building, will be open on Saturday for game day parking and will not require a permit.

Signs are posted at the entrance of each lot to make you aware of parking regulations and any permit requirements.

Do not park in R (residential) lots.

Spaces for visitors with disabilities are located throughout campus in close proximity to entrances of university buildings. These spaces, however, typically require an ADA-accessible permit issued by UK Transportation Services or a gate attendant. During Family Weekend only, UK will allow the use of state-issued ADA-accessible permits. If you need assistance with locating accessible parking, please contact Transportation Services at 859-257-5757 or toll-free at 800-441-0555. You can contact them via email at UKTransportation@lsv.uky.edu.

No. You will not need a special Family Weekend parking pass to park on campus during Family Weekend.

Buses will be available on campus throughout Family Weekend. UK's Blue and White routes will be available on Friday from 6:45 a.m. - midnight (every 7-10 minutes). UK's Yellow route will run on Sunday, noon to midnight (every 15 minutes).

On game day, Family Weekend guests have two shuttle options.

As on all home football weekends, shuttles are provided by LexTran for $1 per ride. LexTran shuttle information will be available in August on the UK Athletics Game Day website.

On September 21, Family Weekend guests wearing their event buttons may ride the free Family Weekend guest shuttles from 9 a.m. until 1 hour after the football game. 

Family Weekend guest shuttles will have various pick-up and drop-off locations around campus, including:

• Scott Street parking lot, across from the Taylor Education Building
• Administration Drive
• Rose Street, across from Maxwell Place
• Hilltop Drive, in front of The 90
• Corner of University and Cooper Drive

Download the UK Guides Family Weekend mobile app for more information about shuttles this fall.

The University of Kentucky is a large campus and Family Weekend guests may be required to travel longer physical distances and stand at events. If someone in your party is in need of a wheel chair or other mobility equipment, please make arrangements ahead of time to bring equipment with you or to rent equipment from a local vendor. ADA parking is available on campus with any ADA parking permit and event drop off location information is available on the schedule. If you need additional assistance, please let us know at parents@uky.edu. 

On the Family Weekend registration, you will have the opportunity to let us know if you or a family member has any dietary restrictions or needs. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact parents@uky.edu.

• We welcome and onboard families of new UK students into the campus community.
• We communicate with families of UK students about campus news, engagement opportunities, resources, programs, and initiatives.
• We educate families of UK students on policies, resources, and best practices.
• We connect families of UK students to campus and community resources.
• We serve as a referral agent to families of UK students for University of Kentucky and Lexington-based resources and services.
• We provide in-person and online engagement opportunities for UK students and their families.
• We consult with families regarding issues or concerns involving their UK student(s).
• We provide support to families with UK students in crisis.
• We support campus partners in their work with families of UK students.
• We provide information/support to UK students who are parents or guardians.

We embrace a multidimensional concept of family and the diversity of family structures, including families of origin and families of choice. We are proud to serve parents, guardians, grandparents, spouses/partners, and any other supportive people in the lives of our students. 

To support UK parents and families (and ultimately, our students), we offer: 

• Cat Chat Family Community, a one-stop shop for family communications and Family Weekend event registration 

• Special events such as Family Weekend 

• Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram 

• Support from the Parent and Family Engagement staff 

• Parent Advisory Council, a volunteer group of approximately 30 UK family members 

The Cat Chat Family Community, a one-stop shop for family communications and Family Weekend registration, is a wonderful resource for Wildcat families! If your Wildcat provided your email address on their admissions application, you will automatically be added to the Cat Chat Family Community. If the university does not already have your email address, you may sign yourself up here. We define family very broadly and welcome all supportive adults in our students’ lives to be part of the Wildcat family! 

To update your information, click "Edit My Profile" and/or "Edit Notification Preferences" in the Cat Chat Family Community (look in the upper right corner of your screen). 

When you call or email the Office of Parent and Family Engagement, you will reach the Director of Parent and Family Engagement or another one of our outstanding student or professional staff members. We will be happy to help you find the answers to any questions you may have.

If you are interested in becoming more involved, check out the our Get Involved page for more information.

Concerns regarding students can be reported to our Center for Support and Intervention staff at www.uky.edu/concern, and potential violations of the Code of Student Conduct can be reported to the University's Office of Student Conduct at www.uky.edu/studentconduct/. 

Imminent concerns about safety should be referred to the University Police Department at 859-257-UKPD (8573).    

The Office of Parent and Family Engagement is always trying to improve and provide the best resources and services for parents and families. In order to do that, we need your help. That is where the surveys come in. We use the information that we gather through surveys to better inform our programs and events and learn about the needs of students, parents, and families at UK.

A power of attorney is a legal document that designates a specific individual to act on another person’s behalf. When considering a power of attorney for college students, parents or guardians are most often seeking medical or financial powers of attorney to plan in case their student finds themselves in a medical situation where they are unable make decisions for themselves.

Medical power of attorney gives a designee the right to make health care decisions when the individual is medically unable to do so. It does not automatically give parents or guardians the right to access Protected Health Information covered under HIPPA and state law mandates while their student is still able to make decisions for themselves.

Financial power of attorney, or general power of attorney, gives a designee the right to make financial decisions when the individual is medically unable to do so. It does not give parents or guardians the right to view university financial records while a student is able to make decisions for themselves and does not automatically enable parents or guardians access to view/pay their student’s bills or view/approve their student’s financial aid. Students do have the option to authorize guest access to their student account so that a third party can view and pay bills. More information about guest access can be found at https://www.uky.edu/studentaccount/guest-access.

The University of Kentucky does not maintain power of attorney records in a student’s file; therefore, it is important that both the individual seeking the power of attorney and their designee have a copy of all power of attorney documentation. Please note that a financial or medical power of attorney does not automatically give a student’s designee the right to educational information protected by FERPA, such as grades or other educational information.

Students who would like to provide access to their grades or other educational information with a third party must complete a FERPA waiver through myUK. Students can learn more about how to initiate a FERPA waiver on the University of Kentucky’s Registrar website (https://registrar.uky.edu/ferpa).

The University of Kentucky does not provide legal counsel to parents or guardians.

Parent Advisory Council members who volunteer during Family Weekend are responsible for a number of different tasks that include greeting and checking in families, distributing materials, giving directions, answering questions for new UK families, setting up and breaking down events, and more. Volunteers will need to arrive early and will be able to leave shortly after each event. More information will be communicated with Parent Advisory Council members before each event. 

Each Parent Advisory Council meeting is customized to highlight current programs, events, and initiatives on campus. A typical meeting might include getting to know other council members over coffee or a meal, hearing presentations from faculty, staff, or administrators, and providing feedback about the university. 

Most council members choose to wear business casual attire to meetings; they prefer comfortable UK gear at events. We provide t-shirts for council members to wear at some events; we will let them know ahead of time if specific attire is required. 

Do you have a gift and passion for fundraising? Would you like to be more involved in philanthropy at UK? Contact the Director of Philanthropy, Melanie Barber, at melanie.barber@uky.edu, 859-275-7893.