ASU

Your Guide To ASU Family Weekend

Family Weekend at Arizona State University is one of the most memorable fall traditions in Tempe.

Each year, parents and supportive family members descend upon Tempe to experience a little piece of campus life with their ASU student. Check out all there is to see and do during ASU Family Weekend, Sept. 22-24, 2023.

Get ready to celebrate ASU spirit, pride and tradition with your Sun Devil and the entire family. Arizona State University provides plenty of fun activities across all four campuses. Tempe programming includes fitness classes, college-specific events, a family block party and more! If you’re not able to attend in person, there will be a virtual component to partake in as well.

Visit the ASU Family Weekend website for full event details and college-specific festivities.

ASU Event Highlights (Tempe Campus):

Friday, Sept. 22


Family Wellness: Access to fitness and wellness facilities and classes
6 a.m.-9 p.m. | Sun Devil Fitness and Wellness Complex | Family Weekend badge required

Visit the ASU Art Museum
11 a.m.–5 p.m. | ASU Art Museum | Free

Sankofa Family Reunion
10:30 to 11 a.m. | Memorial Union, Alumni Ballroom | Family Weekend badge required

People of Color Family Coffee Connection
11 a.m. to noon | Memorial Union, Alumni Ballroom | Family Weekend badge required

Alumni Association: Family Photos with Sparky
2 to 4 p.m. | Old Main Lawn | Registration required (event for ASU Alumni families only)

Family Weekend Shabbat at Hillel at ASU
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. | 1012 S Mill Ave, Tempe AZ 85281 | Separate registration required

NPHC Step Show
7 p.m. | Student Pavilion, Senita Ballroom A | Registration and Family Weekend badge required 

MU After Dark
7–10 p.m. | Memorial Union | Family Weekend Badge Required

ASU Women’s Soccer vs Oregon State 
7 p.m. | Sun Devil Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium | Separate ticket purchase required

Family Weekend Shabbat at Chabad ASU
7:30 p.m. | Chabad at ASU: 971 S. Ash Ave, Tempe | Separate registration required

Festive Friday Night Meal with Olami ASU
7:30 p.m. | Olami House: 69 W 13th St, Tempe | Separate registration required

Saturday, Sept. 23

Gold Rush Obstacle Course
7 a.m. | SDFC-Tempe Field | Family Weekend badge and additional fee required

PTVC Family Matters Brunch
9 to 11 a.m. | Memorial Union, Turquoise| Registration required

Visit the ASU Art Museum
11 a.m.–5 p.m. | ASU Art Museum | Free

Saturday Lunch with Olami ASU
1:30 p.m. | Olami House: 69 W 13th St, Tempe |  Separate registration required

ASU Family Block Party
TBD-3.5 hours before kickoff | Memorial Union, North Stage | Family Weekend badge required

Sparky’s Touchdown Tailgate
TBD-3 hours before kickoff | 6th Street & College Avenue

USC vs. ASU Football
TBD | Mountain America Stadium (formerly Sun Devil Stadium) | Separate ticket purchase required

An Untitled Love
7 p.m. | ASU Gammage | Separate ticket purchase required 

Sunday, Sept. 24

Family Wellness: Access to fitness and wellness facilities and classes
6 a.m.-9 p.m. | Sun Devil Fitness and Wellness Complex | Family Weekend badge required

“A” Mountain Spirit Hike
7 –9 a.m. | Base of “A” Mountain, 5th Street/College Ave | Family Weekend badge required

Desayuno Hispanohablante
9 to 10:30 a.m. | Memorial Union, Alumni Room (2nd Floor) | Family Weekend badge required 

Visit the ASU Art Museum
11 a.m.–5 p.m. | ASU Art Museum | Free

Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei Service with Chabad at ASU
6:10 p.m. | Chabad at ASU: 971 S. Ash Ave, Tempe | Separate registration required 

ASU Women’s Volleyball vs. Washington
7 p.m. | Desert Financial Arena | Separate ticket purchase required

Kol Nidre Pre-Fast Meal & Services with Hillel at ASU
5 to 7:30 p.m. | Memorial Union, Ventana Ballroom (2nd Floor) | Separate registration required

Fall Events:

Before or after ASU sanctioned events, check out one of Tempe’s many fall events. Students can explore their home away from home, and parents can rejoice in experiencing something new.

Sept. 19, 2023 | GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist Samara Joy | Tempe Center for the Arts

Sept. 19 & 26, 2023 | Fall Stadium Yoga Series | Mountain America Stadium (formerly Sun Devil Stadium)

Sept. 20, 2023 | Phoenix Rising FC vs. Indy Eleven | Phoenix Rising FC Stadium

Sept. 22, 2023 | Candlelight Concerts: A Tribute to Taylor Swift | Phoenix Zoo

Sept. 22-23, 2023 | Boots in the Park Music Festival | Tempe Beach Park

Sept. 23, 2023 | ASU Football: ASU vs. UCLA | Mountain America Stadium (formerly Sun Devil Stadium)

Sept. 23-Nov. 12, 2023 | Majestic Mariposas | Desert Botanical Garden

Sept. 27, 2023 | Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo: Funtastic 2023 Tour | Mullett Arena

Through May 2024 | Sending Their Ancestors Home | S’edav Va’aki Museum (formerly Pueblo Grande Museum)

For a full schedule of events, check out our Tempe Events Page.

Things to Do:

With so many yummy restaurants, cool photo spots, hiking areas and shopping around Tempe, there is sure to be something for everyone! Enjoy the sunshine by strolling along a cactus-lined desert trail, boating at Tempe Town Lake or driving through the city on a self-guided mural tour.

  • Visit the ASU Art Museum during your family weekend trip! Check out the current exhibition, “Luis Rivera Jimenez: A Brief Proposal on Race and Cultural Cosplay,” on view through Dec. 31, 2023.
  • At Boat Rentals of America – Tempe Town Lake, everyone can enjoy recreational boating. Select from a variety of watercraft options, including kayaks, pedal boats, electric boats, stand-up paddleboards and more.
  • Discover the tranquil vibrancy of 50,000 desert plants at Desert Botanical Garden.
  • Four Peaks Brewery Tours offers insight into brewery operations, the 8th Street building’s history and the brewing process.
  • Nothing says family time like Axe Throwing! Tempe now has three indoor axe-throwing facilities – very similar to a shooting range, except your weapon of choice is an axe! Check out LumberJaxes Axe ThrowingHotshots Axe Throwing, or Class Axe Throwing for all the fun.
  • Explore a world of curiosity, imagination and discovery at the Phoenix Zoo. See Sumatran tigers, Bornean orangutans, Masai giraffes and exciting encounters at Monkey Village and Harmony Farm.
  • With over 100 shops and restaurants and 300 events a year, Tempe Marketplace provides an unparalleled shopping, dining and entertainment experience.
  • If you want to explore Tempe’s street art scene, we suggest hopping in your car for a self-guided driving tour of a few of our favorite Tempe murals. 

Dining:

  • Which Tempe restaurants are the best for family dining? We will tell you! Check out our shortlist of family friendly restaurants that are a sure bet for a good time.
  • From breakfast to burgers to all kinds of international favorites, you’ll have a hard time choosing from all of the tasty restaurants surrounding Arizona State University Tempe Campus. Plan ahead and visit our University Eats blog for recommendations during Family Weekend.

Parking:

Park on campus like a pro! Arizona State University is one of the largest public universities, so it is safe to say that you may need some pointers navigating the campus. Check out a few helpful tips on parking and transportation to make getting around easier.

Hotels Near ASU Tempe Campus:

Looking for the perfect hotel near the Tempe ASU Campus for Family Weekend? We’ve highlighted the best hotels that are within a 2-mile radius of the ASU Memorial Union.

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ASU transportation tips

Helpful tips on parking, transportation and navigating around the ASU Tempe Campus.

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