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Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend is a chance to experience some of the best of what ¾ÛÉ«¸ó has to offer. Various campus partners will host a variety of events that will be included in your Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend registration fee. The schedule will be updated throughout the registration period as 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 a separate purchase beyond the registration fee or state a capacity limit.

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

Every year when we ask families to report the highlight of their ¾ÛÉ«¸ó Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend experience, the top answer is spending time with family. No matter what you all choose to do with your time together – enjoy it!

Parents and Families Weekend will be held Sept. 12-13. This is a great time to visit and experience all that the campus has to offer. Several engaging family-friendly programs are planned for the weekend so families can enjoy the campus, create memories, and experience the pride and tradition of ¾ÛÉ«¸ó.

Check-in will be held on the 1st floor of the Kent Student Center from Noon - 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12 and 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Many events are offered during the weekend and include school and college open houses, tours, presentations, family activities and events.  Some activities require ticket purchases, such as the Blue & Gold Paint and Sip, Football game, and Welcome Dinner.

Families should have received an emailed invitation from Parents and Families Engagement in August. Otherwise, families may visit /parents/weekend to register.

No, onsite registration will not be available.

The fee for registration is $27. This covers admission for the entire family.

The registration fee grants you access to many of the events taking place that weekend and include:

• Free admission to the Recreation Center.
• Access to all events, including Bingo, Karaoke with Flash, Black Squirrel Festival, Welcome Dinner, Fashion Museum, May 4th Visitors Center, Football Pre-game celebration with Undergraduate Student Government, and more.
• Registration Bag with an event lanyard, nametags, Welcome Dinner Tickets, and Goody Bags, courtesy of University Culinary Services.
• Opportunity to purchase discounted tickets to the football game for the entire family. Students are admitted free of charge.
• The opportunity to purchase tickets to the Blue & Gold Paint Party for the entire family. Seating for this event is limited to the first 150 guests registered.

Additionally, Parents & Families Appreciation Weekend is a self-funded event. Your registration fee covers the cost of overhead expenses, including publications, postage, registration materials, staff, room and equipment rentals, technology fees, and the non-ticketed events and activities offered during the weekend. Event fees are kept to a minimum; the weekend is designed to cover its costs.

No—only one $27 basic registration is required per family, not per person. This includes access for your entire group to the weekend and all general events and activities.

However, if your family would like to attend special events such as the Football game or Blue and Gold Paint Party, you’ll need to purchase these tickets separately.

Yes, until Sept. 5. After this date, requests for refunds will not be honored.

Contact the Office of Parents and Families Engagement at by phone at 330-672-2980 or email kentparents@kent.edu. 

The PFE team can assist with registration exchanges only after a purchase has been completed and only if a family wishes to participate after the registration deadline. We maintain a waitlist of families who missed the deadline and are hoping to register.

Yes. A confirmation email will be sent to the email used to register for PFW. Please write to us if you do not receive your confirmation within five business days.

An email will also be sent to registrants the week of Sept. 8 with additional information and details.

The registration form allows you to input information for up to two students. It does not matter which student’s information you include, as long as you are consistent. If you wish for your student to be able to pick up registration materials, please include their name when prompted on the registration form.

Yes, students can pick up Parents and Families Weekend materials at the registration site on Friday between Noon and 8 p.m. Students must show their FLASHcard ID to pick up registration materials. Make sure to list your student’s name when completing the registration so that they are designated as an authorized pick-up person.

Each member of your party will receive a name tag that is required to wear for most events. Entry to the Welcome Dinner, Football game and Blue & Gold Paint Party require a ticket. Tickets to the Welcome Dinner and Blue & Gold Paint Party (if purchased) will be provided at check-in. The disbursement of football game tickets will be handled through the Athletic Ticket Office.

Yes, all families must check in for Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend to receive important information and other items. We highly recommend that you send your student to check in your family should you be unable to. All they will need is their ¾ÛÉ«¸ó ID and the name of the person who registered your family to check in.

Families are encouraged to arrive on the day that best fits their needs. Activities will be held Friday and Saturday.

Please visit /parents/hotels-0  for more information.

Several options will be available for families arriving on Saturday and include a pre-game party with Undergraduate Student Government, football game, and public ice skate session.  The Fashion Museum and May 4 Visitors Center will also be open.

You may park in the Visitor’s Lot located on Summit St. in front of the Kent Student Center on Friday. Parking locations are located along Summit Street for Saturday. Please see the parking map . You may park in any of the highlighted areas regardless of its color. There is no charge on Friday or the weekend.

The City of Kent has several activities that your family can enjoy. Here is a list of , , and .   You can also purchase tickets for the football game .

Please contact kentparents@kent.edu to let us know if you or a family member has any dietary restrictions or needs.

¾ÛÉ«¸ó is a large campus and Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend guests may be required to travel longer physical distances and stand at events. If someone in your party is in need of a wheelchair 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 various lots across campus with any ADA parking permit. If you need additional assistance, please let us know at kentparents@kent.edu. 

Your ¾ÛÉ«¸ó student is invited to attend all Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend events with your family. Remember to include your student in the registration.  Anyone can attend the Black Squirrel Festival and football game, however, you must register for the weekend to attend the Blue and Gold Paint Party.

The Parents and Families Weekend website will post a detailed list of events and their descriptions. We recommend you review the events closely before registration, to ensure you are aware of all the events scheduled.

Football tickets will be emailed directly to the individual that made the reservation. For more information, contact the Athletic Office at 330-672-4455 or email Athletictickets@kent.edu. ADA accessibility and seating are available. All persons that require ADA accessible seating for ticketed athletic events should purchase General Admission tickets. Assistance will be available to direct the individuals to the proper seating areas upon arrival at the event.