Parent & Family Weekend 2024

November 1, 2024 – November 3, 2024

Recordings from Parent & Family Weekend 2023


Future Parent & Family Weekend Dates

Parent & Family Weekend 2024

November 1, 2024 – November 3, 2024

Parent & Family Weekend 2025

September 26, 2025 – September 28, 2025


Travel Information

Learn about St. Louis, including how to get around the city and some of the highlights to visit and experience. You can also learn more about St. Louis hotel options through WashU’s Undergraduate Admissions.

More information about what to see, visit, and experience while in St. Louis can be found in the “Get to Know St. Louis” section at the bottom of this page.

Accessibility Statement

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events. If you have a disability and require accommodations (such as assistive listening device, captioning, large print, reserved front row seat, advanced copy of slides to be projected, etc.) in order to fully participate in our Parent & Family Weekend, please email Student Transitions & Family Programs at least 10 business days in advance.


Families Facebook Page

Follow us on Facebook to receive updates on the event and to access Parent & Family Weekend content and resources.


Frequently Asked Questions

Is Parent & Family Weekend just for families of first-year students?

Families of students across all undergraduate Classes attend the weekend. The majority of programs and events are for any and all family members and students. Additionally, Student Transitions & Family Programs supports family members throughout a student’s entire WashU career.

What are students doing during the weekend?

When planning to visit for Parent and Family Weekend, we encourage you to coordinate with your student around their schedule.

Please note, classes are not cancelled on Friday and you may want to check with your student regarding his or her class and study schedule for the weekend as many students will have exams, papers, and projects the week after you visit.

I have a family member who will need a wheelchair or additional accommodations during the weekend. How do I prepare for this?

If a guest attending Parent & Family Weekend requires a wheelchair, please contact Medical West at 314.725.1888. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide wheelchairs to attendees on campus. If you have additional accessibility needs, please contact our office.


Get to Know St. Louis!

We asked our students to tell us some places they would like to visit with their families during Parent & Family Weekend. Below we have listed some of the many places they were excited to share with their families. 

We didn’t have room to list all of the exciting places our students recommended, so we encourage you to talk with your student to see what they may be interested in doing.

We have also created a St. Louis Dining Guide and Shopping Guide for families to use when looking for local dining and shopping establishments they may want to visit.

For more ideas on events and things to do in St. Louis, we recommend checking out the Explore St. Louis website.

Next to Campus

Forest Park:
One of the largest urban parks in the United States. At 1,371 acres, it is approximately 500 acres larger than Central Park in New York City. Home to some of St. Louis’ best cultural institutions and spots to explore, such as:

The Delmar Loop
Adjacent to campus is a student favorite, the Delmar Loop! With plenty of restaurants, shops, and things to do, the Loop has something for everyone.

Downtown

St. Louis Union Station:  
St. Louis Union Station offers a number of experiences including the St. Louis Aquarium, the St. Louis Wheel, the A-MAZE-ING Discoveries Mirror Maze, a Ropes Course, Mini Golf, a Carousel, the Fire & Light Show, and The Grand Hall Light Show.

Citygarden:
Citygarden is an urban sculpture park located in downtown St. Louis. The park is an oasis of free interactive art, fountains, and gardens spanning two blocks in downtown St. Louis. Paved, winding paths lead visitors past 24 sculptures resting on wide lawns, six rain gardens, a children’s spray plaza, and a 180-foot-long pool with a six-foot waterfall.

The Gateway Arch and Riverboat Cruises:
The Gateway Arch is 630 feet high, making it the tallest monument in the United States. The 4-minute Tram Ride to the Top takes you to the viewing platform where 16 windows look out on downtown St. Louis, the Mississippi River, and Illinois. Within the Gateway Arch is a museum that explores the history of St. Louis and the American westward expansion.

The Riverboats at the Gateway Arch offer an opportunity to see the skyline of St. Louis as you traverse the Mississippi River.

Midtown

City Foundry
Almost 100 years ago, the Century Electric company purchased the Midtown St. Louis property now known as City Foundry STL. At the time, Midtown was a manufacturing hub for the city, thanks to its proximity to the Wabash Railroad line, which cuts across the City Foundry STL Property. Today, this 15-acre site has been reimagined as City Foundry STL, with first-to-the-area makers and merchants moving to the complex. The food hall is now open and features something for everyone: gourmet delights, a quick lunch on the go, and everything in between.

Grand Center Arts District:
Recognized as the cultural hub of the region, Grand Center Arts District offers art for everyone — no matter one’s taste. An electrifying deluge of culinary, visual, and performing arts will stimulate all who venture within the one-mile, 175-acre radius, and chocked full of sensory delights. With more than 12,000 theater seats representing 50 arts organizations, 20 restaurants and bars, a dozen art museums, two hotels, two performing arts parks, and two universities, the area is a vibrant epicenter of action.

Missouri Botanical Garden:
More than 150 years ago, Henry Shaw founded the Missouri Botanical Gardens as a place of beauty and floral display, but also as an institution of scientific research and education. Today, visitors can enjoy the beautiful gardens, take classes about sustainability, and enjoy specialty programming the Garden offers throughout the year.

Central West End

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis is a one-of-a-kind work of art. With its lofty vaults and radiant mosaics (the largest mosaic collection in the world outside Russia), the sheer scale of beauty is a thing of awe. The museum and tours of the Cathedral Basilica offer any visitor a guided overview of just how much there is to see and learn about the historic site.

 World Chess Hall of Fame:
The World Chess Hall of Fame presents world-class exhibitions that explore the connection of chess to art, culture, and history.

Day Trips

Cahokia Mounds
The remains of the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization north of Mexico are preserved at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. Within the 2,200-acre tract, located a few miles west of Collinsville, Illinois, lie the archaeological remnants of the central section of the ancient settlement that is today known as Cahokia.

Meramec Caverns
The amazing cave system sitting below Missouri is on display at Mermac Caverns. Tour the caves, zipline through the tree tops, or take in the rich beauty of nature.