Family Weekend
September 22-24, 2023

We’re excited to welcome our Huskie families this fall. We have a fun weekend of activities planned. Please see each event on the calendar for specific details. The Welcome BBQ, CAB Family Weekend Mission IMPROVable and Family Breakfast with the President are free, but we ask that you register those events using each event’s “Register” link on the calendar.

Parking is free to family members in many campus lots beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday and throughout the weekend.

Please review the campus parking site for more details about visitor parking. Lots identified with a black box around the lot number on the parking map (PDF) require permits at all times.

While you're here, check out our local options for dining and entertainment, but also consider dining on campus for a true Huskie experience! Whether you grab something from the Huskie Den or Qdoba in the Holmes Student Center or enjoy an Einstein’s bagel or sandwich over in Founders Library, NIU has options for you.

Share in the Huskie experience by enjoying a variety of delectable food options in residential dining with your beloved family and fellow Huskies.

Special Family Weekend pricing in residential dining:
Kids 5 and under eat free
Breakfast $6.50
Lunch $8.50
Dinner $10.50

Check out what’s for lunch and dinner before you decide where to eat. It’s an awesome feature that not only allows you and your Huskie to access daily menus throughout the semester, but it also lists the top eight allergens when applicable, as well as the caloric index for each item served. It’s an amazing perk specific to residential dining.

NIU is fortunate to be a part of a community that is so dedicated to our Communiversity partnership. While you are here, we hope you Explore DeKalb County and all it has to offer. Check out the virtual Visitor’s Guide or stroll through downtown DeKalb which was recently updated to be more pedestrian friendly.

Businesses offering discounts or special shows for Family Weekend include:

  • Whiskey Acres is showcasing a different food truck and musical performance each evening. Receive 10% discount during Family Weekend on cocktails, bottles, swag and tours for anyone wearing NIU gear. 
  • Get discounted tickets for Friday night performance of Penn & Teller present: The Foolers at the Egyptian Theatre. Code NIUFAMILY will activate the $5 off online, over the phone or in-person.
  • The Huskie Den (located in the Holmes Student Center) is partnering with Campus Dining to offer $1 bowling games and $1 pool games during the Huskie Den Grill hours on Saturday. When you participate in either, you will also get a free basket of Huskie chips from The Grill at the Huskie Den.

Football Game and Tailgate

See Huskie stadium fan guide for details about stadium policies, ticket information, tailgating and parking.

Huskie family members may purchase discounted $18 general admission tickets to sit with their student on the east side of Huskie Stadium.

To purchase discounted tickets, enter the promo code “FAMILY23” on the Huskie Football ticket page.

Your student’s general admission ticket free, but they should register their Z-ID online in advance to access their ticket.

The football game kicks off at 11AM. Parking lots open at 6AM. See Huskie stadium fan guide for game day details.

Athletics is hosting "The Yard" tailgate for Family Weekend. The Yard, located on the Stadium West Lawn, is free and open to the public. The Yard opens at 8:00 a.m.

Families are also welcome at the Mission's Grove (adjacent to the Barsema Alumni Visitor Center) from 9 to 11 a.m.

Tailgating is available in any open lot. However, Lot C2 is the most commonly used for gameday parking. Parking for tailgating is free as long as you do not park in a donor lot. See game day parking map for details.

Huskies Fmaily Weekend