Family Weekend at the University of Minnesota offers families a chance to build their own experience as they get a glimpse into their student’s life on campus. Gopher Family Engagement, the unit behind the weekend-long event, collaborates with partners from across the University to offer family members tons of fun things to do during their visit.
Last year’s Family Weekend, which ran from September 26 to September 28, 2025, saw over 6,000 family members arrive on campus. We kicked things off on Friday with the Family Expo at Northrop Memorial Hall where families could enjoy learning about campus programs in between snapping photos with Goldy Gopher. Later, attendees got to choose from a variety of activities, ranging from medieval calligraphy workshops to molecular biology lab tours. That evening, families were invited to the Gopher Get Together in Williams Arena where they got to spend time on the court, shooting baskets as a family.
On Saturday, families got to choose their own adventure between football kickoff, open houses, bowling, bingo, pickleball open play, and much more. Over 5,000 family members attended the home football game using a special discounted rate while others opted for self-directed activities on campus and beyond. At any point during the weekend, families could enjoy free access to the University Recreation & Wellness Center and discounted tickets at nearby art and natural history museums.
We bid farewell to families on Sunday, but not before enjoying brunch with the FirstGen Success Center! Attendees also got a chance to meet some furry friends, courtesy of Pet Away Worries and Stress (PAWS) before departing.
“With so many proud Gopher families visiting campus, it is always so much fun to see them spend time with their student(s) and create lifelong memories,” said Gavin Grivna, Director of Gopher Family Engagement. “Every year I have the opportunity to reunite with families who attended last year and meet new families for their first time attending. It is truly incredible to see attendees from 42 of the 50 United States and from a total of 6 countries across the world!" Grivna added.
Each year as Family Weekend concludes, we’re left with an overwhelming sense of Gopher pride. Many families come from out of state, and a few fly in from other countries, but one commonality all attendees share is how proud they are of their student(s) for being a Minnesota Gopher.
