Family Weekend 2018 Final Details
Greetings!

Thank you for registering for Family Weekend 2018 at the University of South Carolina! We look forward to welcoming you to campus next weekend, Oct. 5-7! Please read all of the information below as it includes important details to know before arriving on campus.

The final details for Family Weekend have been set and posted to the Parent & Family Programs mobile app . You can view the schedule of events with all finalized event times and locations on the Family Weekend website and in the mobile app.

At check-in you will receive the Guide to Family Weekend and your registration packet. Your Family Weekend wristbands are included in this packet; these are required for entry into all Family Weekend events. You will also receive drink tickets for registered guests age 21 and older, football tickets (if ordered) and information about campus parking.
Check-In
You may check in and pick up your packet with the weekend's information, your Family Weekend wristbands and tickets during the following Family Weekend Check-In times:

  • Thursday, Oct. 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Russell House Ballroom.
  • Friday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Russell House Ballroom.
  • If you are unable to pick up your materials Thursday evening or Friday before 5 p.m., please encourage your student to check in for you. They will need to have their CarolinaCard to pick up the packet.
  • Offices and departments from around campus will be available at the Resource Fair during this time.
  • Gameday shuttle wristbands will be sold during this time in the 2nd floor lobby. Shuttle wristbands are $3 (cash only sales) and can also be purchased Saturday morning at the shuttle locations. Students ride for free with their CarolinaCard.
  • Friday, Oct. 5 from 8 to 11 p.m. at Rock the Roost at the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center.
  • Saturday, Oct. 6 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Tailgate Party located on the corner of National Guard and Bluff Roads by Williams-Brice Stadium.
Check-In parking
You may park for free in the Bull Street Parking Garage . Enter at gate three and take a ticket. When you leave, show your Family Weekend wristband and parking pass to exit for free. When you walk out of the Bull Street Parking Garage, follow the signs toward the Russell House University Union.

Parking meters are also available around campus and in the Pendleton Street Parking Garage. Additional information about parking options for the weekend will be provided in the packet you receive at Check-In.
Family Weekend 5K Run/Walk
Run or walk the Family Weekend 5K course on Oct. 6 for fun with your family! Online pre-registration is open until Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. Pre-registered participants can pick up their race packets on Thursday and Friday during Check-In and from 8 to 10 p.m. at Rock the Roost Friday evening.

On-site registration for the 5K Run/Walk begins at 6 a.m. and ends at 6:30 a.m. The Family Weekend 5K Run/Walk will begin at 7 a.m. from the Blatt P.E. Center on Wheat Street. (Please note this time change due to the noon kickoff for the football game against Missouri.) Dress for a hot, humid South Carolina day!
Football game and Tailgate Party
The kickoff time for the football game Saturday, Oct. 6 against Missouri is set for noon. The Tailgate Party will be 9:30-11:30 a.m.

If you purchased football tickets with your Family Weekend package, those will no longer be emailed to you. For your convenience, they will be printed and included in your registration packet during Check-In. Remember to bring your football tickets, Family Weekend wristbands (these are required to enter the Tailgate Party), and drink tickets, if applicable, to the Tailgate Party. Please note that individual tickets to the Tailgate Party are not available for purchase as this event is exclusive to the Family Weekend package.

The Football Fan Guide is a digital resource for navigating and enjoying the Gamecock football experience. Also, we encourage you to leave EARLY for the game and have a plan for parking (options include private parking lots located around the stadium) in advance or ride the shuttle to ensure that you arrive with plenty of time to enjoy our Tailgate Party and the football game. The shuttles will begin at 8 a.m. and pick up at the Russell House and Colonial Life Arena. If you get to the stadium area early for the Tailgate Party, make sure to stop by Gamecock Village at the front of Gamecock Park and enjoy all the game day festivities! Please note there is no waiting space available at the entrance to the Tailgate Party, so we encourage you to explore the stadium area and enjoy the tailgate festivities in Gamecock Village.

To provide a safer environment and more expedited entry for fans, South Carolina Athletics has implemented a clear bag policy for all ticketed athletic events that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into the venues. More information on approved and prohibited bags can be found on the South Carolina Athletics website.

Please remember that students have the opportunity to request football tickets for each home football game. We encourage students to learn the process for requesting their tickets . During the week of the Missouri football game, students should request tickets Oct. 1-2 and claim tickets Oct. 3-4. On Oct. 4 at 5 p.m., any tickets not claimed by students will be offered to students during the on-demand phase on a first-come, first-served basis.
Connect with us!
Download our app in the app store by searching: University of South Carolina Parents or by visiting: guidebook.com/app/uofscparents .

The Family Weekend schedule of events has been posted to the app where reminders and walking directions will be shared throughout Family Weekend. Be sure to turn on your phone's notifications for the app so you are alerted of these reminders.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to stay updated and informed year-round. We will also use Facebook and push notifications through the mobile app to update participants if logistical changes are made.

Please share your Family Weekend photos and experiences using the hashtag #UofSCFW on social media when you're on campus!

If you have any questions after reviewing this and the information on the Family Weekend website, please call the Parents Assistance Line at 1-800-868-6752 or send an email to [email protected] .

If questions arise during the weekend, please find our staff at the Parent & Family Programs help table, located at Check-In. We look forward to seeing you next week!
Please continue to visit the Parents & Families Gateway for information and resources at sc.edu/parents . As always, we are only a phone call or email away, and we encourage your feedback!

Office of Parent & Family Programs
University of South Carolina
Website:  sc.edu/parents  
Parents Assistance Line: 1-800-868-6752