Save the Date: Family Day 2026 is October 17!
We are thrilled to welcome our Ramily of students, families, and friends to campus for a day filled with connection, learning, and fun. Family Day offers countless ways to experience the vibrant spirit of VCU together.
This annual tradition is designed to strengthen the bond between families and the VCU community while highlighting the incredible opportunities our students enjoy both on and off campus. We can’t wait to see you again for another exciting day of Ramily pride, discovery, and celebration!
Family Day Frequently Asked Questions
Family Day is a time for families to connect with their student, VCU, and the Richmond community through a series of events planned with you in mind. It is a time to also connect with your RAMily - all the other students, families, faculty, and staff at VCU! Through a structured schedule of events that can be tailored to you and your families interests/needs, participation at Family Day will help you feel more informed, engaged, and connected to the VCU experience and community. All participants will be better prepared to support their Ram while also having a blast together! Come for the weekend, spend Saturday with us and the rest of your time explore all that Richmond has to offer!
Family Day is for our entire RAMily! All families of current VCU students are welcome, especially our first and second year students.
VCU Family Day will be October 17, 2026.
We miss it too. However, Family Day allows for a more structured schedule and less missed opportunities for you as attendees. This way, you can spend all day with us on Saturday and still have the rest of the weekend to spend time with your student and family as you see fit! Doing Family Day instead of the full weekend also allows us to make registration more affordable, so more of the Ramily can join!
Registration is capped at 3000 attendees, but there is a waitlist! Each family can bring as many guests as you want, though! We hope our Rams will bring as many people as they want to celebrate with us- but registration costs are per person. Think about who you want to bring before registering!
You will register online for Family Day when registration launches in August. You must register for Family Day to participate in any Family Day event.
Check-in begins at 9 AM on Saturday and remains open through 2pm. The first official event for all Family Day participants will begin at 9:30 AM and our last official event is from 5-6 pm. However, there are plenty of evening options for you that we recommend to continue the fun. Families may arrive at any time and should consult the schedule to determine when they would like to be on campus.
The Family Day schedule of events can be accessed.
Registration is $25 per person. The total cost for Family Day varies based on the events you plan to participate in while you are exploring campus and the Richmond community and your accommodations!
VCU Students and children 3 and under are free
Your registration includes:
- Includes admittance to all Family Day events, unless the schedule specifically indicates that tickets need to be purchased (i.e. Paint Parties, Ghost Tour)
- A provided meal at Market 810 at Shafer Dining Court
- VCU Hat (limited to Family Day participants)
- Free first-come, first-served parking at the following on-campus garages:
- Broad Street Deck
- Cary Street Deck
Registering early allows us to know who to expect and allows you to have the maximum time to plan your weekend; however, registration for Family Day does not close. We do accept on-site registration at check-in.
No refunds or exchanges are available for Family Day purchases. All registrations are final. For tickets purchased through one of our external partners, please check their refund policy before completing your purchase.
Your student’s registration for Family Day is covered. Tickets for off-campus events or paid opportunities on the Family Day schedule will need to be purchased for your student.
Whether you are coming in just for the day or plan on spending the weekend in the area, it is important to start planning your stay soon. Check out these official VCU hotel partners.
From ghost tours to food tours and more...check out all that Richmond has to offer on our Exploring Richmond page! There are also many free attractions including several of Richmond's famous museums!
You must purchase tickets for off-campus events using the provided information on the website. These are not included with your Family Day registration.
We are pleased to be able to offer free parking at the following parking facilities:
Parking will be free at these locations until 5 a.m. on Monday, October 19th.
Parking at the West Main Street Deck is not included, and you will be charged a $14 parking fee if you park in this deck.
There is also free and paid street parking. Parking at any other parking decks or locations on campus is not included in your Family Day registration and may require additional payment or the risk of a parking ticket. Please be mindful of where you park and the posted restrictions and time limits in that area.
Dress comfortably and in layers as temperatures may vary throughout each day. October tends to be a bit cooler in Richmond, but we encourage you to check the weather a few days before as temperatures can be unpredictable.
Send an email to family@vcu.edu.