Generations of Sun Devils to gather for ASU Family Weekend
A family shows their ASU pride at Family Weekend in 2024. This year's event runs Friday, Oct. 24–Sunday, Oct. 26. Photo by Autumn Williams/ASU Student Life
Sun Devil families are getting ready for a very special annual celebration of spirit, pride and tradition at Arizona State University — ASU Family Weekend.
Running Friday through Sunday, the event promises three days of family-friendly activities held across each ASU campus.
Martha Byrd, assistant vice president in ASU’s Educational Outreach and Student Services, is looking forward to spending the weekend with her daughter Sophie, a sophomore double-majoring in psychology and in family and human development.
“We've been coming to Family Weekends for quite some time,” said Byrd, who has worked at the university for 30 years. “I always looked forward to when it was going to be my time to share Family Weekend with my children. For me, to have them there and experience it through their eyes and through their friends, that is really special for me and my husband to be able to enjoy that with them.”
Family Weekend is an opportunity for the whole family to learn more about their student’s home-away-from-home and to explore campus. A variety of activities and special events provide a chance to do just that.
“There's a lot of family ties within ASU. And growing up, I got to be a part of it through my mom, with events like Homecoming or painting the 'A,'” Sophie Byrd said. “But now I get to experience those traditions as a student, and I'm a part of them. It's cool to see how it's a full circle. And I think it's really strong here, the ASU spirit and passion.”
The timing, roughly two months after Fall Welcome, is perfect for families to reconnect with their Sun Devil and show support for their college experience.
Sam Gentry, the manager for data, access and billing within University Housing, is looking forward to spending Family Weekend with his son Chris, a first-year student majoring in data analytics. When asked what part of the weekend the two are most anticipating, the answer was easy.
“As avid sports fans, certainly, it's the football game this year,” Sam Gentry said. “The top one would be the football game, but there's a lot of cool things going on around the campuses.”
His son echoed the sentiment.
“I am excited to see the Sun Devils win, beat Houston and bring home another victory,” he said. “It's definitely rewarding, being part of the community. Especially now that we're ranked, it brings a lot more importance to the games.”
Beyond Sun Devil Football, the schedule of events includes a variety of campus-specific activities, special events hosted by every academic college, the Gold Rush 5K Race, family pickleball tournaments, the tailgate-style ASU Family Block Party on game day, access to Sun Devil Fitness facilities and the ASU Art Museum, Sparky’s Spirit Hike, discount tickets for a Gammage show, live performances and much more.
Family Weekend badges include:
- Access to events across all four campuses.
- Ticket to the ASU Family Block Party, including a pre-game meal and activities for the whole family.
- A code to purchase discounted tickets to the football game on Saturday against Houston. (Families attending Family Weekend will have exclusive access to seats.)
- Clear stadium bag for your family to use at athletic and theater events.
- An all-access pass to all four of the Sun Devil Fitness Complexes.
- Free use of the ASU intercampus shuttles.
- Access to a variety of special promos and discounts at area retailers, with a list handed out at check-in.
Jill Rogier, head of schools for ASU Prep Digital, and her son Brady, a first-year Barrett, The Honors College student who is studying mechanical engineering, will be taking part in the weekend's offerings.
“Working for ASU Prep for the past eight years has provided such a deep appreciation for the university’s mission, and now, seeing Brady start his own Sun Devil journey makes it all come full circle,” Jill Rogier said. “It’s really special to share in the ASU experience together, from different perspectives but with the same Sun Devil pride.”
Brady said he looks forward to spending his first Family Weekend with his mom.
“It’s pretty awesome that my mom’s been part of ASU for so long, and now I get to be here, too,” he said. “It feels like we’re both part of the same Sun Devil story — just in different ways.”
Ready to register? Head to the Family Weekend home page. Registering is the only way to get the keepsake, Sparky-themed Family Weekend 2025 badges for every family member — along with some cool Sun Devil swag. Attendees need badges for admission to the dozens of family-friendly activities scheduled throughout the weekend.
Once registered, attendees can use an exclusive promo to purchase discounted tickets to the football game at Mountain America Stadium or to the dance theater production “Still/Here” at ASU Gammage.
“This is a really nice time to reconnect with your student, get to meet some of their friends, maybe take your student out for dinner,” Martha Byrd said. “But really, the point is to connect, be together and enjoy ASU and all that we have to offer during the weekend.”
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