Spartan Family Weekend

Spartan Family Weekend Header

Friday, October 31st 鈥� Sunday, November 2nd, 2025

Welcome to the 9th Annual Spartan Family Weekend!

We鈥檙e excited to invite you to San Jos茅 State University for a weekend dedicated to celebrating our amazing Spartan families! Whether this is your first time joining us or you鈥檙e a returning guest, Spartan Family Weekend is your chance to connect with campus, spend time with your student, and experience the vibrant spirit of the 91吃瓜 community.

Our weekend's schedule is filled with engaging events, from campus tours and breakout sessions to social gatherings and Spartan athletics, all designed to give you a closer look at your student鈥檚 life at 91吃瓜.

At the same time, we know every family has different interests and needs. That鈥檚 why we encourage you to customize your weekend! In addition to our core programming, there are plenty of exciting things happening on campus and in downtown San Jos茅 for you to explore at your own pace.

Feel free to explore the additional campus and downtown events happening throughout the weekend to enhance your visit. Whether you join us for every signature event or mix in some time to explore on your own, we鈥檙e here to support the experience that works best for you and your family.

*NOTE: Events marked with the 馃师锔� icon require a separate ticket for entry. 

Weekend at a Glance:

Friday, October 31st

1:00 PM 鈥� 4:30 PM | Family Weekend Check-In
 馃搷 7th Street Plaza
 Pick up your welcome packet and 91吃瓜 Family swag bag.

1:00 PM 鈥� 4:30 PM | Open Houses
 馃搷 Various Locations 
Trick-or-Treat around campus! Stop by academic departments, resource centers, and identity spaces, take a tour, and meet the faculty and staff supporting your Spartan鈥檚 success.

  1. Writing Center Open House - 2nd Floor, MLK Jr. Library
  2. Career Services Center Open House - Clark Hall 140
  3. Interdisciplinary Science Building Tour - Lobby of Interdisciplinary Science Building
    Tour Start #1: 1:30 pm
    Tour Start #2: 2:30 pm
  4. English Department Open House - Faculty Office Building 104
  5. Poe Fest 2025 - Faculty Office Building 104
    2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
  6. - Art Building 127
  7. Theatre, TV, Film, and Dance Open House & Tour - Hugh Gillis Hall
  8. College of Health and Human Sciences Exploring Careers in Healthcare Panel - Spartan Complex 160
    1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
  9. Philosophical Haunted Open House - Faculty Office Building Rooms 231 and 235
  10. Lurie College of Education Dean's Office Open House - Sweeney Hall Courtyard & Room 103
  11. Photography Darkroom Open Studios - The Duncan Hall 402 (Lab window number: 408-924-4415)
  12. - Art Building 337, Industrial Studies 124 & 220 & 221
    2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
  13. - Art Building 110
    2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
  14. Chicanx/Latinx Student Success Center Open House - Student Union 1340 (across from Jamba Juice)
  15. MOSAIC Cross-Cultural Center Open House - Student Union 1st Floor (across from the university bookstore)
  16. Black Leadership and Opportunity Center - Room 1360 (across from Jamba Juice)
  17. Center for Asian Pacific Islander Student Empowerment Open House - Student Union 1520 (next to Veterans Resource Center)
    1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
  18. Native American Indigenous Student Success Center Open House - Spartan Memorial Chapel (SPM)
    1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

6:00 PM 鈥� 9:00 PM | Friday Night Family Social
 馃搷 Bowling & Billiards Center, Starbucks Lounge & Student Union Theater Courtyard 
Join us for an evening of games, pizza, and refreshments while mingling with fellow Spartan families. Come dressed in your best Halloween costume and get into the spirit!

Saturday, November 1st

8:00 AM 鈥� 9:15 AM & 10:15 AM 鈥� 2:00 PM | Family Weekend Check-In
 馃搷 7th Street Plaza
 (Closed from 9:15鈥�10:15 AM for the University Welcome)

9:30 AM 鈥� 10:15 AM | University Welcome + Light Breakfast
 馃搷 Student Union Ballroom 
Hear from campus leaders and students, connect with our Family Advisory Board, and get an overview of the weekend ahead

10:30 AM 鈥� 2:00 PM | Breakout Sessions & Campus Tours
 馃搷 Various Locations
Join us for a variety of sessions designed to give families a deeper look into the 91吃瓜 experience. Attend the sessions that interest you most and get your questions answered by campus experts.

Student Union:

10:30 AM 鈥� 11:15 AM
1. Business Bonds: College of Business Student & Parent Panel - SU Mtg. Room 1
2. Career Confidence: Tools and Tips for Every Spartan - SU Mtg. Room 2
3. Innovating Education: How IAEP Shapes the Future of Learning - SU Mtg. Room 3
4. Find Your Spartan Squad: Getting Involved with Student Involvement - SU Mtg. Room 4
5. Campus Tours - Tour Guide: Lincy Rebello - 7th St. Meeting Spot
11:30 AM 鈥� 12:15 PM
1. Families Leading Families: Insights from the 91吃瓜 Family Advisory Board - SU Mtg. Room 1
2. Guiding Spartans to Success: Understanding Academic Advising at 91吃瓜 - SU Mtg. Room 2
3. The Braven Experience: Building Skills for Life After College - SU Mtg. Room 3
4. Find Your Spartan Squad: Getting Involved with Student Involvement - SU Mtg. Room 4
5. Campus Tours - Tour Guide: Snow Maung - 7th St. Meeting Spot
12:30 PM 鈥� 1:15 PM
1. Behind the Blue & Gold: Meet the Student Faces of NSFP - SU Mtg. Room 1
2. Guiding Spartans to Success: Understanding Academic Advising at 91吃瓜 - SU Mtg. Room 2
3. The Braven Experience: Building Skills for Life After College - SU Mtg. Room 3

:

10:30 AM 鈥� 2:00 PM
 Open House @ 91吃瓜 King Library - Digital Humanities Center (first floor)
10:30 AM 鈥� 2:00 PM
 Explore the King Library Experiential Virtual Reality Lab - 4th Floor
11:30 AM 鈥� 12:15 PM
 91吃瓜 King Library Tour - Digital Humanities Center (first floor)
12:30 PM 鈥� 1:15 PM
 Student Success at the 91吃瓜 King Library: Resources Every Spartan Family Should Know - Digital Humanities Center (first floor)

11:30 AM 鈥� 2:00 PM | Lunch
馃搷 Dining Commons
Enjoy a true Spartan dining experience with a wide variety of meal options and flavors to choose from.

4:30 PM 鈥� 7:30 PM | Sparta Kickoff Fest 馃师锔� 
馃搷 CEFCU Stadium
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Kick off game night with the inaugural Sparta Kickoff Fest, presented by Modelo 鈥� a brand-new, family-friendly festival ahead of the Spartans鈥� showdown with Hawai鈥榠! Your ticket includes admission to the game.

7:30 PM | 91吃瓜 Football Game vs. Hawaii 馃师锔�
 馃搷 CEFCU Stadium
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Show your Spartan pride at the big game! Use this link to purchase game-only tickets if you are not attending Sparta Kickoff Fest.

NOTE: 91吃瓜 Students'Admission is FREE to all Spartan sporting events. Just show your Tower ID at the gate for entry.

Sunday, November 2nd

9:30 AM 鈥� 12:00 PM | Sunday Family Brunch 馃师锔�
馃搷 Rookies Sports Lodge - 99 First St, San Jose, CA 95113
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Close out the weekend with a delicious brunch while enjoying community, conversation, and connections with fellow families and the Family Advisory Board.

Stay tuned for more details on our full list of events! Please note that this schedule is subject to change.

Hotel Accommodation:

Check out the hotel accommodation options below to start planning your weekend!

Explore San Jos茅

While you鈥檙e here for Spartan Family Weekend, take time to discover the local community! San Jos茅 offers a wide range of family-friendly attractions, cultural experiences, and entertainment right outside of campus.

Here are some events happening during the weekend:

Thursday, October 30th

8:00 AM - 8:00 PM | Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit
馃搷 MLK Jr. Library, 5th floor, AAACNA Studies Center
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Explore the Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit, a community installation honoring D铆a de los Muertos traditions with vibrant altars and offerings that celebrate the lives of departed loved ones.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Concert at Beethoven Center
馃搷 MLK Jr. Library, 5th floor, Room 580
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆 /beethoven/events/upcoming-events.php
Enjoy a free lunchtime lecture-performance of Beethoven鈥檚 An die ferne Geliebte, op. 98, followed by a coffee reception and open house

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Live Enterntainment Featuring Echo Chamber
馃搷 San Pedro Square Market
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
All your favorites in one place. Welcome to your San Pedro Square Market

6:30 PM - 10:30 PM | Thursday Game Night
馃搷 Nomikai
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Bring your friends or make new ones as we shuffle the decks, roll the dice, and battle for victory! (All guests must be 21+)

7:00 PM | Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue 馃师锔�
馃搷 San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
A hilarious new stage comedy featuring Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia in all-new adventures inspired by the beloved TV sitcom (18+ Only).

7:00 PM | Group Night at the Sharks 馃师锔�
馃搷 SAP Center
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Join fellow Spartans for San Jos茅 State University Night at the Shark Tank! Exclusive discounted tickets are available with your @sjsu.edu email.

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Natalie Diaz 馃师锔�
馃搷 Hammer Theater Center, Sobrato Auditorium
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
The Center for Literary Arts presents Pulitzer Prize鈥搘inning poet and MacArthur Fellow Natalie Diaz, author of Postcolonial Love Poem and When My Brother Was an Aztec.

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM | San Jose Sharks vs. New Jersey Devils 馃师锔�
馃搷 SAP Center
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Catch the Sharks take on the Devils in a high-energy NHL match-up. Don鈥檛 miss your shot at fast-paced hockey and unforgettable fan moments!

Friday, October 31st

8:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit
馃搷 MLK Jr. Library, 5th floor, AAACNA Studies Center
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Explore the Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit, a community installation honoring D铆a de los Muertos traditions with vibrant altars and offerings that celebrate the lives of departed loved ones.

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Japantown Halloween
馃搷 SAP Center
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Celebrate Halloween in San Jos茅鈥檚 Japantown with trick-or-treating, costumes, live entertainment, and family-friendly fun in a vibrant cultural setting.

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Live Enterntainment Featuring 408 Collective
馃搷 San Pedro Square Market
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆 https://sanpedrosquaremarket.com/
All your favorites in one place. Welcome to your San Pedro Square Market

Saturday, November 1st

8:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit
馃搷 MLK Jr. Library, 5th floor, AAACNA Studies Center
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Explore the Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit, a community installation honoring D铆a de los Muertos traditions with vibrant altars and offerings that celebrate the lives of departed loved ones.

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Dia de los Muertos 馃师锔�
馃搷 Children鈥檚 Discovery Museum of San Jose
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Bring your friends or make new ones as we shuffle the decks, roll the dice, and battle for victory! (All guests must be 21+)

4:30 PM | Tanisha Nelson Junior Bassoon Recital
馃搷 Music Building, Concert Hall
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆 https://events.sjsu.edu/event/tanisha-nelson-junior-bassoon-recital-629
Enjoy a free junior bassoon recital by Tanisha Nelson, featuring an evening of music and celebration.

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM | San Jose Sharks vs. Colorado Avalanche 馃师锔�
馃搷 SAP Center
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Celebrate D铆a de los Muertos with sand painting, cultural storytelling, giant skeleton puppets, and a lively Calaveras procession led by Teatro Familia Aztl谩n鈥攈onoring ancestors through vibrant tradition.

Sunday, November 2nd

1:00 PM | 91吃瓜 Men鈥檚 Soccer vs. Air Force Soccer 馃师锔�
馃搷 Spartan Soccer Complex 
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Catch an exciting match as the San Jos茅 State Spartans take on Air Force in men鈥檚 soccer 鈥� come out and support your team!

NOTE: 91吃瓜 Students'Admission is FREE to all Spartan sporting events. Just show your Tower ID at the gate for entry.

1:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit
馃搷 MLK Jr. Library, 5th floor, AAACNA Studies Center
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Explore the Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit, a community installation honoring D铆a de los Muertos traditions with vibrant altars and offerings that celebrate the lives of departed loved ones.

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM | San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings 馃师锔�
馃搷 SAP Center
&苍产蝉辫;馃敆
Experience the excitement as the Sharks take on the legendary Red Wings in a thrilling NHL matchup. Bring the energy and catch every moment on the ice!