This weekend, USC’s campus will be bustling with family members and friends for its annual Trojan Family Weekend. The weekend-long event will give families an opportunity to visit their children, join the festivities and attend the football game Saturday.
“I think [my parents] are coming to Trojan Family Weekend because they want to come and see me thrive in college and see what I’m doing,” said freshman Olive Petty.
According to USC Events, Trojan Family Weekend officially begins on Thursday, October 5 with an opening ceremony in Hahn Plaza at 9:00 a.m. and will end on October 8.
At present, registration is limited to late sign ups, making October 6 the final day to enroll at the cost of $165. If registrants for family weekend wish to attend the official on-campus tailgate, they must purchase a separate ticket for $70, which does not include football tickets. More information about pricing can be found here.
Friends and family can expect over 200 unique programs, tours and other Trojan experiences. A full list of scheduled events can be found on the Trojan Family Weekend website itinerary.
Many students and their families are most looking forward to their time in the Coliseum to watch the football game.
“My dad’s a huge fan of USC football. So, you know, he watches every single game. And he’s really excited to come out and watch it,” sophomore Scott Altsuler said, adding that it was a good way for parents to see their children. “It’s good to see [the] people I love again.”
An important aspect of the weekend is the football game on Saturday where the Trojans will play the Arizona Wildcats. According to the official Family Weekend website, those who sign up for the family weekend will receive a discount for those tickets via an email link. The tailgate, which will include a buffet meal, soft drinks and games, will open three and a half hours before kick-off at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at Alumni Park.
However, the USC affiliated tailgate is not the only option for family members. Some students opt to take their family members to tailgates on 28th Street, which is more commonly referred to as Frat Row, which houses most of USC Greek life. Additionally, parents can buy a license to host their own tailgates on USC grounds.
USC is also providing discount codes to hotels and rental car services for Trojan families. According to USC’s website, by applying promo code “Tommy,” hotels will cost around $150 to $300 a night depending on location, and rental cars will cost about $50 a day.
Jonathan Porché, a student studying Japanese, said that his family isn’t coming to Trojan Family Weekend— his mom is traveling for work — but he does think “weekend is a really good way to get people involved and understand what we do here at USC.”
More details can be found on the official Family Weekend website.