Spartan Family Weekend

Spartan Family Weekend Header

Friday, October 31st – Sunday, November 2nd, 2025

Welcome to the 9th Annual Spartan Family Weekend!

We’re excited to invite you to San José State University for a weekend dedicated to celebrating our amazing Spartan families! Whether this is your first time joining us or you’re 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 SJSU 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’s life at SJSU.

At the same time, we know every family has different interests and needs. That’s 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 José 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’re here to support the experience that works best for you and your family.

*NOTE: Events marked with the 🎟️ icon require a separate ticket for entry.

Weekend at a Glance:

Friday, October 31st

1:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Family Weekend Check-In
📍 7th Street Plaza
Pick up your welcome packet and SJSU Family swag bag.

1:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Open Houses
📍 Various Locations (TBA)
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’s success.

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Friday Night Family Social
📍 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 – 9:15 AM & 10:15 AM – 2:00 PM | Family Weekend Check-In
📍 7th Street Plaza
(Closed from 9:15–10:15 AM for the University Welcome)

9:30 AM – 10:15 AM | University Welcome + Breakfast Bar
📍 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 – 2:00 PM | Breakout Sessions & Campus Tours
📍 Various Locations
Join us for a variety of sessions designed to give families a deeper look into the SJSU experience. Attend the sessions that interest you most and get your questions answered by campus experts.

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

4:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Sparta Kickoff Fest 🎟️
📍 CEFCU Stadium
🔗 https://www.gofevo.com/event/Spartakickoff2
Kick off game night with the inaugural Sparta Kickoff Fest, presented by Modelo — a brand-new, family-friendly festival ahead of the Spartans’ showdown with Hawai‘i! Your ticket includes admission to the game.

7:30 PM | SJSU Football Game vs. Hawaii 🎟️
📍 CEFCU Stadium
🔗 https://sjsuspartans.evenue.net/event/OSN25/FB04
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: SJSU 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 – 12:00 PM | Sunday Family Brunch 🎟️
📍 Student Union Ballroom
🔗 https://sjsu.campusesp.com/events/2025-spartan-family-weekend
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 José

While you’re here for Spartan Family Weekend, take time to discover the local community! San José 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
📍 MLK Jr. Library, 5th floor, AAACNA Studies Center
🔗 https://library.sjsu.edu/artofremembrance
Explore the Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit, a community installation honoring Día 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
📍 MLK Jr. Library, 5th floor, Room 580
🔗 https://www.sjsu.edu/beethoven/events/upcoming-events.php
Enjoy a free lunchtime lecture-performance of Beethoven’s 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
📍 San Pedro Square Market
🔗 https://sanpedrosquaremarket.com/
All your favorites in one place. Welcome to your San Pedro Square Market

6:30 PM - 10:30 PM | Thursday Game Night
📍 Nomikai
🔗 https://www.nomikaisj.com/events
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 🎟️
📍 San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
🔗Get your tickets!
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 🎟️
📍 SAP Center
🔗 https://www.gofevo.com/event/Sjsugroup2
Join fellow Spartans for San José 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 🎟️
📍 Hammer Theater Center, Sobrato Auditorium
🔗 Get your ticket!
The Center for Literary Arts presents Pulitzer Prize–winning 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 🎟️
📍 SAP Center
🔗 Get your tickets!
Catch the Sharks take on the Devils in a high-energy NHL match-up. Don’t 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
📍 MLK Jr. Library, 5th floor, AAACNA Studies Center
🔗 https://library.sjsu.edu/artofremembrance
Explore the Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit, a community installation honoring Día 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
📍 SAP Center
🔗 https://taiko.org/halloween
Celebrate Halloween in San José’s 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
📍 San Pedro Square Market
🔗 https://sanpedrosquaremarket.com/
All your favorites in one place. Welcome to your San Pedro Square Market

Saturday, November 1st

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Dia de los Muertos 🎟️
📍 Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
🔗 Get your tickets!
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
📍 Music Building, Concert Hall
🔗 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 🎟️
📍 SAP Center
🔗 Get your tickets!
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with sand painting, cultural storytelling, giant skeleton puppets, and a lively Calaveras procession led by Teatro Familia Aztlán—honoring ancestors through vibrant tradition.

Sunday, November 2nd

1:00 PM | SJSU Men’s Soccer vs. Air Force Soccer 🎟️
📍 Spartan Soccer Complex
🔗 https://sjsuspartans.evenue.net/event/OLY25/MS07
Catch an exciting match as the San José State Spartans take on Air Force in men’s soccer — come out and support your team!

NOTE: SJSU 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
📍 MLK Jr. Library, 5th floor, AAACNA Studies Center
🔗 https://library.sjsu.edu/artofremembrance
Explore the Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit, a community installation honoring Día 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 🎟️
📍 SAP Center
🔗 Get your tickets!
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!