Panther Family Weekend

The 2026 Panther Family Weekend will be Sept. 26-27. Check out the schedule for all the weekend happenings.

Panther Family Weekend offers an opportunity for families to visit with their students and experience our campus and community together. We look forward to welcoming you to campus soon!

UWM Doors Open Milwaukee

On Sept. 26, explore more than 40 locations on campus during Doors Open Milwaukee! Enjoy behind-the-scenes access, interactive tours, food trucks and shopping at a Makers Market. Check out the participating spots on campus at UWM’s Doors Open Milwaukee webpage.

2026 Panther Family Weekend Events

On Campus

Event	Description	Date	Time	Location
UWM Maker’s Market	Stop by UWM’s Spaights Plaza to explore and shop from alumni, students and community member makers, artists and entrepreneurs. Find one-of-a-kind items during this Maker’s Market.	Sept. 26	10 a.m.-5 p.m.	Spaights Plaza
Pounce’s Pint-Sized Prowl	A little run, a lot of Panther pride! Join us for a 0.262-mile (1,383-foot) accessible walk/run starting and finishing on Spaights Plaza to kick off Panther Family Weekend. All ages are welcome to take on the challenge! Registration is $20 per person and includes a T-shirt.	Sept. 26	10:30 a.m.	Spaights Plaza
UWM Doors Open Milwaukee	As part of Doors Open Milwaukee, UWM invites alumni, families, students and community members to explore campus spaces with demonstrations, tours and experiences that showcase all that is happening and the university’s role in Milwaukee’s past, present and future. Stop in at any and all of the participating sites as time allows.	Sept. 26	10 a.m.-5 p.m.	Various locations
Parent, Family & Alumni Brunch	Inviting all parents, families and alumni to enjoy and recharge with a brunch menu. Children younger than 6 are free; $15 tickets.	Sept. 26	11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.	UWM Student Union Ballroom
Milwaukee Panthers Men’s Soccer Game	Cheer on the Milwaukee Panthers as the men’s soccer team takes on Horizon League foe Wright State in a key conference matchup. UWM students are free; $5 tickets.	Sept. 26	1 p.m.	Engelmann Stadium
Harbor Fest	Celebrate Milwaukee’s waterfront at the 10th annual Harbor Fest. Check out the UWM School of Freshwater Sciences Open House, where visitors can meet scientists and students, explore interactive exhibits and learn how UWM is advancing freshwater research. Harbor Fest also features the popular sturgeon release, boat rides, live entertainment, food trucks and activities for all ages. Visitors can even arrive by water taxi, with pickup locations to be announced soon.	Sept. 27	11 a.m.-3 p.m.	UWM School of Freshwater Sciences, 600 E. Greenfield Ave.

Milwaukee Community

Event	Description	Date	Time	Location
Milwaukee County Zoo	Looking for adventure? Visit the Milwaukee County Zoo, the 190-acre home to over 2,100 animals and 314 species.	Sept. 26-27	9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.	Milwaukee County Zoo
Milwaukee Art Museum	Visit Wisconsin’s largest art museum with a collection of over 30,000 works.	Sept. 26-27	10 a.m.-5 p.m.	Milwaukee Art Museum
Milwaukee-Area Farmer’s Markets	Experience the bounties of local area farms at farmers markets. Stroll through vibrant stalls bursting with farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers.	Sept. 26-27	Various	Various

Frequently Asked Questions

UWM’s 2026 Panther Family Weekend is Sept. 26 & 27.

Yes! Many families make visiting their student(s) during Family Weekend an annual tradition.

Yes. We know some families may have students with commitments throughout the day and may still want to attend events.

You pick and build your own schedule according to the events calendar. Some families may choose to split up for events, while others may want to attend events as a whole family. There is no one way to do Family Weekend.

Families are encouraged to explore Milwaukee as they seek out breakfast, lunch and dinner options. There are many dining options within a short distance of campus.

Cafe Hollander, 2608 N. Downer Ave.
Canela Cafe, 2621 N. Downer Ave.
Colectivo Coffee, 2211 N. Prospect Ave.
Corner Bakery Cafe, 1305 E. Capitol Drive
Oakland Gyros, 2867 N. Oakland Ave.
Pizza Man, 2597 N. Downer Ave.
Stone Creek Coffee, 2650 N. Downer Ave.
Valentine Coffee, 3126 N. Downer Ave.

Restaurants that accept Panther Cash/Dining Dollars:

UWM Gasthaus Panther Sports Grill, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.
UWM Grind, *Multiple On-Campus Locations
BelAir Cantina, 2625 N. Downer Ave.
Cheba Hut, 2907 N. Oakland Ave.
Cousins Subs, 2900A N. Oakland Ave.
Fusion Poké, 1813 E. Kenilworth Place
Ian’s Pizza, 2035 E. North Ave.
Roast Coffee Company, 2132 E. Locust St.

Popular Milwaukee-area attractions:

For more information about Milwaukee restaurants, attractions and events, check out the following:

For more information on Panther Cash and/or Dining Dollars:

PantherCard

From downtown Milwaukee, we recommend taking 794 East and exiting at Lincoln Memorial Drive. Travel north on Lincoln Memorial Drive to Kenwood Boulevard. Proceed west on Kenwood Boulevard to campus.

Parking information:

We discourage families from parking on the neighborhood streets near campus because of time restrictions, various parking regulations and strongly enforced parking rules on the Eastside.

For information about parking on campus, refer to this parking and transit map of campus.

Prowl Line transportation:

The Prowl Line will be available to PantherCard holders during Family Weekend. For resident guests, a valid ID and guest pass is required to board the shuttles. Families can register for guest passes. The hours of the Prowl Line are Friday 5:30 a.m.-2 a.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-2 a.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.-1 a.m.

You can purchase UWM merchandise from the online Panther Shop or in-store at the Student Union location.

If you’re looking to spend the night or weekend in Milwaukee, consider booking your stay through our preferred hotel partners. Discounts are available and you can conduct all your bookings online. Visit our our Panther Families Preferred Hotels website for more information about overnight accommodations.

Residential guest passes are required to enter the residence halls, and you must be with your student resident at all times in order to pass through security. Families are encouraged to register for guest passes prior to Family Weekend to ensure easy and fast access to the residence halls on Family Weekend. After completing pre-registration, stop by the Guest Registration desk in the lobby of Cambridge, RiverView or Sandburg with your resident host to pick up your guest pass. If you are 16 or older, you will also need to present photo ID.

For help or additional information, call 414-229-6123 during normal business hours or email res-help@uwm.edu.

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