Parents' Weekend 2026 · USAFA

Your Weekend Together

Four days on the grounds with your cadet — parades, open houses, a stadium full of white, and a little more time than a phone call allows. Here's how to make the most of it.

Parents' Weekend · September 2–7, 2026

Parade, CAPEX & Info Fair Friday, September 4

Tailgate & Whiteout Football Saturday, September 5

Where to Find Wild Blue Merch

Two stops, two days — come say hi and pick up your USAFA Shirt in person.

Friday · September 4

Arnold Hall Info Fair

Arnold Hall Ballroom

Find us 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Info Fair runs 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM, with food trucks outside.

Saturday · September 5

Football Tailgate

East entrance of Lot 4

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Right before the 11:00 AM Whiteout kickoff at Falcon Stadium.

Friday, September 4

The big day on the Terrazzo — parade, demonstrations, and the Info Fair

Mornings in Colorado start cool and warm up fast. Get to Stillman Field early for a good spot, then head to Arnold Hall for the Information Fair and a chance to meet the people behind your cadet's four years.

7:30 – 7:55 AM

Demonstrations — Falconry, Honor Guard, Sabre Drill Stillman Field

8:00 – 8:50 AM

Cadet Wing Parade Stillman Field

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Prep School Parade Black Field

8:50 – 9:30 AM

Cadet Aviation Capabilities Exercise (CAPEX) Stillman Field

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Wild Blue Merch at the Parents' Weekend Information Fair — pick up your USAFA Shirt Arnold Hall Ballroom · Fair runs 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM with food trucks

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Senior Leaders' Panel & Parents' Q&A Arnold Hall Theater

1:00 – 4:00 PM

Athletic Department Open House Cadet Field House

4:00 – 6:00 PM

Squadron Open Houses Sijan Hall & Vandenberg Hall

4:00 – 6:00 PM

Dean of Faculty Open House Fairchild Hall

6:00 PM

Cadet Dismissal & Sign-Out Mitchell Hall

Parking

Cadet Field House, Parade Field, and Cadet parking lots, with shuttle service. Arrive early — lots fill before the parade.

Attire

Business casual, or as specified per event. Bring layers and comfortable walking shoes — there's a lot of ground between venues.

Base Access

Every visitor must complete the Base Access form in advance. Bring a photo ID.

Tip — the Info Fair is the easy place to catch us. Grab your shirt Friday so you're set for Saturday's Whiteout.

Saturday, September 5

Tailgate in the morning, Whiteout at kickoff

Squadron tailgates fill the lots outside Falcon Stadium before the Air Force Falcons take on Duquesne. It's a designated Whiteout — wear white, and you'll be part of a stadium that looks like one big USAFA family.

7:00 AM

4° Mandatory Shuttles Clune Arena to Falcon Stadium

8:00 – 10:00 AM

Wild Blue Merch at the Football Tailgate — pick up your USAFA Shirt East entrance of Lot 4

7:30 – 10:00 AM

Squadron Tailgates Falcon Stadium lots

8:30 AM

Squadron Accountability Falcon Stadium

11:00 AM

Air Force Falcons vs. Duquesne — Whiteout game Falcon Stadium

Find Us

Look for the Wild Blue Merch setup at the east entrance of Lot 4, 8:00 – 10:00 AM. Come in white and ready for kickoff.

Stadium

Falcon Stadium follows a clear-bag policy. Check gate times on your ticket and plan for shuttle lines.

Weather

Full sun at altitude. Sunscreen, a hat, and water go a long way by the second quarter.

Whiteout — the USAFA Shirt is white on purpose. Wear it to the tailgate and into the stadium.

The Full Weekend

A tentative overview of Parents' Weekend, September 2–7, 2026. Times and venues can shift for weather or security — always confirm against the official schedule before you go.

Wednesday, September 2

7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Doolittle Outfitters Open Doolittle Hall

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Hosmer Visitor Center Outside North Gate

8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Parents' Club Presidents Conference — Day 1 Polaris Hall

6:00 – 8:00 PM

Parents' Club Presidents Reception East Club

Thursday, September 3

7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Doolittle Outfitters Doolittle Hall

8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Parents' Club Presidents Conference — Day 2 Polaris Hall

11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Planetarium Showings Planetarium

3:00 – 7:00 PM

Force Support Squadron Activities Multiple locations

3:30 – 5:30 PM

Airfield Open House Davis Airfield

6:00 PM

Women's Soccer vs. University of Montana Cadet Soccer Stadium

Friday, September 4

7:30 – 7:55 AM

Demonstrations — Falconry, Honor Guard, Sabre Drill Stillman Field

8:00 – 8:50 AM

Cadet Wing Parade Stillman Field

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Prep School Parade Black Field

8:50 – 9:30 AM

Cadet Aviation Capabilities Exercise (CAPEX) Stillman Field

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Wild Blue Merch — Information Fair Arnold Hall Ballroom · Fair 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Senior Leaders' Panel & Parents' Q&A Arnold Hall Theater

1:00 – 4:00 PM

Athletic Department Open House Cadet Field House

4:00 – 6:00 PM

Squadron Open Houses Sijan & Vandenberg Hall

4:00 – 6:00 PM

Dean of Faculty Open House Fairchild Hall

6:00 PM

Cadet Dismissal & Sign-Out Mitchell Hall

Saturday, September 5

7:00 AM

4° Mandatory Shuttles Clune Arena to Falcon Stadium

8:00 – 10:00 AM

Wild Blue Merch — Football Tailgate East entrance of Lot 4

7:30 – 10:00 AM

Squadron Tailgates Falcon Stadium lots

8:30 AM

Squadron Accountability Falcon Stadium

11:00 AM

Air Force Falcons vs. Duquesne — Whiteout Falcon Stadium

Sunday, September 6

9:00 AM

Catholic Mass Polaris Hall

9:00 AM

Protestant Worship Service Arnold Hall Ballroom

9:00 AM

Buddhist Worship Service Sijan Hall

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Jacks Valley (BCT) Orientation Tour — shuttles every 15 min Shuttle boarding area

11:30 AM

Latter-day Saints (LDS) Worship Service Jamboree Chapel

3:30 PM

Orthodox Christian Divine Liturgy Sijan Hall

Monday, September 7

6:00 PM

Prep School Sign In Prep School

7:50 PM

Academy Sign In — C4C & C3C Sijan / Vandenberg Hall

11:00 PM

Academy Sign In — C2C & C1C Sijan / Vandenberg Hall

Good to know — cadets are restricted to a 50-mile travel radius, so book accommodations close to the Academy.

For the official, up-to-date schedule, visit usafa.edu/parents-weekend.

The USAFA Shirt

A new tradition — starting this Parents' Weekend

The front carries a clean AIR FORCE ACADEMY wordmark. The back tells the story: a hand-illustrated scene of cadets marching beneath the Cadet Chapel spires as jets streak overhead, framed by the words that define their four years — Integrity First • Service Before Self • Excellence in All We Do.

Printed on a Gildan 5000 heavyweight 100% US cotton tee. Classic relaxed fit, tear-away label. And yes — it's white, made for Saturday's Whiteout.

Every Shirt Gives Back

This is the tradition we're starting: every USAFA Shirt helps support the Academy community.

$2 Per shirt to USAFA Parent Clubs

20% Of profits to Cadet Class Cabinets

Our goal: to see every USAFA family in a Parents' Weekend shirt every September — a tradition that grows with every new class, year after year.

Price

$20

Pick Up

Friday at the Arnold Hall Info Fair (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM) or Saturday at the Lot 4 tailgate (8:00 – 10:00 AM).

Sizes

S through 5XL

Wear Our Legacy

See You This Weekend

Find us at the Info Fair Friday and the Lot 4 tailgate Saturday. Come in white — let's fill Falcon Stadium with USAFA families.

Shop USAFA Family Merch