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Highlander Family Network

R’House is your house too!

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Special Events & Giveaways

November 7-8, 2025

Two Great Days. One Highlander Family.

UCR Highlander Family Weekend is a two-day campus celebration filled with exciting activities, helpful resources, and fun opportunities for students and families to enjoy together.

Spend the weekend exploring campus, connecting with other Highlander families, and taking part in special experiences like student performances, lunch with campus leadership, interactive workshops, and more.

Don’t miss this chance to make memories, deepen your UCR connection, and discover what it means to be part of the Highlander Family Network! 

Registration is $10 per person for the two-day weekend. Please note some events have an additional cost to attend.

REGISTER BY OCT. 15

Highlander Family Weekend Events

Friday, November 7, 2025

  • Botanic Gardens Tour | 2:00 p.m.

    Botanic Gardens Tour

    Time: 2:00 p.m.
    Location: UCR Botanic Gardens

    Join us for fun and an informative guided tour of UC Riverside’s famous Botanic Gardens and learn more about our 3,500 native plants and how to be a better conservationist. 

    Register Here!

  • Cycle Burn | 2:00 p.m.

    Cycle Burn

    Time: 2:00 p.m. 
    Location:     UCR Student Recreation Center

    A fun and energizing workout class for you and your student. Space is limited, secure your spots now!  

    Make sure to bring your gym clothes and a water bottle. 

    Register Here!

  • Body Sculpt | 2:30 p.m.

    Body Sculpt

    Time: 2:30 p.m. 
    Location:     UCR Student Recreation Center

    A fun, all-levels workout for you and your student to build strength, tone muscles, and boost energy together.  

    Make sure to bring your gym clothes and a water bottle. 

    Register Here!

  • Core & Restore | 3:00 p.m.
    Core & Restore 

    Time: 3:00 p.m. 
    Location: UCR Student Recreation Center

    An energizing, all-levels class for you and your student to strengthen, tone, and move together. 

    Make sure to bring your gym clothes and a water bottle. 

    Register Here!

  • Check-in & Student Performances | 3:00 p.m.

    Check-in & Student Performances

    Time: 3:00 p.m. 
    Location:     The Barn

    Stop by the Barn starting at 3:00 pm to check in, grab your swag bag, and enjoy a showcase of student performances like our own competition worthy K-Pop Dance Crew and our own Salsa Dance Club. Families are welcome to come and go during this time—or stay and enjoy the full lineup of talent. 

  • BINGO at the Barn | 5:00 p.m.

    BINGO & Taco Bar  

    Time: 5:00 p.m.
    Location: The Barn

    Join us for dinner and a lively, all-ages game of BINGO for you and your student to relax, laugh, and win fun prizes together. Meet other Highlander families, learn more about the Highlander Family Network, and more! 

    Register Here!

Saturday, November 8, 2025

  • Grab & Go Breakfast & Check-in | 8:00 a.m.

    Grab & Go Breakfast & Check-in

    Time: 8:00 a.m.
    Location: Career Center Patio

    A quick, tasty start to the day for you and your student before the parent meeting. If you didn’t check in on Friday, now’s your chance to grab your swag bag and enjoy some pastries and coffee/tea and mingle with other Highlander families. 

    Register Here!

  • Highlander Family Meeting with Campus Leadership | 9:00 a.m.

    Highlander Family Meeting with Campus Leadership

    Time: 9:00 a.m.
    Location: UNLH - University Lecture Hall 

    Join your fellow Highlander families and connect with campus leadership for updates and insights on the Highlander experience. 

    Register Here!

  • Get to Know UCR | 11:00 a.m.

    Explore Your Interests

    Time: 11:00 a.m.
    Location: Various locations

    Dive into hands-on, interactive events with our campus supports and services to learn, connect, and discover more about the Highlander experience with your student.  

    Get to meet and mingle with: Chicano Student Programs | Middle Eastern Student Center | Military & Veterans Resource Center | Academic Resource Center | Foster Youth Services | The Well | Student Disability Resource Center | Counseling and Psychological Services | Police & Campus Safety | UCR Health | SWIFT | Student Health Services | the HUB | SRC | Athletics and so many more!

    Also during this time, join us for these special Homecoming events presented by our schools and colleges. These require separate registration, so if you are interested in meeting with faculty, staff, and students, please register below. 

    Bourns College of Engineering 

    College Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

    College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

    School of Business

    School of Education

    School of Public Policy

  • UCR Homecoming Concert - Ludacris | 1:00 p.m.

    UCR Homecoming Concert 

    Time: 1:00 p.m.
    Location: Bell tower

    Experience college and department interactive booths, mix and mingle with alumni, staff, and families, enjoy a day filled with an activity zone, bar service, Ferris wheel, opportunity drawings, and concert featuring Ludacris.

    Gates open at 1 PM with opening entertainment by UCR Alumnus, Rafael Lopez '07 (DJ Alf Alpha).

    Parents and guardians are encouraged to use their discretion when deciding whether the event is appropriate for younger attendees.

    Purchase tickets here!

  • Men’s Basketball Open Practice | TBD

    Men’s Basketball Open Practice

    Time: TBD
    Location:     UCR Student Recreation Center

    Head over to the SRC Arena to watch our Highlanders prepare for the upcoming season. Get an inside look at the high-level training and coaching from new head coach, Argenal! 

Sunday, November 9, 2025

If you plan to spend time in our beautiful city on Sunday, consider some of these Highlander Traditions Keeper campus traditions to check-off with your student. 

  • Traditions
    • Go to the California Museum of Photography 

    3824 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501 | 12 p.m. 

     

    • Go to the Sweeney Art Gallery 

    3824 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501 | 12 p.m. 

     

    • Spot the Bell Tower from the top of Mt. Rubidoux 

    5000 Tequesquite Ave, Riverside, CA 92506 | 24/7 

     

    • Visit the Canyon Crest Towne Centre 

    5225 Canyon Crest Dr, Riverside, CA 92507 | Varies 

     

    • Visit the Mission Inn 

    3649 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92507 | 11 a.m. 

     

    • Visit the Riverside Food Lab 

    3605 Market St, Riverside, CA 92501 | 11 a.m. 

     

    • Visit the Riverside Game Lab 

    3633 Market St, Riverside, CA 92501 | 3 p.m. 

     

    • Visit the Riverside New Main Public Library 

    3900 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501 | 10 a.m. 

  • Not sure where to start? Here’s the Highlander Family Network’s suggestion for a self-guided city showcase! 
    8:00 a.m. - Head to Canyon Crest Towne Centre for breakfast or coffee – we suggest East Coast Bagels and Starbucks  
     
    9:00 a.m. - Grab your reusable water bottle and go on a morning hike to Mt. Rubidoux. Snap a picture of the fam with the Bell Tower in the background! 
     
    11:00 a.m. - Wander downtown and check out the Mission Inn and Riverside New Main Public Library, before heading to UCR Arts’ Sweeny Art Gallery and the California Museum of Photography at 12 p.m. when they open. 
     
    1:00 p.m. - Grab some lunch at Riverside Food Lab – even the pickiest of eaters will find something they like here! 
     
    3:00 p.m. - With your newfound energy post-lunch, head next door to the Riverside Game Lab and challenge the family to all of your old (and new) gaming faves. 
     
    Make sure to take pictures throughout the day and tag us using @highlanderfamilynetwork and #highlanderfamilyweekend25 #ucrfamilyweekend25 

Additional Information

Food & Merchandise

Delicious campus food options will be open for you to enjoy during your stay. We’ve got Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast covered! Thanks to Citrus Grove, CRATE, and Emerbee’s Cafe for helping to make this event special! 

Our campus bookstore will be open on Friday until 5 p.m. and Saturday it will be open from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. so don’t forget to grab some additional family spirit gear!

 

Parking on Campus

General parking will be complimentary with vehicle registration in Lots 6 and 24.

 

Lodging

The following lodging options are located in Downtown Riverside, which is a short drive to campus. Use these links to get our Highlander Family discount. 

  • Hyatt Place  

3500 Market Street Riverside CA 92501 
951-321-3500 
Booking Code:  UNIR (CR10017) 
Parking Reduced to $18 
Complimentary WiFi and hot Full American Breakfast included with your stay.  

Booking link

  • Hampton Inn Riverside Downtown 

3505 Market Street Riverside CA 92501 
951-788-5000 
Parking: $23 
Complimentary hot breakfast and WiFi included with your stay. 

Booking link

  • Ayres Hotel & Spa  

TownGate Promenade, 12631 Memorial Way, Moreno Valley CA 92553 
951-571-4141 ext. 0 Ask for “UCR rate” 
Call the number above, and at extension 0, ask for the UCR rate. 
Parking, a hot breakfast, and WiFi are included with your stay. 

Booking link

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