Maverick friends and families: you are cordially invited to attend Friends & Family Weekend 2026 on October 16th and 17th!  Join us for a weekend...

Maverick friends and families: you are cordially invited to attend Friends & Family Weekend 2026 on October 16th and 17th!  Join us for a weekend filled with family-centered activities during the most vibrant time of year.   

To secure your spot, please complete this registration form. Only one registration form per family is required. The priority registration deadline for Friends & Family Weekend is on Friday, October 2nd, 2026 at 5:00pm.  If you have any questions about the event, please email parents@uta.edu. 

About Friends & Family Weekend

• Friends & Family Weekend is open to families of current UTA students and includes a variety of activities for the entire family to enjoy! 
• The first Family Weekend at UTA launched in 2006, and this year marks two decades of a campus tradition that brings Maverick families together. To celebrate this milestone, we’re rewinding to the 2000s for a full-on throwback weekend packed with nostalgia and Maverick family pride. 
• Maverick Parent & Family Association (MPFA) members receive additional perks throughout the weekend. To join the MPFA, please click here. 
• Every effort will be made to host Friends & Family Weekend rain or shine; however, some activities may be canceled in the event of severe weather. 
• The deadline to request a full refund for Friends & Family Weekend is Friday, October 2nd, 2026 at 5:00pm. Refunds will not be provided after this date. Please email parents@uta.edu to request your refund. 
• Before booking your travel to Arlington, TX, be sure to check out the locations that offer a UTA discount.

Friends & Family Weekend Tickets Overview

Tickets are free for all UTA students and children ages 5 and under. However, all attendees, including students and children under 5, must be included on the registration form to secure their access to Friends & Family Weekend activities. Below are the prices for adults (18 and up) and youth (ages 6 to 17). 

The $75 Maverick Pass (18 and up) includes: 

• A Friends & Family Weekend event t-shirt
• Access to the activities on Friday and Saturday (excludes a la carte events)
• Dinner on Friday, brunch on Saturday, and dinner on Saturday

The $55 Spirit Horse Pass (18 and up) includes:

• A Friends & Family Weekend event t-shirt
• Access to the activities on Saturday (excludes a la carte events)
• Brunch on Saturday and dinner on Saturday 

The $45 Blaze Pass (ages 6 to 17) includes:

• A Friends & Family Weekend event t-shirt
• Same access to the events and meals as the accompanied 18 and up or UTA student ticket

Schedule of Events:

• Friday October 16th
  • Stay tuned for more details about our Friday afternoon activities!
  • Check-in, Dinner, and Family Game Night | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Maverick Activities Center (MAC)
    • Kick off Friends & Family Weekend with dinner and a family game night! This activity will feature bingo, casino games, your favorite 2000s music, and prizes!
  • Choose Your Own Friday Evening Adventure!
    • Movie at the MAC | Starting at 7:00pm | Maverick Activities Center (MAC)
      • Stay tuned for an announcement of the film we're featuring!
    • Roller Skating | Stay tuned for more details!
    • Tour of the Fraternity and Sorority Life Community Center | 7:00pm - 8:00pm | Fraternity and Sorority Life Community Center
      • All families are welcome to come take a tour of our beloved Fraternity and Sorority Life Community Center! Come meet the Fraternity and Sorority Life team and learn more about our incredible chapters at UTA.
• Saturday October 17th
  • Check-in, Brunch, and 2000s Trivia | 10:00am - 12:00pm | Maverick Activities Center (MAC)
    • Test your 2000s era knowledge while enjoying an incredible brunch with your Maverick family! 
  • Choose Your Own Afternoon Adventure
    • Carnival On Campus | Stay tuned for more details!
    • Glassblowing Demonstrations and Art Sale | Stay tuned for more details!
    • Walking Tour hosted by Downtown Arlington | Stay tuned for more details!
    • UTA's 25th Annual Autocross Weekend | 1:30pm - 5:00pm | Lot 49 (Southeast corner of Cooper and Mitchell)
      • UTA Racing is the Formula SAE team from The University of Texas at Arlington. Every year our team designs and builds a formula car to compete in the SAE International Formula SAE® Series against other universities across the globe. Established in 1982, the team is one of the most successful in the series’ history, having won eight championships in the United States and three abroad. Experience the excitement of UTA's 25th Annual Autocross Weekend, featuring competitors from universities across the country, including UTA's own award-winning racing team.As this event coincides with UTA's 20^th annual Friends & Family Weekend, families and students are encouraged to stop by and watch the races on Saturday, October 17, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. or Sunday October 18th from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This is an incredible opportunity to see the best FSAE cars in the country, so come support UTA Racing during one of the most exciting weekends of the year!
      • DISCLAIMER: For spectator safety, all guests must remain in the designated grass viewing areas on the south and east sides of Lot 49. Motorsports involve high-speed vehicles and can be dangerous. Children must be supervised and remain directly beside a trusted adult throughout the event.
  • Dinner and Tailgate | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Stay tuned for more details!
  • Choose Your Own Evening Adventure
    • After Dark at the Park | 7:00pm - 8:00pm | MAC Outdoor Courts
      • UTA Athletics will officially tip off the basketball season with After Dark at the Park, a free fan event featuring the Mavericks men's and women's basketball programs. This event will provide attendees with an opportunity to get a first look at the 2026-27 Mavericks basketball teams while enjoying an evening of entertainment and interactive activities.
    • Fright Night hosted by EXCEL Campus Activities | 7:00pm - 10:00pm | Maverick Activities Center (MAC)
    • Planetarium Show hosted by the Chemistry & Physics Department | Stay tuned for more details!
• Sunday October 18th
  • Maverick Family Breakfast | Stay tuned for more details!
    • Before you travel back home, meet up with other Maverick families to enjoy some breakfast. This meal will be considered a la carte (pay your own way). More details on the time and location to come!
  • UTA's 25th Annual Autocross Weekend (Continued from Saturday) | 9:30am - 12:00pm | Lot 49 (Southeast corner of Cooper and Mitchell)
    • DISCLAIMER: For spectator safety, all guests must remain in the designated grass viewing areas on the south and east sides of Lot 49. Motorsports involve high-speed vehicles and can be dangerous. Children must be supervised and remain directly beside a trusted adult throughout the event.

Add-Ons (A La Carte Events):

• Stay tuned for more information!

Attractions and Activities in the DFW Metroplex:

• Stay tuned for more information!