YSU Family Weekend 2026

ysu family weekend logo with three drawn penguins purple pink and green

YSU’s annual Family Weekend will take place the weekend of September 25 – 27, 2026, and we invite all students to have their families join them to share in the campus experience. Family can mean something different to everyone, and we are excited to have the opportunity to host the members of YSU’s extended family for a fun, family-friendly weekend!

Full details about Family Weekend 2026 will be announced in the coming months. In the meantime, details about previous Family Weekends can be found below. Any questions can be directed to John Michael Haky, Associate Director of Residence Life, at jmhaky@ysu.edu.

2026 Family Weekend Events

Thursday, September 24, 2026

YSU Soccer Game vs Cleveland State
(Kickoff is 6:00 p.m., Farmers National Bank Field)
Come cheer on our Penguins as they face off against the Vikings of Cleveland State! The first 100 fans in attendance will receive a YSU Family hand fan.

Friday, September 25, 2026

Skeggs Lecture Series:
Doris Kearns Goodwin
6:30 pm, Stambaugh Auditorium.

Doris Kearns Goodwin is a world-renowned presidential historian, pultizer prize-winning and #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author.

Tickets will be available starting August 10, 2026. For ticket information, please visit www.stambaughauditorium.com or the DeYor Performing Arts Box Office (260 West Federal Street, Youngstown, OH 44504)

Ward Beecher Planetarium Show - Firefall (7:00 pm, Ward Beecher Science Hall)

Enjoy a visually stunning show at YSU’s Ward Beecher Planetarium. Throughout Earth's violent history, impacts from comets and asteroids have mercilessly shaped its surface. The ancient barrage continues today; from harmless meteors - those brilliant streaks in the night sky, to mountain sized boulders wandering perilously close to Earth. Terrifying and majestic, these invaders from space are capable of utter destruction yet they have delivered life-giving water and most of the organic materials necessary for life.

All shows are free and open to the public. Visit Ward Beecher Planetarium for more details.

Saturday, September 26, 2026

Family Arcade
(9:00 am – 1:00 pm, McKay Auditorium in Beeghly Hall)

Join us for an exciting series of pre-game activities and crafts for penguins of all ages! Featuring classic video and pinball games from Past Times Arcade, interactive bingo and trivia contests for prizes, YSU spirited arts & crafts, and food to get you energized for gameday, our family-friendly arcade will have a little something for everyone. A tailgate-style lunch will be provided for registered families beginning around 12:00 pm.

On-Campus Apartments Open House
(10:00 am - 1:00 pm, University Courtyard Apartments)

Is your student considering apartment life for next year? If so, drop by our on-campus apartment housing option – University Courtyard Apartments – to take a tour, learn about on-site amenities, and discuss rates and leasing timelines for next year.

Ward Beecher Planetarium Show - Legends of the Night Sky: Perseus and Andromeda
(1:00 pm, Ward Beecher Science Hall)

Enjoy a visually stunning show at YSU’s Ward Beecher Planetarium. Accompanied by narrators Aesop the owl and Socrates the mouse, we follow Perseus and Andromeda in a fun-filled retelling of the beautiful but unfortunate princess Andromeda, who in divine punishment for her mother’s bragging, is sacrificed to a sea monster—and rescued by the Greek hero Perseus. All shows are free and open to the public.

Visit Ward Beecher Planetarium for more details.

YSU Football Pre-Game
(1:00 p.m., Outside Stambaugh Stadium)

Get hyped for kick-off with performances by the YSU Marching Pride, by visiting Mosure Hall of Gridiron Glory in Stambaugh Stadium, or check-out the tailgates around the stadium.

YSU Football Game vs South Dakota
(Kickoff is 2:00 p.m., Stambaugh Stadium)

Come cheer on our Penguins as they face off against the Coyotes of South Dakota!

Family Weekend ticketing information coming soon, and check-out the Youngstown State Football Gameday Information for full details.

Family Social
(5:00 p.m., DeBartelo Hall Lobby)

Following the football game, take some time to relax and chat with other YSU families. A light food menu will be provided.

Family Weekend Movie
(6:30 p.m., DeBartelo Hall Auditorium, room #132)

Cap-off your Family Weekend Saturday with a classic family movie.

Ward Beecher Planetarium Show - Firefall
(7:00 pm, Ward Beecher Science Hall)

All shows are free and open to the public. Visit Ward Beecher Planetarium for more details.

Sunday, September 27, 2026

YSU Soccer Game vs Purdue Fort Wayne
(Kickoff is 1:00 p.m., Farmers National Bank Field)

Come cheer on our Penguins as they face off against the Mastadons of Purdue University Fort Wayne! The first 100 fans in attendance will receive a YSU Family mini soccer ball.

Family Weekend Registration

Current students can register themselves and their family/guests by completing the Family Weekend 2026 Registration form.

Registration includes:

Access to a promotional code to purchase discounted tickets to the September 26th YSU Football Game vs. South Dakota (current students admitted free)
One commemorative Family Weekend spirit scarf
One Parking Pass for a designated campus parking facility
Lunch vouchers for registered guests for lunch at the Family Weekend Arcade (September 26 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm; lunch will be served around 11:30 am)

Registration forms must be submitted no later than Friday, September 18, 2026, at 5:00 pm. Football tickets will still be available after this deadline, but must be purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office at the regular ticket cost.

Family of the Year Nominations

Nominations for the 2026 Family of the Year can be submitted before September 6, 2026.

Housing & Residence Life at Youngstown State University is excited to honor a YSU family by recognizing a Family of the Year. Families are an essential part of the support network for our students. Thus, we ask for you to honor those that support you by nominating them for YSU’s Family of the Year. The award celebrates the role that families play in the lives of students and the Penguin community. The selection of the Youngstown State University’s Family of the Year is based upon the nomination by YSU students and the review and selection by members of YSU's Division of Student Affairs.

More information about the Family of the Year Award and how to submit a nomination can be found at this page.

Send a Little Love from Home

Whether you can join us on campus for Family Weekend or not, you can still share something special with a student. Check out Fresh From Home, YSU’s care package program designed to help you send a little love from afar. Whether a student has moved into a residence hall or settled into an apartment, Fresh From Home offers thoughtfully curated care packages filled with treats, snacks, freshly baked cookies, and other delicious goodies to help celebrate move-in, brighten their day, or provide a little extra encouragement throughout the semester.

It's an easy and meaningful way to remind your student that home is never too far away. Explore our care package offerings and find the perfect way to celebrate move-in, encourage your student during the semester, or simply send a taste of home.

Send a Care Package Today

Barnes & Noble Bookstore

Be sure to visit our YSU bookstore for all the amazing YSU gear and swag!

Present the below coupon during Family Weekend 10/03/25-10/05/25 and receive 10% off your purchase.

Bookseller instruction: follow transaction-level $ off coupon keystrokes. Enter coupon code HELLO25

Printer Friendly PDF of Coupon

*Offer not valid on textbooks, course materials, diploma frames, technology, regalia, Apple products, or gift cards.

Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion or offer and excludes clearance merchandise. Coupon is not redeemable for cash.

Accepting Donations to the Penguin Pantry & Career Closet

Available to all YSU students, faculty, and staff, the Penguin Pantry is a critical resource that stocks donations of non-perishable, fresh and frozen food items, hygiene products and cleaning supplies. The Career Closet offers professional attire that can significantly defray costs associated with job interviews, internships, student teaching, clinical rotations, banquets, courses where speeches are required and more.

Donations to the Penguin Pantry and Career Closet will be accepted on Saturday during the Family Arcade and Family Social; items can be brought directly to those events, and staff will accept donations. More information about the Penguin Pantry and the Career Closet, including what and how to donate, can be found at https://ysu.edu/dean-of-students/penguin-pantry.