Parents' Weekend

Welcome Family and Friends

Annual Cadet Tradition

Labor Day Weekend

Taking place over the Labor Day weekend (Sept. 4-7, 2026), this event is an exciting opportunity for cadets to connect with their family and friends. Many activities are designed to orient families and visitors to their cadet’s life in the military. From the Parents’ Weekend parade to the Airfield Open House and Senior Leader Panel, we invite you to participate and enjoy.

We will also kick off our Falcon football season by hosting Duquesne University.

Attention! Base Access During Parents’ Weekend | All Visitors Must complete the Base Access form – Learn More

Quick NavigationParents’ Weekend

Color Key

General Information

Sporting Event Specific

Religious Service

Traffic/Special Information

AF Academy Only

Attendees Key

*

Mandatory

C

All Cadets

I

Invitation Only

T

Ticket Req.

P

Open to Public

Event Date

Thu3

Fri4

Sat5

Thursday, September 3, 2026

Time	Event	Location	Attendees	Attire
11 a.m.	Planetarium Show – Cities of the Future	Planetarium	P	Casual
Noon	Planetarium Show – Back from the Brink	Planetarium	P	Casual
12:45	Planetarium Show – Always Above	Planetarium	P	Casual
1 p.m.	Planetarium Show – T.REX	Planetarium	P	Casual
2 p.m.	Planetarium Show – Live Night Sky Tour	Planetarium	P	Casual
2:30 p.m.	Planetarium Show – Dark Universe	Planetarium	P	Casual
3 p.m.	Planetarium Show – D-Day: Normandy 1944	Planetarium	P	Casual
3:30-5:30 p.m.	Airfield Open House Cadet escort is required. Come view static displays of Academy aircraft and parachuting equipment and visit with the staff of the 306th Flying Training Group.	Davis Airfield	C,I	Business/Casual
3:45 p.m.	Planetarium Show – Always Above	Planetarium	P	Casual
4 p.m.	Planetarium Show – Shackleton: Greatest Journey of Survival	Planetarium	P	Casual
5 p.m.	Planetarium Show – Fighter Pilot	Planetarium	P	Casual

Friday, September 4, 2026

Time	Event	Location	Attendees	Attire
Note: Mandatory Cadet Class Attendance per the M-Day Academic Class Schedule
7:30-7:55 a.m.	Demonstrations Falconry, Honor Guard and Sabre Drill Demonstrations	Stillman Field	*,C,P	Business/Casual
8-8:50 a.m.	Cadet Wing Parade Cadet wing assembles in formation. Bleacher seating for Stillman Field guests provided. ADA shuttle support available. Coffee truck available only at Arnold Hall, no food trucks available at Stillman Field. Bring sunscreen, factory sealed water bottles, and hats.Bus support and ADA shuttle to Arnold Hall for the parent program immediately following parade.	Stillman Field	*,C,P	Business/Casual
8:50-9:30 a.m.	Cadet Aviation Capabilities Exercise (CAPEX) See airpower in action. Demonstration by the Wings of Blue, aircraft flyovers and static displays. Bring sunscreen, factory sealed water bottles, and hats. Bleacher and ADA seating available. Bus support and ADA shuttle.	Stillman Field	C,P	Business/Casual
9:30 a.m.	Planetarium Show – Worlds Beyond Earth	Planetarium	P	Casual
9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. – Cadets attend academic classes and lunch – Cadets Only
Note: Parents must be escorted by cadets into the cadet area
10 a.m.-2 p.m.	Parents’ Weekend Information Fair Representatives available from the Air Force Academy and various Academy support groups. Informational booths are available in the Arnold Hall Ballroom and food trucks in front of Arnold Hall. Don’t miss this popular event!	Arnold Hall Ballroom	P	Business/Casual
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.	Senior Leaders’ Panel and Parents’ Q&A No ticket required. Overview of Academy programs from senior staff, including the Superintendent, Commandant, Dean, 10th Air Base Wing Commander and Athletic Director. Q&A session will follow presentations.	Arnold Hall Theater	P	Casual
Noon	Planetarium Show – Back from the Brink	Planetarium	P	Casual
12:45 p.m.	Planetarium Show – Always Above	Planetarium	P	Casual
1-4 p.m.	Athletic Department Open House All visitors welcome. Come visit the Cadet Field House and the Cadet Gymnasium and see your cadet(s) perform at practices. Meet the Athletics staff and learn all about the many athletics programs available at the Academy.	Cadet Field House	C,I	Business/Casual
1 p.m.	Planetarium Show – T.REX	Planetarium	P	Casual
2 p.m.	Planetarium Show – Worlds Beyond Earth	Planetarium	P	Casual
2:30 p.m.	Planetarium Show – Dark Universe	Planetarium	P	Casual
3 p.m.	Planetarium Show – D-Day: Normandy 1944	Planetarium	P	Casual
3:45 p.m.	Planetarium Show – Always Above	Planetarium	P	Casual
Note: Parents must be escorted by cadets into squadrons or any cadet area open house location Golf carts provided as needed.
4-6 p.m.	Squadron Open Houses Visit squadron areas where your cadet lives. Be respectful in dormitory areas and follow instructions from cadet leadership. ADA accommodations available as needed.	Sijan Hall Vandenberg Hall	C,I	Business/Casual
4-6 p.m.	Dean of Faculty Open House Academic program overview. Cadet escort is required.	Fairchild Hall	C,I	Business/Casual
4 p.m.	Planetarium Show – Shackleton: Greatest Journey of Survival	Planetarium	P	Casual
5 p.m.	Planetarium Show – Fighter Pilot	Planetarium	P	Casual
6 p.m.	Cadet Dismissal & Sign-Out Cadets only – Cadets may sign out after 6 p.m. on Friday. Cadets must report for the tailgate and accountability formations Saturday morning as indicated below.	Mitchell Hall	C	UOD

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Time	Event	Location	Attendees	Attire
11 a.m.	Air Force Falcons vs. Duquesne Cadets are required to attend the game and must sit with the Cadet Wing. Parents and visitors can purchase tickets by calling the USAFA Athletic Ticket Office at (800) 666-8723, (719) 472-1895, or purchase on-line at https://goairforcefalcons.com; Bus support for cadets only.	Falcon Stadium	C,P	UOD / Casual

Note: The schedule of events is tentative. Times and venues may change due to security, weather, or other circumstances.
(Last updated: July 29, 2026)