The Citadel’s Parents’ Weekend 2025!
Friday, September 19 – Sunday, September, 21, 2025
Weekend Summary
Welcome to the 2025 Parents’ Day Weekend Parents’ Webpage! This page will get updated as we get closer to the weekend, but the information provided now will be enough to make your plans. To ensure you don’t miss any updates, make sure you are on The Citadel’s Parent and Family Portal. Being on the Portal allows you to receive emails with important information that may not make it as quickly onto this site.
Parents’ Weekend is a jammed packed weekend which is a wonderful time for the families and friends of our cadets. Because it has so many events, the more you can plan for the weekend with your cadet, the more enjoyable it will be. Take your time to read through this page and the three accompanying pages, then consult with your cadet as we get closer and you make your plan. Also, keep checking the Parent and Family Portal for updates. We will use the Portal – so make sure you are signed up!
Shirts, totes and Saturday lunch information will be coming soon. Again, look for information on the Parent Portal as well as in future updates of this page.
Let’s start with a look at the General Leave Schedule for the weekend then a summary of each day’s events. At the end of each page, you can click on a specific day to get a more detailed description of the events and our recommendations. If you have a hard time with Military Time or just want to double-check, click here for a converter website.
General Leave Summary
Action Item for Parents and Families:
As we get closer make sure you verify the times with your cadet
Friday
- The last class on Friday afternoon will be the noon class which ends at 1250.
- All cadets may leave after their last military duty which for most will be their last class.
- Seniors: overnight.
- Juniors and Sophomores: leave expires at 0100.
- Freshmen: must be back by Midnight.
Saturday Night
- General Leave begins after the football game and expires –
- 0100 for upperclassmen
- Midnight for freshmen
Note: Cadets authorized overnights can take them Saturday night. Also the times above may be modified by the President at the football based on the recommendation of the Commandant and the Regimental Commander. Their recommendation is based on the week’s performance of the Corps and how well the Families cheer at the game 🙂 – so come and make some noise!
Sunday
- You can pick up your cadets as early as 0530.
- Seniors must return by 2230.
- Juniors, Sophomores and Freshmen must return by 1950.
Daily Events Summary
Don’t forget about the Clear Bag Policy. Although the article only refers to Athletics, it will also be in force at the Ring Walkthrough Ceremony on Friday night.
Friday: 19 September 2025
Cadets may leave after their last morning class
- 0900-1300: Pre-ordered shirts and tote bags pickup and new sales – Order information will be posted later.
- 1030-1130: The CFA Annual Meeting – this annual business meeting kicks off the weekend. Guest speaker is General Walters where he will provide his update to Parents and Families – Buyer Auditorium, 2nd Floor of Mark Clark Hall – remember, all parents are members!
- 1345: Seniors march to Summerall Chapel from their battalions across the Parade Field. If you intend to watch, please make sure you do not stand in the Avenue of the Remembrance in front of the Chapel. The road must remain open to traffic until the Seniors arrive.
- 1400-1530: Class of 2026 Ring Presentation – for Cadets Only – in Summerall Chapel. This ceremony will be live streamed on our Facebook and YouTube Channel – check back here for the link. On the way out they will render honors to the War Memorial then joyfully head to their company areas for additional celebrations!
- 1700: Ring Reception in Deas Hall for Senior Cadets and their families. This serves as a staging area for those going to the Ring “Walk Through” Ceremony. We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before the time your cadet’s company is expected to walk through the ring. We will update this page with additional information, like Company times, as we get closer to the weekend.
- 1800: Sword Arch performance followed by the Ring “Walk-Through” Ceremony.
Company Walk Through Times:
Remember Charleston’s Friday afternoon traffic can be bad. Leave early and arrive early!
Saturday: 20 September 2025
- 0730: Pre-ordered Parents’ Weekend shirts and totes pickup and sales – 2nd Floor Mark Clark Hall – until 1300. Closed during Parade.
- 0800: 2nd Battalion – Band Barracks Rooms open for Band Parents – we do this since they have other commitments that morning.
- 0830: Barracks Open for all Parents and Families until 1015
- 0945: Rifle Legion Performance – Padgett-Thomas Quad
- 0955: Freshmen Company Ceremony (Respective Company Areas)
- 1015: Barracks closed to visitors
- 1100: Dress Parade – Jeep Review and Awards Presentation
- 1200: Lunch – see more details on the individual days.
- 1300: Formation and March to the Stadium
- 1400: Kickoff – Go Dogs! Beat Mercer! Get your tickets HERE!
Sunday: 21 September 2025
General Leave begins at 0530
- 0900: General Protestant Worship in Summerall Chapel, which will include a special “Blessing of the Rings” and reception following the service.
- 1700: Catholic Mass – Summerall Chapel
Additional Information
Weather: It’s too far out to predict the weather right now, but in the past this time of year has averaged in the low to mid 80’s. Please remember to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and hydrate before arriving. You may want to consider bringing a hat for shade, or better yet, check out the Citadel bookstore for the latest in Citadel headgear!
Shoes: Keep in mind there will be a lot of walking, so make sure you wear some comfortable shoes!
Map: You can find the map of campus by CLICKING HERE.
Handicap Services: CLICK HERE to read our Handicap FAQs
Traffic: Traffic in Charleston is unpredictable. The worst times are Monday-Friday afternoons. Please plan accordingly, especially for the Friday night “Walk-through” Ceremony. Recommend getting to campus early for the events on Saturday. Campus gets full by 0900 on Saturday morning.
Parking: Parking on Campus is difficult on the big weekends like Parents’ Weekend. Saturday is the worst. The problem is not that everyone arrives at the same time, but that we don’t have the room to fit all the cars coming on campus. If you think you’ll fare better by coming later after traffic dies down, you may find yourself parking far from campus and missing the morning events. In the past Public Safety has had to close the gates to oncoming traffic around 0900 – so come early or take a ride share like Uber or Lyft.
- Traffic will enter through Lesesne Gate and flow around campus until you get to Summerall Gate which is next to Mark Clark Hall. When you exit Summerall Gate you will enter Hampton Park. We will request a permit from the city to park in the area of Hampton Park behind Mark Clark Hall for both Friday and Saturday. Public Safety will have personnel on station if you end up parking in Hampton Park. If you park outside of our designated area, you may receive a parking ticket from the city.
- The city monitors street parking. If you have to park off campus, make sure you don’t park in a restricted area. There is a parking lot across from Joe Riley Baseball Stadium which the Brigadier Club manages on Saturday. They will open Saturday morning at 7AM – cost is $15 for the day.
- We strongly recommend using a ride share program like Uber, Lyft or a taxi.
Handicap Parking is available on campus for those vehicles displaying the appropriate credentials. For this weekend we designate the parking spaces around the parade field for handicap parking (except Jones Avenue which runs in front of the Barracks) as well as the normal reserved spaces on campus.
Saturday is a full day. Make sure you get some rest Friday night, arrive hydrated and know where you want to be and when. Have a plan that you and your cadet have agreed on. Know where you will meet and when – and make sure they contact you if they get held up – or would rather take a nap!
If you are not on the Parent and Family Portal you may miss important updates, so sign up today!
Start planning now for a Great Weekend!
Go Dogs!
For each day’s events and recommendations, please click on the links below: