Save the Date! Family Weekend 2026 is currently scheduled for Oct. 23-25.
The VMI community is looking forward to hosting you for a fun and memorable weekend! Whether you stay on post or venture into downtown Lexington and surrounding areas our main hope is that you find enjoyment in reconnecting with your cadet. There will be interactive events and activities taking place throughout the weekend that are educational, entertaining, and scheduled with the overall goal to build community. We encourage you to experience the networks and communities available to you on this weekend, as well as those your cadet has chosen to be part of during their VMI experience.
All dates and times are subject to change. This page will be updated as necessary, and any major changes will also be noted on the VMI homepage.
Daily Schedules 2026
Friday, October 23, 2026
| Time | Event | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Academic Duty | Parents are welcome to join cadets in their classrooms | |
| 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Luncheon | Crozet Hall | $10.25 adults and children, children under 9 eat free |
| 1 – 4 p.m. | Appointments with Faculty and Advisors | Individual Offices | |
| 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Open Door Sessions | Kilbourne Hall | |
| 6 – 8 p.m. | VMI Commanders Jazz & Glee Club Concert | Memorial Hall |
Saturday, October 24, 2026
| Time | Event | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 – 9:45 a.m. | Appointments with Faculty and Advisors | Individual Office & Department Receptions | |
| 8 a.m. | Men’s & Women’s Rifle vs. School Down South | Kilbourne Hall | |
| 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Barracks Open House | VMI Barracks | |
| 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Open House Reception for Institute Honor Cadets and Family, Invite only | 410 VMI Parade | |
| 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. | Parade | Parade Ground | |
| 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Luncheon | Crozet Hall | $10.25 adults and children, children under 9 eat free |
| 1 – 1:15 p.m. | Corps March Down to Alumni Memorial Field | VMI Post | |
| 1 – 4 p.m. | Men’s Soccer vs. Mercer | Patchin Field | |
| 1:30 – 5 p.m. | VMI Keydet Football vs. ETSU | Foster Stadium – Alumni Memorial Field | Game Day Information Ticket Information |
Sunday, October 25, 2026
| Time | Event | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 – 10 a.m. | Catholic Mass | Memorial Hall | |
| 10 – 11 a.m. | Light Refreshments | Memorial Hall Foyer | |
| 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Collective Protestant Service | Memorial Hall |
Hours of Institute Facilities
Jackson House Museum – 8 East Washington Street
- Daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Self-Guided Tours offered daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Standard Fee: $10/Adults (13-64), $8 Seniors (65+) $6/Youth (6-12), children under 6 are free.
- Alumni Rate: Alumni are free (Immediate family accompanying alumni will also receive free admission)
- Cadet Rate: Cadets are free (Family members accompanying cadet will also receive free admission).
Bookstore – Lejeune Hall, Lower Level
- Friday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The PX in Lejeune Hall
- Friday – 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Saturday – 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Sunday – 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Friday – 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday – 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
VMI Museum – 200 Level Memorial Hall
- 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Daily with extended hours until 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday of Home Game weekends
VMI Athletic Ticket Office – Cameron Hall
Family Weekend Ticket Office Hours
- Friday, October 23, 9 – 11 a.m. and 2 – 4 p.m.
- Saturday, October 24, 9 a.m. – Halftime of the football game
- Sunday, October 25, CLOSED
Parking and Tailgating
All parking for the Saturday of Family Weekend will follow rules and protocols found on the Game Day webpage. Attendees should review locations, costs, shuttle service options, and more to prepare for an exciting day on post!
Tailgating rules are also posted on the same page, and are crucial to ensuring a fun and safe environment for all in attendance.
Weekend Permits
Cadets may leave Post with their families after the Completion of Military Duty (CMD) on Friday and after the football game on Saturday in accordance with the Family Weekend Permit.
The Family Weekend permit ends on Sunday, at 8:30 p.m. Restrictions are lifted only for cadets and new cadets, who are in the company of an authorized adult, i.e., a parent or guardian, grandparent, aunt or uncle, brother or sister 23 years of age or older, full-time member of the VMI faculty or staff, or parent of another cadet. Cadets and new cadets signed out on the “Family Weekend” permit may leave the county but are not authorized to spend the night off post and must observe the following schedule:
- Friday – Return by midnight
- Saturday – Breakfast Roll Call (BRC) at 7:00 a.m., parade formation at 10:15 a.m., football game march-down formation and football game at 12:55 p.m. and return by Midnight.
- Sunday – Cadets are released from quarters at 7:00 a.m., and return by 8:30 p.m. If signed out on the permit must place themselves on report if they fail to do so.
Visiting VMI & Lexington
Virginia Military Institute is located in historic Lexington, Virginia nestled in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. VMI’s post consists of 59 buildings on 200 acres; with many of the buildings dating from the 19th century. Today, a 12-acre portion of VMI is recognized as a national historic district containing the only structure to survive Union attacks during the American Civil War, and Old Barracks is recognized as a national historic landmark. Off-post properties include McKethan Park— the site of the VMI observatory—the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, the Jackson House Museum and the adjoining Davidson-Tucker House in downtown Lexington, and part of the Chessie Trail, a multipurpose recreational trail linking Buena Vista and Lexington.
The surrounding area of Rockridge County offers many options for hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and adventures into the Blue Ridge Mountains, including the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. The area also hosts breweries and wineries, as well as a wide variety of restaurants, including local Lexington fare in the historic downtown district.
For more information on where to stay in Lexington and local attractions, we encourage you to visit the Lexington Visitor Center.
Lodging Options | Weekend Events | Natural Beauty | Dining Directory
Questions? We’re Here to Help
Connect with Operations & Planning
Email: butnerkk@vmi.edu
Phone: (540) 464-7123
Operations & Planning
101 Smith Hall