Parent’s Weekend saw a marked increase in parent participation this year, according to Mary Alice Porter, the assistant director of Parent Programs.

The Office of First Year Experience and Parent Programs organized the annual event.

Porter said all parents had the opportunity to buy a Family Weekend package for $45 and could then opt in for buying football tickets in the upper north and south end zones for an additional $55 each.

“We sold 3,548 packages this year, which is an increase of about 500,” Porter said.

Litsa Orban, the assistant director of Freshman Year Experience, claimed the increase in package sales continues to happen yearly. “I think parents remember what a great time they had in the past, and it starts to become a tradition.”

The weekend-long celebration also featured three signature events: a Beach Bash at the Recreation Center pool, a Full Moon BBQ-catered tailgate at Presidential Park and a Student Affairs Expo accompanied by a Jazz Brunch.

“This year, we added the Expo to the Brunch to give parents an opportunity to tour Student Affairs’ 20-plus departments to see what all their students are being offered,” Orban said. “We like to keep these three signature events an annual part of Family Weekend because it allows us to perfect them more and more every year.”

A growing number of campus partners offers events over the weekend, as well, including the Women’s Resource Center’s new Chocolate Festival and the annual President’s Mansion Tour.

Sandy Cobb, whose daughter, Lindsey, attends The University of Alabama, enjoyed getting an in-depth tour of the well-known campus landmark.

“I was so impressed with the rich history of the President’s mansion,” Cobb said. “The Waterford crystal chandelier from the 1800s was absolutely breathtaking.”

For some students, this is the first time they are reunited with their families since they moved on campus.

PJ Woodward, a freshman majoring in pre-physical therapy, was happy his family could make the trip from Kansas to experience the University in such a well-organized weekend.

“They’ll get a chance to check out my new fraternity house and see how dirty my room is in the dorm,” Woodward said. “My sister is a competitive soccer player, so my family is going to watch the Alabama girl’s soccer game Friday and then the football game this Saturday.”

Perhaps what Woodward’s family and many other out-of-state guests looked forward to the most was experiencing their first Alabama game day together.

“I know my dad is stoked to be in Bryant-Denny Stadium for the first time,” Woodward said.