The Circus Is Back: FSU Family Weekend Marks 175 Years of Seminole Spirit

Here is a good one out of Tallahassee: more than 700 families are expected at Florida State University September 25–27 for Family Weekend 2026, a three-day run of campus traditions, tailgating, a football game and the return of the FSU Flying High Circus, per an early-September announcement from Florida State University News. And this year the weekend lands on a milestone — the school is celebrating its 175th anniversary.

What happened

Family Weekend is one of those traditions that quietly holds a place together. It dates back to 1958 and gives students a chance to share campus life with their families through a weekend of activities, performances and events. The lineup includes a Friday evening event with dining, a fun run and walk, a Tailgate Brunch, and performances by the Flying High Circus. There is even something brand new for the anniversary year: a student banner competition, with more than 20 registered student organizations signed up for the inaugural contest.

And yes, there is football. The Seminoles host Central Arkansas on September 26, which doubles as Family Weekend and Hall of Fame Weekend.

A circus, at a football school

If you have never heard of the Flying High Circus, it is exactly what it sounds like — college students on the trapeze, and it is one of the best odd traditions in American higher education. This year it returns to Family Weekend with sold-out performances, and the setting got an upgrade too: a brand-new, custom-made big top tent from Italy, which visitors can tour during guided "Tent Talks" that walk families through the circus' history.

The circus is woven deep into the school's story. It was the first activity open to both men and women after the institution returned to co-educational status, and it has been a Family Weekend favorite ever since. The 2026–27 school year marks the circus' 80th. Eighty years of undergrads learning to fly. That is a tradition worth driving to see.

The wider Florida of it

Florida takes its game-day rituals seriously, and each campus has its own flavor. Down the road in Gainesville, Gators fans honor hometown legend Tom Petty between the third and fourth quarters by singing "I Won't Back Down" — a tradition that started in October 2017, when 90,000 fans sang along. In Tallahassee, it is a spear at midfield and a circus tent behind the stadium. Different towns, same idea: the game is the excuse, and the gathering is the point. It is a big part of why we love making shirts about this state — browse our Florida collection and you will see the affection is genuine.

If you want in

If you have a student at FSU — or just a soft spot for a marching band and a trapeze act — the window is open but not forever. Signature event tickets are on sale until Sunday, September 20 at 11:59 p.m. Faculty and staff can also sign up to volunteer during the weekend. And a small detail we loved: Strozier Library will let you check out frisbees, lawn chairs, hammocks, and a karaoke machine. A library that lends hammocks understands what a good Saturday is for.

Making the trip? Pack light, bring a lawn chair, and maybe a Welcome to Florida Tee for whichever out-of-state relative is seeing Tallahassee in September for the first time. They will need the warning.

Common questions

When is FSU Family Weekend 2026?

Family Weekend runs Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27, 2026, in Tallahassee, with events across campus all weekend.

Is there a football game that weekend?

Yes. Florida State hosts Central Arkansas on September 26, and the game is designated Family Weekend and Hall of Fame Weekend.

What is the Flying High Circus?

It is a student circus at Florida State — one of the university's most iconic traditions, with FSU students performing skilled routines for families and fans. The 2026–27 season is its 80th.

Reported by Florida State University News. Details as published at the time of writing.