{"id":38,"date":"2021-02-01T00:49:43","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T00:49:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-commencement\/?page_id=38"},"modified":"2026-04-15T14:17:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T14:17:00","slug":"families","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/families\/","title":{"rendered":"Information for Families and Visitors"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"context-image block-container context-image--right\" >\n    <div class=\"context-image__inner\">\n        <div class=\"context-image__image-column\">\n            <div class=\"context-image__image-wrapper\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"context-image__texture\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/images\/texture-context-image.png\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A group of family and friends stand and cheer for their graduate.\" class=\"context-image__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/234\/2025\/02\/20230513_mac_1164.jpg\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"context-image__text-column\">\n            <div class=\"base-lockup\">\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t        <span class=\"base-lockup__label\">Commencement 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">A Celebration for All<\/h2>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <p class=\"base-lockup__copy\">Our Macalester community is excited for this opportunity to celebrate and honor the achievements of our graduates, and to thank you\u2014parents, family members, caregivers, and friends\u2014for your support throughout their journey. <br><br> This page will continue to be updated as Senior Week and graduation day approach.\r\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t        <h2 class=\"accordion-group__heading\">Resources for Families and Visitors<\/h2>\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Tickets<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>All guests must have a ticket to attend the ceremony in the Field House.<\/strong> (Exception: Any child under two years of age, not occupying a seat, may attend without a ticket and therefore not count towards a graduate&#8217;s guest ticket limit.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>The registration and ticket request form for the 2026 ceremony has closed.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If your student registered for guest tickets, they will receive them by email a few days before Commencement. Graduates are responsible for forwarding tickets to their guests.<\/li>\n<li>Seniors may email <a href=\"mailto:commencement@macalester.edu\">commencement@macalester.edu<\/a> if they have questions about their registration or ticket status.<\/li>\n<li>Although the Field House has a capacity limit, we welcome additional guests who do not have Field House tickets to campus to participate in the celebratory events before and after the graduation ceremony. Guests without Field House tickets can view a livestream of the ceremony in the JBD Lecture Hall, Campus Center Lower Level.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Please note that all ticket requests are handled directly with graduates. Family and friends may not request tickets independently.<\/em><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-2\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-2\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Timing<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-2\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p>The doors to the Field House will open at 9:00 a.m.<\/p>\n<p>The commencement ceremony will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. Please plan to be in your seats by 10:15 a.m. or we may have to ask you to wait in the entry as the Class of 2026 processes into the Field House.<\/p>\n<p>The length of our commencement ceremony varies from year to year depending on the number of graduates, the length of speeches, and other factors. Please allow at least 2.5 to 3 hours for the ceremony.<\/p>\n<p>Graduates who have rented robes will be required to return them before they leave campus, so please consider that when making travel plans or restaurant reservations.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-3\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-3\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Live Stream<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p>A link for the live stream of the May ceremony will be\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/\">posted on our main Commencement webpage<\/a>\u00a0prior to the event. We will also post a link to the recording shortly after the ceremony.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-4\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-4\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Directions and Parking<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-4\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p>Macalester College is located at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Use 130 Macalester Street, St. Paul, Minnesota for GPS directions to available parking.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>There is no charge to park in Macalester&#8217;s lots or on the streets close to campus. Please be respectful of the residential nature of our neighborhood and obey all signs regarding parking limitations.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>View our <a href=\"https:\/\/map.concept3d.com\/?id=211#!ct\/2569?s\/\">Interactive Campus Map<\/a> for details.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-5\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-5\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Schedule of Events \/ Meal Registration<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-5\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/schedule\/\">Schedule of Events<\/a> webpage will be updated regularly in the weeks leading up to commencement. Please note that some events are for graduates only, and some are by invitation only. All events are subject to change.<\/p>\n<p>Family and friends of our graduates are especially welcome at the Zero Waste All Campus Picnic and the Academic Department Receptions on Friday, as well as the Continental Breakfast on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n<p>Your registration for the meals will help us prepare an appropriate amount of food and beverages.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/register\/commencementmeals2026\"><strong>Please register for meals here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-6\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-6\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Accessibility \/ Accommodations<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-6\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Macalester College strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Captioning will be provided during the Commencement Ceremony.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We will provide accessible seating for individuals with disabilities and specific accommodation needs. To prioritize this seating, there is a limit of two (2) tickets for this area: one for the individual requesting seating and one for a companion to accompany that individual. These two (2) tickets\/seats do count toward the graduating senior\u2019s ticket limit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To request a disability related accommodation or inquire about accessibility <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSdnTq_ynSEjs8gxvqSbXr3EqzQvC1rI64Schl5oZA_duCaWYw\/viewform\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">please complete this form by April 24, 2026<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Once we receive your completed form, you will receive additional information about parking, your assigned seating area and other event information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Macalester does not have wheelchairs available on campus, but can recommend these local vendors:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stpaulcornerdrug.com\/dme\">St.Paul Corner Drug<\/a> (Pick up only)\n<ul>\n<li>240 Snelling Avenue South, St. Paul, MN 55105<\/li>\n<li>Phone: 651-698-8859<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jacksonmedicalequipment.com\/\">Jackson Medical Equipment<\/a> (Offers delivery service)\n<ul>\n<li>982 Thomas Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104.<\/li>\n<li>Phone: 651-645-6221<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dahlmedicalsupply.com\/pages\/dahl-wheelchair-rentals?_pos=3&amp;_psq=wheelchair+rental&amp;_ss=e&amp;_v=1.0\">\u00a0Dahl Medical Equipment<\/a> (Offers delivery service)\n<ul>\n<li>154 Cobblestone Lane, Burnsville, MN 55337<\/li>\n<li>Phone: 612-334-3159<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Accessibility questions? Email <a href=\"mailto:disabilityresources@macalester.edu\">disabilityresources@macalester.edu<\/a>.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-7\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-7\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Seating Chart<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-7\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p>Candidates for degree do not cross the stage in alphabetical order. We will post a seating chart here before the ceremony.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Questions?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Please see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/commencement-faq\/\">FAQ<\/a> page, or email <a href=\"mailto:commencement@macalester.edu\">commencement@macalester.edu<\/a>.<\/h6>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Questions? Please see our FAQ page, or email commencement@macalester.edu.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-38","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/516"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38"}],"version-history":[{"count":88,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4117,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38\/revisions\/4117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}