Parents' Weekend

From USAFA Folklore

Parents' Weekend is the weekend (normally in early September) when fourth class cadets can first leave the Academy reservation. The Academy usually puts on all sorts of events and receptions for visiting parents, most of whom are parents of fourth class cadets.

As the fourth class cadets return to the Academy after the weekend, they are traditionally greeted by Christmas songs being played out of the windows and at the squadron CQ desk, reminding them of the next time they will be able to leave for any reasonable length of time.