Information for Family Members and Other Guests

Source: https://commencement.caltech.edu/participant-information/guests-2025 Parent: https://commencement.caltech.edu/

What's on this page?

Sign Up to Receive Email Updates
Directions to Caltech
Parking
Maps
Guest Seating and Restricted Items
Accessibility Accommodations
Ordering Flowers and Mementos
Messages of Congratulations
Hotels
Restaurants
Visiting Pasadena

Family and friends of graduating students are encouraged to sign up to receive email updates about Commencement 2026 and related events and activities.

Directions to Caltech

Directions to campus, including specific directions from regional airports, are available on the main Caltech website.

Parking

Parking is available in lots and structures throughout the campus. Please see the Commencement map for the parking locations.

As a courtesy, the Caltech Parking Office will not be charging for guest parking on Thursday and Friday, June 11 and 12. Visitors may park in unreserved stalls.

In addition, the two-hour parking limit on surface streets surrounding campus will be lifted on the following streets on Friday:

Hill Avenue from California to Del Mar
Del Mar Boulevard from Hill Avenue to Catalina
Catalina Avenue from Del Mar to California
San Pasqual Street from Wilson to Mentor
Wilson Avenue from San Pasqual to California (Please note, street parking on the north side of California Boulevard will be unavailable due to nearby construction.)

Maps

The Commencement event map provides information for guests and participants on parking, the ceremony site and marshaling area, as well as other services.

A variety of campus maps, including a campus accessibility map, are available on Caltech's website.

Guest Seating and Restricted Items

Caltech Commencement is not a ticketed event. Guest seating opens at 8:30 a.m. on Commencement day and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.\ \ Limited Seating\ Please note that, due to space constraints, in the general guest seating area on Beckman Mall there are approximately four guest seats available per graduating student. Guests are asked to be mindful of this limitation and courteous to other guests. Saving seats is not permitted.\ \ Guests are encouraged to fill rows completely, avoiding empty seats, in order to maximize limited seating. Balloons, signs, banners, flags and other similar objects which obstruct views and create hazards are not permitted underneath the tent. Air horns and other noisemakers are prohibited.\ \ Indoor Seating Options\ For overflow guests without a seat on Beckman Mall or for those who prefer an air-conditioned option, multiple indoor livestream viewing locations will be available on campus: Browne Dining Hall, Red Door Cafe (inside the Hameetman Center), and Broad Cafe.\ \ ADA Accessible Seating\ Accessible Seating is located at the front and along the sides of the Beckman Mall guest seating area, facing the stage. This seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the limited size of the accessible seating area, only one person may accompany the individual requiring accessible seating. For hearing impaired guests, an ASL interpreter will be positioned on the west side of the guest seating area. Event staff will be available to assist guests trying to locate accessible seating or seats in proximity to the ASL interpreter.

Accessibility Accommodations

Accessible Passenger Drop Off is located on the south end of Lot #11. The area is accessible from Michigan Avenue, south of Del Mar Boulevard. The site is at the top left corner of the Commencement map. A full campus accessibility map is also available.

Accessible Parking is available at each parking structure on campus with marked accessible spaces.

Transportation on campus is available from Campus Security. There will be an officer stationed at the Accessible Passenger Drop Off area on Commencement morning. The officer can call for an electric cart to transport a person to the Commencement site.

Accessible Seating is located at the front and along the sides of the Beckman Mall guest seating area, facing the stage. This seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the limited size of the accessible seating area, only one person may accompany the individual requiring accessible seating.

American Sign Language interpreters will be positioned on the west side of the guest seating area. Event staff will be available to assist guests trying to locate accessible seating or seats in proximity to the ASL interpreter.

Large-Type Programs are available at the information booth, located at the far south end of Beckman Mall.

Assisted Listening Devices are available from the information booth, located at the far south end of the Beckman Mall.

Wheelchairs are available for use on the site only to transport people to/from their seats. These wheelchairs are kept in the first aid booth in the information booth located at the far south end of the Beckman Mall.

Ordering Flowers and Mementos

Pre-ordered flowers will be available for pick up the morning of Commencement at the flower booths located on Beckman Mall. More options will be added closer to the date of Commencement.\ \ For information on Commencement announcements, graduation photos, class rings, and diploma frames, please visit the Caltech Store.

Messages of Congratulations

A virtual board will display messages celebrating our graduates online and at Commencement. To add your message and photos, use #Caltech2026 in posts* on Instagram, Twitter, or Bluesky. You can also text photos and messages to (626) 876-3091.

*Posts will be held for moderation before becoming visible. Posts must come from public accounts (private accounts are not visible to our tools).

Hotels

Caltech negotiates reduced Commencement rates at a variety of area hotels. See the Hotels page for hotel information.

Restaurants

A variety of dining options exist right on campus:

Broad Café: north campus; coffee, drinks, deli sandwiches, salads\ Browne Dining Hall: the campus cafeteria (breakfast/lunch)\ Red Door Marketplace: across from the Browne Dining Hall in Hameetman Center; coffee, drinks, sandwiches, soup, salads\ The Athenaeum: the faculty club (must be a hotel guest or member; reservations required)

For off-campus restaurant suggestions, please check a site such as Google Maps or Yelp.

Visiting Pasadena

Pasadena has something for everyone! Here are a few links to get you started: