Family weekend came a month early for parents of Fraternity Row, with West 28th Street being closed to cars and open to performers, speakers and waterslides.

The USC Panhellenic Council, Interfraternity Council and University Park Interfraternity Council organized their own parents weekend Friday and Saturday as an alternative to USC’s official Trojan Family Weekend, which will occur right before Halloween weekend this year.

The celebration was not an official event hosted by the University, but for Reese Whitley, a senior majoring in music industry, she said it was still a good opportunity for parents to get insight into their children’s college experience.

“It’s a great way to get people involved and excited about the Panhellenic community, especially as someone in a sorority,” Whitley said. “It shows off community, not just as a sorority [or] fraternity, but students in the community surrounding.”

On Friday, the Row closed to host Rowchella. Students and their family members could buy Rowchella tickets for $20. The full-day event started with chapter brunches, followed by a speaker series featuring Erika Jordan, associate senior vice president for alumni relations. The day also included live music performances and a mixer.

The event was partnered with the USC Joint Educational Project to benefit the service-learning program connecting students with the neighborhood communities.

On Saturday, various houses on the Row held tailgates, welcoming family members into their events. Ahead of the USC-Oregon game, Trojans shared this moment with their loved ones by inviting them into a time-honored USC tradition of partying the afternoon away.

Natalie Meyers, a mother of a student involved in Greek life who attended the tailgates, said she wasn’t sure families on the Row during Halloween would bode well.

“I know the kids like to party without the parents,” Meyers said.

Her husband, Steve Meyers, on the other hand, said he would have enjoyed a Halloween Family Weekend either way.

The University announced Trojan Family Weekend back in February, setting the dates for Oct. 29 through Nov. 1. However, this announcement drew criticism from the USC community.

Whitley said she was disappointed when she learned about the dates because there were too many events at once and was grateful that the Row organized its own family weekend.

“I’m really glad that we put this together,” Whitley said. “I’d still love to have my family visit on Halloween, but I’m glad that I have two separate weekends to celebrate different things.”

Becky Cunningham, whose eldest daughter is in Alpha Chi Omega, said the official Family Weekend event being on Halloween is challenging for her family’s scheduling.

“My initial concern was trying to figure out how I would be able to support my older daughter when my younger daughter is still in high school and would want to go trick-or-treating and things like that,” Cunningham said. “My brain [first] went to, ‘How do I be in two places at once?’”

Cunningham, a USC alum, said she was thankful for the opportunity to see a “sneak peek” into her daughter’s life and appreciated the initiative the councils had.

“Anytime students can get together to address a concern they have and make positive change is good,” Cunningham said. “This could have ended up a total flop, but we’re here at 3, almost 4 p.m., and there’s kids walking everywhere, there’s a bounce house, there’s music playing, families are engaging. What we want is for families to see their kids’ experience, and that’s happening this weekend.”