Open House 2026
April 3 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm EDT
What is Open House?
Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the exciting world of veterinary medicine at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine!
This FREE, family-friendly event invites guests of all ages to explore everything from interactive exhibits, tours of our Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and even engaging zoo and exotic animal experiences.
Don’t miss the fan-favorite Teddy Bear Surgery, where kids can step into the shoes of “surgeons” and “anesthesiologists” for a hands-on experience they’ll never forget!
This event is completely ran by our first- and second-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students, and any donations go toward helping our students pay for their veterinary licensing exam.
Cost of event
This event is free to attend and includes access to a wide variety of activities and exhibits across the CVM Classic Campus.
For those who would like to enhance their experience, select add-on activity tickets will be available for purchase. Tickets will be available to purchase at the Welcome Desk. Concessions and merchandise will also be available for purchase. Cash only please.
A Welcome Desk will be located on the front lawn of the College and one located near the entrance to parking lot S25.
Registration
No registration required to attend the event—drop in any time between 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
There will be a sign up sheet at the Welcome Desk to participate in Teddy Bear Surgery and tour of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. These will be first come, first served.
Who can attend Open House?
Open House has fun activities and demonstrations for all ages and is open to the public!
**Please note that the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Tours have limited spots available, and you must be age 11+ to participate.
Parking
Parking will be FREE for guests at the Park and Ride Lot (E23), located at N Oconee Access Rd, Athens, GA 30605.
Shuttles will be available from the Park and Ride Lot to the CVM Classic Campus from 8:45 AM – 4:15 PM. There will also be a shuttle available to guests touring the Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM. Strollers must be collapsed and stored properly while using the shuttles and not placed in the bus aisles.
There will be limited paid parking in Carlton Street Deck and South Deck, which are both within walking distance to the event.
**Parking for school buses will be made available at the Soccer/Softball lot. All buses must be removed from the parking lot by 4:00 PM.
Schedule of Events
Many different displays and events will be going on through out the day. View a list of different events here.
Tours of our state-of-the-art Veterinary Teaching Hospital will also be offered. Tours will be limited to 3 groups of 10. Be sure to sign up at the Welcome Desk for a time slot. Guests must be age 11+ to tour the hospital.
Club Fair
The club fair will showcase all the wonderful clubs that the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine has to offer. Each club will have a poster up for display and members walking around giving brief presentations.
Merchandise Booth
The merchandise booth will have some awesome UGA College of Veterinary Medicine apparel. Those range from shirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc. We will be accepting cash/check/Zelle payments only.
Rain Contingency Plan
If rain is in the forecast on the day of Open House, some event locations and schedules may change. Any updates will be posted on this website the day before the event, so please check back prior to attending.
You can also follow our social media accounts for real-time updates.
Thank You to our Generous Sponsors
Accessibility
Access provided for people with disabilities through the Accessibility and Inclusion Committee. If you have any accessibility needs, please contact [email protected] by March 24th so that we can work with you to make accommodations.
Event Photography Notice
Please be aware that photographers/videographers representing the University of Georgia will be circulating through the event taking photographs and videos (“Recordings”) for possible use by the University System of Georgia and the University of Georgia in publications, media, or other technology now known or hereafter developed. These Recordings may capture your likeness, image and voice, and by choosing to attend this event you grant us, on your behalf and on behalf of any dependent minors who accompany you, the right to use these Recordings as described above for any lawful purpose.
You understand you will not be compensated for use of the Recordings, and all rights to the Recordings will remain the property of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, by and on the behalf of the University of Georgia. If you do not wish to be photographed or video recorded, please let our photographers/videographers know.
*While some Recordings captured will be utilized by UGA CVM in media & publications, participants will not have access to view or download all of the Recordings from the event. Thank you for your understanding.
**Signage reflecting this acknowledgement will be on-site at Open House.
