Cal Poly

Up to 50,000 visitors expected in SLO for Cal Poly graduation this weekend

By Kaytlyn Leslie

Updated June 20, 2023 5:40 PM

Thousands of family and friends fill Spanos Stadium to honor Cal Poly's Class of 2022 at commencement last year. The city expects 50,000 visitors in town for this year's festivities. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com

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If you’re out and about in San Luis Obispo this weekend, prepare for some crowds.

According to the university, up to 50,000 visitors could flock to the city this weekend for two days of Cal Poly graduation festivities.

More than 5,000 Cal Poly students are eligible to be honored in this year’s six commencement ceremonies Saturday and Sunday at Alex G. Spanos Stadium, according to a news release. The ceremonies will be held at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. each day.

In light of the influx of visitors to town, the San Luis Obispo Police Department urged people to “please practice patience if out and about as there will be a higher volume of traffic.”

The department said in a tweet Friday afternoon that traffic is expected to be heaviest near campus and downtown.

It's commencement weekend and there will be many visitors in San Luis Obispo. Please practice patience if out and about as there will be a higher volume of traffic. We expect the heaviest traffic to be near campus and downtown. pic.twitter.com/7KN4pZ88wn
— San Luis Obispo Police Department (@SLOCityPolice) June 16, 2023

This story was originally published June 16, 2023 at 6:12 PM.

Kaytlyn Leslie

The Tribune

805-781-7928 (voicemails only)

Kaytlyn Leslie writes about business and development for The San Luis Obispo Tribune. Hailing from Nipomo, she also covers city governments and happenings in San Luis Obispo. She joined The Tribune in 2013 after graduating from Cal Poly with her journalism degree.