Welcome Week 2025

Tuesday, August 12

We're currently working on finalizing the details for the individual days. Check back regularly for new information.

7-9 p.m. Welcome Week Kickoff, North Plaza outside CEFCU Arena
Join your fellow Redbirds for activities, walking tacos (including a vegetarian option), and music from the high energy St. Louis based cover band The Red Jackets. While grabbing dinner you can also enjoy the fire pit, yard games, and other activities including balloon twisting. Get excited, because we're kicking off the year with a bang! Rain location: Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center.

Wednesday, August 13

We're currently working on finalizing the details for the individual days. Check back regularly for new information.

7-8:30 p.m. Drag, Desserts, and Laughs, Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center
Grab a rainbow cupcake and laugh along with your fellow Redbirds at the hilarious comedic talent of nationally known drag queens. Queens TBA.

9-11 p.m. Movie Night at CEFCU Arena: Movie TBA
Join Illinois State Athletics for a movie screening at CEFCU Arena.

Thursday, August 14

We're currently working on finalizing the details for the individual days. Check back regularly for new information.

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. You Can Work at ISU: A Student Hiring Event, Bone Student Center – 2nd floor concourse
You're invited! Don't miss this opportunity to apply for on-campus positions from departments like Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality, Campus Recreation, and University Housing Services. View all current on-campus student employment opportunities on the Human Resources webpage, and then meet with employers in person at the event. Laptops will be available to apply on the spot!

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Fun in the Sun, Quad
Relax and enjoy activities celebrating summer. Listen to WZND, ISU's student-run radio station, while enjoying a Big Red Chair photo op and other activities! Rain location: Circus Room, Bone Student Center.

11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Milner Library Open House, Milner Plaza Entrance
Welcome to your library, Redbirds! Milner Library is excited to greet new and returning members of the ISU community and see you in the library. Join us for an open house to explore the library and discover what's new and what we have to offer you! Participants who visit all the open house stations will have their names put in a raffle for a library prize.

12-5 p.m. Front Yard Free-Cycle, First United Methodist Church Parking Lot (211 N. School St.) 
Redbirds REUSE! The Office of Sustainability and the ISU Share Shop are hosting a "Front Yard Free-Cycle". Gently-used clothing (including Redbird spirit wear!), shoes, accessories, dorm essentials, household supplies, small furniture items, books, and more will be available for FREE to ISU students. Visit the Front Yard Free-Cycle and get prepared for the fall semester!

1-4 p.m. Veterans and Military Services Office Open House, 110 Moulton Hall Veterans Student Center
Meet the staff of the Veterans and Military Services Office and other military-connected students, enjoy light refreshments, and receive your ISU Veterans and Military Services challenge coin.

3-6 p.m. Destination Uptown, Center for Civic Engagement & Uptown Normal
Join the Center for Civic Engagement and Uptown Normal to get acquainted with your new community and explore all the potential Uptown Normal has for you - great food, entertainment, community resources, and employment near campus. Complete the scavenger hunt as you explore your new community, get freebies, and enjoy music in Uptown Circle from Backseat Radio Acoustic, a modern hits tribute. Start at the Center for Civic Engagement (300 W. North Street) and wind your way through Uptown.

6 p.m. Redbird Soccer vs Lindenwood, Adelaide Street Field
Illinois State Soccer hosts its regular season home opener. Doors open at 5 p.m. and admission is free!

6:30-7:30 p.m. Redbird Rally, CEFCU Arena
Come out to CEFCU Arena for contests, prizes, and free food. Hear from head coaches Allie Matters, Kristen Gillespie, and Ryan Pedon at the first pep rally of the school year. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the first 10 students to purchase a Red Alert pass at the sales table will have the chance to compete in a half-court shooting challenge, with the winner taking home a brand-new PS5. Plus, one lucky student will get the opportunity to win a Nintendo Switch! Throughout the night, Athletics will be giving away plenty of Redbird swag, and you won’t want to miss performances by the Big Red Marching Machine, Illinois State Cheerleading, and the Redline Express Dance Team. Stay in your seats following the Rally for the volleyball red & white scrimmage!

8-9 p.m. Volleyball Red/White Scrimmage, CEFCU Arena
Watch the 2021 Missouri Valley Conference champion Redbirds take the court for the first time in 2024 led by head coach Allie Matters.

Friday, August 15

We're currently working on finalizing the details for the individual days. Check back regularly for new information.

9-11 a.m. Honors Welcome EXPO, Old Main, Bone Student Center
Join us for the Honors Welcome EXPO as we kick off a new school year! Grab some treats, meet and greet with current Honors students and staff, and meet your Honors Mindset Seminar peer mentor.

11:45 a.m. – 12 p.m. ISU Spirit Picnic Kickoff with Big Red Marching Machine, Schroeder Plaza
Listen to the Illinois State University marching band, then head to the Spirit Picnic on the Quad. Each year, the “Big Red” performs at home football games, exhibition performances around the state of Illinois, and at the Illinois State Marching Band Championships.

12-2 p.m. ISU Spirit Picnic, Quad
Join the campus community for a picnic lunch full of ISU spirit. Listen to WZND, ISU's student-run radio station. We'll have spirit beads, red & white poms, and mini foam fingers as well as make your own bamboo plants in custom Welcome Week jars. Rain location: Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center.

1-4 p.m. Veterans and Military Services Office Open House, 110 Moulton Hall Veterans Student Center
Meet the staff of the Veterans and Military Services Office and other military-connected students, enjoy light refreshments, and receive your ISU Veterans and Military Services challenge coin.

2-5 p.m. Fear the Bird Friday, Bone Student Center
Kick off Fear the Bird Fridays with Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality at the Bone Student Center. Enjoy snacks and music while participating in a variety of fun activities.

6:30-7:30 p.m. Transfer Student Social, Old Main, Bone Student Center
Meet other transfer students and learn important information about getting involved, academic resources, and making a successful transition to Illinois State.

8-11 p.m. Welcome Week After Dark, Bone Student Center and Bowling & Billiards Center
Spend your Friday night making Redbird memories. Check out all of the activities below.

Live Band Karaoke! - Brown Ballroom
Sing with a live band or watch your fellow Redbirds sing.. it's Live Band Karaoke!
Enjoy snacks at the nacho bar and stuff an adorable plushie throughout the night.

Multi-DJ Dance Party with Headphone Disco - Circus Room
It's surreal, slightly outrageous, but most of all hugely enjoyable. Listen to DJs battle it out on the wireless headphones, and rotate between channels to control your dancefloor experience.

The Lounge - Old Main
Play board games, eat snacks, or just relax in the After Dark Lounge.

Speed Sketch Caricatures - Brown Ballroom
Get a caricature with your friends in just one minute with the Speed Sketchers.

Bowling and Esports - Bowling & Billiards Center
Stop by the Bowling & Billiards Center for a fun gaming session with friends. Enjoy blacklight yellow pin bowling or challenge each other in the esports arena. Whether you're racing in Mario Kart, battling in Fortnite, or knocking down pins, there's something for everyone!

TechZone
Challenge your new friends to compete against you in a variety of video games (including Super Smash Bros.) up on our big TechZone screens! All participants will receive a giveaway item too. Open until 10 p.m.

Redbird Spirit Shop
Stop in to purchase ISU spirit wear. Go Redbirds!

Saturday, August 16

We're currently working on finalizing the details for the individual days. Check back regularly for new information.

9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Back to School Poster Sale, Quad
Stop by to browse a deep selection of posters for purchase. The poster sale will be open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. every day through Friday, August 22. Sponsored by the National Art Education Association, Illinois State University student chapter.

Time TBD. Football Red/White Scrimmage, Hancock Stadium
Watch the Illinois State Redbirds take the field.

8-11 p.m. Let’s Glow, Quad
An epic night of glow in the dark and blacklight fun with music and activities.

Dance in front of the stage, relax in the glow lounge, get an airbrush tattoo, take a picture in the LED photo booth, personalize an airbrush pennant, and so much more.

On stage, RIXTER.

RIXTER
Born and raised on the southside of Chicago, RIXTER has been taking audiences on a journey through music for over 12 years. An ISU alum, RIXTER has performed at some of Chicago's premier venues playing genres such as EDM, Latin, R&B, and Hip Hop. With a resume that has grown throughout the years to include upcoming Chicago summer music festivals and out of state debuts, RIXTER strives to continue his music journey in music and help audiences fall in love with music just as he has.