Welcome Week 2026
Tuesday, August 11 - Sunday, August 16
Welcome Week Schedule of Events
Events will continue to be added to the Welcome Week schedule through July.
Tuesday, August 11 – Friday, August 14
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Student Involvement Center, 2nd floor Bone Student Center
Welcome to the nest! Stop by and pick up a Redbird spirit t-shirt. While you’re there, connect with members of the Welcome Week student crew, who will be available to answer your questions and help you explore student involvement opportunities.
Spirit Cart
The Welcome Week Spirit Cart is rolling across campus Tuesday–Friday, spreading Redbird pride one stop at a time! Be on the lookout for free school spirit items, fun giveaways, and opportunities to celebrate being a Redbird.
Tuesday, August 11
7 - 9 p.m. Welcome Week Kickoff - Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center
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 yard games and other activities including balloon twisting. Get excited, because we're kicking off the year with a bang!
Wednesday, August 12
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Junk Journaling Session - Milner Library
Join Milner Library staff and new and returning Illinois State students for a fun and informal junk journaling session. Use recycled paper and other materials to create a vision board for the year, decorate your planner, create some dorm decor, or just learn about junk journaling as a concept. Supplies will be available and no experience is required.
1 - 4 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 opportunity, playing life size hungry hippos, make your own bamboo station, a petting zoo, balloon twisting, and other activities! Rain location: Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center.
7 p.m. Redbird Soccer vs Northern Illinois - Adelaide Street Field
Illinois State Soccer hosts Northern Illinois. Gates open at 6 p.m. and admission is free!
Thursday, August 13
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. You Can Work at ISU: Student Hiring Event - Bone Student Center - 2nd Floor Concourse
Jump-start your Redbird experience with exciting on-campus job opportunities designed just for you! Connect with representatives from a variety of university departments, explore open part-time positions, and take the first step toward gaining valuable experience right here at Illinois State. Come ready to make an impression—some departments may offer on-the-spot interviews. Bring your class schedule and a laptop to apply during the event so you can leave one step closer to landing your campus job. For more information, visit Career Services.
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Milner Library Open House - Milner Library
Welcome to your library, Redbirds! Milner Library is excited to welcome new and returning students to campus. Join us for an open house to explore the library, learn about our resources, discover what’s new, and see how we can support your success! Visit each of the open house stations and be entered into a raffle for a library prize.
12 - 3 p.m. Front Yard Free-Cycle - First United Methodist Church Parking Lot, 211 N. School St.
Redbirds REUSE! The Office of Sustainability’s Front Yard Free-Cycle is the Welcome Week event you won’t want to miss! This is your chance to stock up on FREE dorm room essentials and more! Gently used storage bins, lamps, mirrors, rugs, bedding, curtains, small furniture, books, housewares, and plenty of Redbird gear, clothes, shoes, and accessories will be available free to college students while supplies last. Bring your ISU ID.
1 - 4 p.m. Veterans and Military Services Open House - 110 Moulton Hall, Veterans Study 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 Scavenger Hunt - Center for Civic Engagement & Uptown Normal
Start exploring beyond campus and experience everything Uptown Normal has to offer! Join the Center for Civic Engagement and Uptown Normal for a Goosechase-powered scavenger hunt featuring fun challenges, photo opportunities, local businesses, free giveaways, and chances to win prizes along the way.
To participate:
- Download the Goosechase iOS or Android app.
- Log in, sign up for an account or participate as a guest.
- Search for this experience by name: Destination Uptown
- Create a profile using your name.
5 - 7 p.m. Tiny Desk Experience: Rhythms & Realities - Multicultural Center
Join us for our 2nd annual, Tiny Desk-inspired concert experience right here at the Multicultural Center! Between performances, join an open conversation about navigating relationships in college, from friendships to romance to grief to self-love. Whether you're a first-time student or just looking for fresh perspectives, this event offers music, real talk, and a supportive vibe.
8 - 9:30 p.m. Drag, Desserts, and Laughs - Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center
Enjoy a sweet treat and plenty of laughs as two nationally known drag performers bring an unforgettable night of comedy and entertainment to campus. Performer names will be revealed closer to the event—who will it be? Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, August 14
10 a.m. - 1 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 root beer floats, design a custom Fear the Bird pen, snap a back-to-school photo, and complete a campus partner scavenger hunt for a special Fear the Bird flag. Explore resources from campus and community partners, and help build a one-of-a-kind ISU LEGO art installation with The College Cuber that will be displayed on campus for years to come.
1 p.m. Academic Showcase: Academic Department/School Meetings - Various locations
Learn about the academic expectations of your department/school by meeting with representatives from those areas.
1 - 4 p.m. Veterans and Military Services Office Open House - 110 Moulton Hall, Veterans Study 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 - 4 p.m. Multicultural Center Open House - Multicultural Center
Explore the Multicultural Center (MCC) and discover your home away from home! Meet new people while you connect with student organizations like the Black Student Union, Association of Latinx American Students, Asian Pacific American Coalition, and Pride. Drop in for activities, conversations, and a chance to see all the spaces and resources the MCC has to offer!
8 - 11 p.m. Redbird Remix: Nacho Average Night - Brown Ballroom & Circus Room, Bone Student Center, and the Redbird Game Center
'Birds Just Wanna Have Fun! Spend your Friday night singing Live Band Karaoke, enjoying nachos, and selecting your favorite sweet treats from the candy buffet. For a more chill vibe, you can create a your own Reggie charm keychain, build your own stuffed animal with custom ISU spirit shirt, and try your luck with various board games and crafts. Then head to the Redbird Game Center for bowling, a game of pool, ping pong, video games, and speed sketch portraits drawn by a live artist. Whether you want to create, compete, or just hang out, there’s something for every Redbird!
Saturday, August 15
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fall Poster Sale - South Quad, Near Center for the Visual Arts
Stop by to browse a wide selection of posters for purchase. The poster sale will take place from Saturday, August 15 through Friday, August 21. Sponsored by the National Art Education Association, Illinois State University student chapter.
8 - 10 p.m. Aux Cord Wars: Live Musical Gameshow - Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center
It’s your time to shine! Grab the aux, play your favorite songs, and compete in the ultimate music showdown. Whether you're dropping sing-along classics or the latest hits, bring your friends, bring the energy, and battle for bragging rights and prizes. Need a break from the action? Kick back and enjoy a BBQ buffet to recharge before jumping back into the fun.
Sunday, August 16
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fall Poster Sale - South Quad, Near Center for the Visual Arts
Stop by to browse a wide selection of posters for purchase. The poster sale will take place from Saturday, August 15 through Friday, August 21. Sponsored by the National Art Education Association, Illinois State University student chapter.
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Transfer Student Social - Old Main Room, Bone Student Center
Meet other transfer students and learn important information about getting involved, academic resources, and making a successful transition to Illinois State.
12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Grocery Store Bingo - Old Main Room, Bone Student Center
Test your luck playing bingo, connect with other Redbirds, and maybe even stock your pantry along the way. Win useful and delicious items like snacks, pantry staples, and other everyday essentials packed in your very own reusable Redbird Life grocery tote.
2 - 4 p.m. The Family Reunion, Hancock Stadium
The Multicultural Center (MCC) is closing out Welcome Week with a family affair! The MCC Family Reunion is an afternoon filled with good food, great music, crafts, games, and more. Connect with culturally based student organizations, meet new friends, and kick off the semester surrounded by community and belonging!
5 - 9 p.m. Residential Floor Meetings
Floor Meetings are a great first step in building community at ISU. Meet your RA, connect with neighbors, and get the scoop on everything happening in your community. It’s your first chance to turn a hallway into a home! Times and locations vary by community. Ask your RA for more information.