After what can be a stressful, chaotic move-in for many freshmen, it is important to de-stress and have fun making new connections. This fall semester’s move-in days, Aug. 18-19, are promptly followed by many of IU’s classic Welcome Week events. Here is the lineup for what activities are ahead:
Thursday, Aug. 20
New Student Induction Ceremony: Starting with the induction of incoming students in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall at 10 a.m., this IU tradition kicks off Welcome Week’s celebration of student life. New students hear speeches from IU President Pamela Whitten as well as the president of IU Student Government, followed up by reciting the “Indiana Promise” to uphold the university’s esteemed values.
When I attended as a freshman, I was given a small golden “IU Promise pin” that I pinned to my shirt, symbolizing my IU commitment. After this, I, as well as the rest of my incoming class, had to sing the IU alma mater, “Hail to Old IU.”
CultureFest: Participate in various cultural activities and traditions at the Fine Arts Plaza from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., celebrating campus diversity with food, performances and cultural resources. Activities include global food tastings, traditional song and dance performances, educational booths, and art workshops.
I enjoy the traditional Mexican dances performed by Ballet Folklorico de IU, a dance group that performs folk dances from across Mexico.
Friday, Aug. 21
Culture Center Open Houses: Explore IU’s six culture centers, connect with your communities, and find resources to better support your college experience. These open houses feature many of the same activities from CultureFest, but feature cultural activities specific to the center.
For example, La Casa, IU’s Latino Cultural Center, provides members with academic support resources, community networking, and celebrations of heritage through food and entertainment.
The open houses vary by specific center but usually start with the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This day of discovering diversity ends with the Asian Culture Center open house from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Part-time Jobs Fair: Hosted by Career Exploration and Student Employment from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Indiana Memorial Union’s Alumni Hall, the fair helps students looking for a part-time job connect with a variety of employers within their first week on campus.
RecFest: Explore the recreational sports scene at IU in Bill Garrett Fieldhouse and check out IU’s club sports while engaging in giveaways, listening to live entertainment and eating free food. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., you can discover IU’s range of athletics, including intramurals, club sports and open recreation.
This range extends to sports like soccer, rugby, and cycling, totaling more than 50 intramural sports and over 40 Club Sports.
Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll: Learn more about the Student Health Center and other student resources while interacting with educational booths that cover topics such as sexual health, mental health and violence prevention at the Fine Arts Plaza from 1p.m. to 4p.m.
Traditions and Spirit: Discover some of the history behind IU’s iconic traditions by learning IU’s fight songs and cheers at IU’s Memorial Hall starting at 7:30 p.m. This event is a great way to experience the high-energy excitement of football and basketball game days and the Hoosier spirit.
Bloomerang Festival: Make your first memories from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the IMU by dressing in weather-appropriate summer festival attire, listening to live music and participating in various photo opportunities. Within the IMU’s solarium, there are various interactive opportunities to learn about campus technology tools and services all while having fun.
Monday, Aug. 24
First Day of School Photos: Capture the first day of the school year and the start of your college journey from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Indiana Memorial Union’s Centennial Patio.
Thursday, Aug. 27
Fall Student Involvement Fair: Discover hundreds of campus organizations and groups from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m at the Fine Arts Plaza. Whether you know what groups you want to join or you’re just looking to find your place at IU, the Student Involvement Fair is a great way to explore your interests. The event doesn’t require an official sign-up, but you will likely need to use the beINvolved portal to check in and out.
This story was originally published in the Indiana Daily Student's 2026 Orienter.
