Welcome Events

Goosechase: Welcome to Michigan

Explore campus, meet friends, and solve missions to win fun prizes! This digital scavenger hunt will run from Aug. 24-Sept.14. Join early to start completing missions and earning points on the leaderboard! Welcome to Michigan and Welcome to the Flock!

Download the Goosechase App and see the CCI website for instructions on how to Flock In.

Open to UM students only.

Game Night 
The Michigan Union, 8-10 p.m.

Welcome to Michigan: Game Night! The Center for Campus Involvement (CCI) welcomes you to Game Night at the Union. Join us to play board games, card games, video games, and free snacks.

Craft Night 
Pierpont Commons, 8-10 p.m.

Start the school year off right! Create fun crafts to freshen up your space for the 2026-2027 school year! Make house portraits with your roommates, fun pipe cleaner creations with friends, or show off your school spirit with custom button making, and more!

Game Night on North 
Pierpont Commons, 8-10 p.m.

The Center for Campus Involvement (CCI) welcomes you to Game Night at Pierpont Commons. Join us to play board games, card games, video games, and free snacks.

Trivia Night 
Michigan Union (Rogel Ballroom), 8-10 p.m.

Experience the thrill of friendly competition at the University of Michigan's Trivia Night, a Welcome to Michigan event designed to unite students through a shared love for knowledge and school spirit. Gather in the Michigan Union ballroom to test your trivia skills, meet new people, and kick off the academic year with some Wolverine fun!

Beats & Treats 
North Campus Grove, 6-8 p.m.

Head to the North Campus Grove and enjoy free Kona Ice, music, games, and socialization at Beats & Treats.

Outdoor Movie Night 
Central Campus Diag, 9-11:30 p.m.

Please join us underneath the stars for a movie on the Diag. Enjoy free popcorn and snacks while watching the movie. This is a great opportunity to gather with old friends or make new ones at this annual campus community event.

Go North! Block Party 
Pierpont Commons, 2-5 p.m.

Join us at the Go North Block Party on North Campus to commemorate the beginning of the semester. Enjoy a range of outdoor lawn activities, inflatables, and arts and crafts while getting to know our venues and campus partners. Free food samples and freebies are also available within Pierpont Commons, along with the opportunity to take part in a scavenger hunt and receive personalized, limited-edition U-M merchandise.

Artscapade 
University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA), 6-9 p.m.

The University of Michigan Musueam of Art (UMMA) and The Arts Initiative kick off Welcome to Michigan with an evening that highlights the many ways students can engage with the arts on campus. Explore interactive art-making, live music, dance performances, and more.

New Student IKEA Shopping Trip 
U-M Central Campus Pick-up/Drop-off Location TBD, 9:15 a.m.-6:15 p.m.

Take a free bus to IKEA in Canton for room, apartment, and daily-living supplies. Registration required.

New Student Open House at the President's House
President's House (815 S. University Ave.), Noon-1:30 p.m.

Join President Grasso and your fellow new students for a sweet summer treat at the New Student Open House! Enjoy ice cream sundaes, popsicles, and refreshing beverages at the president’s residence. Registration is required. Registered students can come by anytime between noon and 1:30 p.m.

Escapade 
Michigan Union, 8-11 p.m.

The Center for Campus Involvement (CCI) welcomes all students to the Michigan Union to enjoy a festive night of friendship, fun activities, and food. Get a taste of all that the historic Michigan Union has to offer at this annual event.

Block M Class Photo
Michigan Stadium, 3 p.m.

Join your fellow Wolverines for the iconic Block M photo, a Michigan tradition that brings the entire incoming class together for a group photo on the field of Michigan Stadium aka The Big House. Don your maize shirt, stand side by side with your classmates, and celebrate the start of your journey at Michigan. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this unforgettable Welcome to Michigan experience!

New Student Convocation
Crisler Center, 5-6 p.m.

New Student Convocation marks the official academic welcome for all incoming undergraduate students at the University of Michigan. Held in Crisler Center, the event features remarks from university leadership, faculty, and student representatives. This Michigan tradition celebrates the beginning of your journey as a Wolverine and affirms your place in the academic community.

New Student Picnic
Golf Course, 6-8 p.m.

Connect with fellow new Wolverines at the New Student Picnic. Enjoy a casual outdoor meal, meet student leaders and campus staff, and start building your Michigan community. This fun and relaxed event is a great way to make new friends, learn about campus resources, and celebrate the start of your Michigan journey. All incoming students are welcome. Come hungry and ready to mingle.

AskMe! Info Stations
Diag West, UMMA lawn, Pierpont lawn, Ingalls Mall, and West Arch (may move due to construction), 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Stop by our AskMe! Info Stations where we will: provide directions, answer questions, point to resources, and ease concerns for any student or community member who approaches our stations.

Party For Your Mind 
Shapiro Library, 2-4 p.m.

Welcome to the library! Join us at P4YM to: grab library info, swag, and more from our information tables; cool off with iced tea, lemonade, and cookies; mark your hometown on our world map and learn where your fellow students are from; free the Wolverine in an escape room adventure; design at an arts and crafts table; get your palm read; play a video game; and take a selfie with our giant Block M (we'll help)!

Festifall - North 
North Campus Grove, 5-8:15 p.m.

New to Michigan and looking for ways to get involved? Check out Festifall on North Campus, hosted by the Center for Campus Involvement—the hub for student organization support, leadership development, and campus involvement opportunities. Explore hundreds of student organizations, meet current student leaders, discover new interests, and find your community. Festifall is the perfect place to get involved and make the most of your Michigan experience. Don't miss it! 

Festifaith
Ingalls Mall, 2-5 p.m.

A celebration of religious and spiritual diversity at Michigan. Whether devout, discerning, or disbelieving, this event is open to all. Highlights include free food, yoga and meditation, and spiritual care kits while supplies last.

Sustainability Game & Craft Night
Pierpont Commons North East Room (first floor Mezzanine), 5-7 p.m.

Join the Planet Blue Ambassador program for a fun-filled night of environmental games and crafts! Snacks, sustainability-themed board games, and crafts are provided, or bring your own games to play. Learn how to create native Michigan flowers out of pipe cleaners and decorate a reused lab flask into a mini vase! Registration is strongly encouraged so we can provide enough games and snacks. Please email [email protected] with questions.

Maize Craze Carnival
The Diag, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Join the Office of New Student Programs at the coolest, carefree Maize Craze Campus Carnival! We have games, snacks, and other activities for all students to enjoy!

Welcome Wednesday Kickoff
200 Fletcher St., 9 a.m.-Noon

Welcome Wednesday invites new students to stop by the Alumni Center for bagels, coffee, and Michigan swag while learning how the Alumni Association can support them before they graduate. Students can discover resources, events, and connections that help them feel part of the Michigan alumni community from day one. It’s a casual way to meet friendly staff, get connected, and see what it means to be a Wolverine for life. Go Blue!

Festifall - Central 
Diag, Ingalls Mall, Angell Hall, and Regents Plaza, 3-8 p.m.

New to Michigan and looking for ways to get involved? Stop by Festifall Central, hosted by the Center for Campus Involvement—the hub for student organization support, leadership development, and campus involvement opportunities. Explore hundreds of student organizations, meet current student leaders, discover new interests, and find your community. Festifall is the perfect place to get involved and make the most of your Michigan experience. Don't miss it!

Student Kickoff Rally 
Michigan Stadium, 7:30-9 p.m.

Join us for the 2026 Student Kick-off Rally Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Big House! Learn the time-honored traditions, chants and cheers for Michigan Athletics events; hear from members of the football team & other Michigan Athletics programs; and get ready for another exciting season!  Please enter through Gate 10 beginning at 7 p.m. All students must show an MCard for entry.

Ferns & Friends: Nature Walk
U-M Bus Stop outside of Markley Hall on East Medical Center Drive (Stop ID: M313), 4-5 p.m.

Join the Planet Blue Ambassador program and Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum for an outdoor walk at the Nichols Arboretum. We will go on a short nature trail and engage in reflective activities as we discover the beauty of the Arb. Meet us at the bus stop outside of Markley Hall (facing the hospital on East Medical Center Drive), and we'll head over to the Arb together. Registration is encouraged. Please email [email protected] with questions.

POP UP: Play Day
Pierpoint Commons Grove, 6-8 p.m.

RSSL and Recreation are hosting an event to encourage taking a break and playing.

Michigan Recreation Expo and Well-being Festival 
Hadley Family Recreation & Well-Being Center, 3-6 p.m.

The M Recreation Expo & Well-Being Festival is a chance for students to learn more about what M Recreation has to offer — from fitness to competition to adventure… and everything in between. All our units will be represented, and students will have the chance to chat with them in person. This is a great opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of meeting new friends, have fun, find community and enjoy snacks and giveaways. See you there!

Go Blue Mix 
Ingalls Mall, 8-11 p.m.

Join us in Ingalls Mall for Go Blue Mix, the high energy UMix kickoff! Face off against friends in inflatable games, test your balance on the mechanical bull, and socialize with your fellow Wolverines

Game Day at the Union 
Front Lawn Michigan Union, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Get ready for Game Day with CCI! Stop by the Michigan Union front lawn on your way to the Big House for free food and swag!

Post Game Bite 
Michigan Union, 10:30 p.m.-midnight

Join us at the Union after the University of Michigan vs. Western Michigan University game. Get free food, recharge, and celebrate with fellow Wolverines.

Pride Outside
Regents Plaza, 2-4:30 p.m.

A major part of Welcome to Michigan, Pride Outside is an annual welcome event for new and returning students of all genders and sexualities to celebrate the beginning of fall semester. Join us on Ingalls Mall for lawn games, a drag show, shaved ice, T-shirt giveaways, resource tables, and more.

Taste of Michigan
Regents Plaza, 6-8 p.m.

This annual event is an opportunity for incoming and returning students to quite literally get a taste of the various restaurants and eateries in and around the Ann Arbor area. Join us for this free event to enjoy food samples from local restaurants, fun giveaways for the first 200 attendees, an a-maize-ing DJ, and yard games, to welcome students to campus!

Party in the Park
North Campus Grove, Noon-3 p.m.

Join us for a fun and exciting welcome event. All students are welcome, especially students who live off campus. We will have food, music, games, prizes, and info tables from campus partners. A great opportunity to finish Labor Day weekend and get ready for the term ahead!

After Class Bash
Regents Plaza, 4-7 p.m.

The Residence Halls Association is hosting their annual Welcome to Michigan event, After Class Bash. After Class Bash is an outdoor event for students to connect and have fun on campus. The event will have free food, giveaways, a DJ, and various outdoor games.