Signature Events

Join the University Activities Board as we kick off a new school year with a Welcome Back Bash! We are taking over spaces around Talley Student Union for a late-night event, so come join us for fun, food, inflatables, activities, music, and giveaways!

Friday, August 16 | Talley Student Union | Time TBD

New Student Convocation is the opportunity for first-year students to kick off the academic year with 5,000 of your fellow classmates, faculty, and staff while hearing from Chancellor Woodson and the Student Body President and participating in the Class of 2028 photo!

Sunday, August 18 | Reynolds Coliseum | 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Learn more about New Student Convocation

Enjoy an evening of fun with Wellness and Recreation to kick off the year with RecFest, an interactive event with activities, club sports demonstrations, food, giveaways and entertainment. Bring your friends and be part of one of the largest events on campus!

Sunday, August 18 | Miller Fields | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Residence hall community meetings are meetings residents attend after moving in. Here they learn about their building, meet people, and review safety procedures. The location varies within your residence hall, see community-specific information from University Housing staff during check-in.

Monday, August 19th & Tuesday, August 20th | Residence Halls | 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Back 2 School Jam is a lively event designed to bring the NC State community together and highlight the amazing resources available to students of color. Join us for a day of connection and exploration, where organizations, clubs, and campus resources will be on hand to help you discover and engage with our community.

Monday, August 19 | Talley Student Union, State Ballroom | 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Join the Panhellenic Association and all of its’ member sororities to enjoy some Howling Cow ice cream, learn more about sorority recruitment taking place over Labor Day Weekend, and meet members of current sororities in this social outdoor program to begin the semester!

Wednesday, August 21 | Stafford Commons | 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Respect the Pack, hosted by Student Government, is an annual event exploring our campus community and our shared commitment to equity and inclusion on campus. This year’s event offers engaging presentations and a panel composed of campus leaders that detail the unique aspects of our students and campus. Join us to learn about everything NC State has to offer and help us reaffirm our commitment to your success!

Thursday, August 22 | Talley Student Union | 6:00 p.m.

Join Wellness and Recreation and NC State Dining for Moonlight Howl and Run, a signature Wolfpack Welcome Week designed for you to actively explore campus through a 1.3-mile fun walk/run. Register in advance: https://wellrec.dasa.ncsu.edu/moonlight-howl-and-run/

Thursday, August 22 | Memorial Belltower to Stafford Commons | 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Learn about ways to connect with a variety of student organizations, academic programs, and campus services. Don’t forget to talk with student organization leaders and meet faculty and staff that can help you navigate the journey! This event is sponsored by Student Involvement.

Friday, August 23 | Stafford Commons | 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Packapalooza™ is an all-day block party and street festival capping off Wolfpack Welcome Week at the start of the academic year. We will have everything it takes to celebrate in NC State style, including great music, activities throughout the day, and fun entertainment for the whole family. Previous year’s events have had over 85,000 attendees with over 300 vendor booths, and over 40 sponsoring organizations.

Saturday, August 24 | Hillsborough St. | 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

This is your opportunity to continue building relationships with the students, faculty, and staff within your college! As your new academic home, you’ll want to begin making connections early, so come out to your College Connections and help NC State start to feel like home.

Held at various times by college