Week of Welcome

The schedule of events for the spring 2026 Week of Welcome is here! This year's theme is New Year, New U(WRF), because with a new year and semester, comes new opportunities! Whether you’re a new student, transfer or in your third or fourth year, there’s never been a better time to join a new club, find a new hobby or cheer on a new UWRF sports team! Check out the full schedule of each day's activities below!

Week 1

Saturday, Jan. 24

New Student Move In
- Residence Halls, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Men's Basketball vs. UW-Platteville
- Page Arena at the Falcon Center, 5 p.m.
  - Come cheer on the Falcons as they take on the Pioneers!
Men's Hockey vs. UW-Superior
- Hunt Arena at the Falcon Center, 7 p.m.
  - Come cheer on the Falcons as they take on the Yellowjackets!

Sunday, Jan. 25

New Student Orientation
- University Center, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Grocery BINGO
- Pete's Creek, University Center, 7 p.m.
  - Stock up on snacks by winning a couple rounds of BINGO in the UC!

Monday, Jan. 26

First Day of Classes
- Enjoy your first day of classes and start the semester off right!
First Day Donuts
- University Center, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
  - Share a goal or resolution for this semester and grab a donut on the way to class!
Open Skate
- Hunt Arena, Falcon Center, 9-10:15 p.m.
  - Free admission, skate rental is $5.
SIB Pillow Decorating Class
- SIB Office (Rodli 269), all week
  - Show of your artistic skills by decorating a pillow in the Student Inclusion and Belonging Center.
SciTech Scavenger Hunt
- SciTech, all week
  - Complete challenges and tasks in the GooseChase scavenger hunt to explore the new building and win prizes!

Tuesday, Jan. 27

Cocoa and Connections: Study Abroad 101
- Rodli 122, 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 28

Football National Championship Parade
- Downtown (Main St.), 4 p.m. followed by Falcon's Nest
  - Come celebrate our national champions with a parade down Main Street to the University Center where a reception will be held in the Falcon's Nest. Students, faculty, staff and community will honor and take photos with the DIII NCAA Football Champions!
Men's Basketball vs. UW-LaCrosse
- Page Arena at the Falcon Center, 7 p.m.
  - Come cheer on the Falcons as they face the Eagles!

Thursday, Jan. 29

AFS Brunch & Bingo
- AGS 114, 9:30-11 a.m.
  - Stop by to grab pastries, coffee, juice and more at our Brunch & Bingo event. You'll meet other animal and food science students, faculty and staff, and play an interactive round of bingo by finding people and resources that match each square. Prizes are given out to everyone who gets even just one bingo. Come and go as you please. New and returning students welcome!
Library Game and Craft Night
- Chalmer Davee Library, 6-8 p.m.
  - Come over to the library for a night of games, crafts and FUN!
Radical Imaginations for Climate Hopeful Futures
- Junior's Restaurant and Tap House, 6:30 p.m.
  - Hosted by the Sustainability Office, part of the Sustainability Speakers Series! This presentation will feature Lil Milagro Henriquez, as she shares how we can build climate-resilient, hopeful futures grounded in scientific truth. Link available at River Falls Public Library Facebook and YouTube.
Open Skate
- Hunt Arena, Falcon Center, 9-10:15 p.m.
  - Free admission, skate rental is $5.

Friday, Jan. 30

High School Musical 75 RIDE
- Falcon Center, 6-7:30 p.m.
  - Join Group Fitness for a 75-minute HSM-themed cycling class! Dance, sing and pedal along to the tunes of High School Musical.
Men's Hockey vs. UW-Stevens Point
- Hunt Arena at the Falcon Center, 7 p.m.
  - Come cheer on the Falcons as they take on the Pointers!
Midnight Mayhem
- University Center, 9 p.m.-midnight
  - Explore the UC with mini golf, pickleball, inflatables and more throughout the building! Prizes, giveaways and free food all night long!

Saturday, Jan. 31

Women's Hockey vs. UW-Superior
- 2:05 p.m., Hunt Arena at the Falcon Center
  - Come cheer on the Falcons as they take on the Yellowjackets!
Comedian Joey Bragg
- 6-8 p.m., Falcon's Nest, University Center
Men's Hockey vs. UW-Stevens Point
- 7:05 p.m., Hunt Arena at the Falcon Center
  - Come cheer on the Falcons as they take on the Pointers!

Week 2

Sunday, Feb. 1

S'mores with the OLs
- UC Firepit, 4-6 p.m.
  - Celebrate the completion of the first week of classes with a cozy campfire and s'mores with the Orientation Leaders!

Monday, Feb. 2

Super Bowl Bingo
- Fitness Center, Falcon Center, All Week
  - Pick up a BINGO card Feb. 2-7 to complete or play during the Super Bowl. You can turn in your completed card for Campus Rec prizes between Feb. 9 and 13!
PSC Plant Event
- Ag Sci Greenhouse, 3-5 p.m.
  - Stop by the greenhouse for a free plant, pot, paint supplies and fresh air with the Peer Success Coaches! We'll be potting new propagations and giving participants supplies to decorate their pot as well!
Open Skate
- Hunt Arena, Falcon Center, 9-10:15 p.m.
  - Free admission, skate rental is $5.

Tuesday, Feb. 3

Spring Wellbeing Fair
- Involvement Center, UC, 4-6 p.m.
  - Come learn about resources, opportunities and support to practice wellbeing while at UWRF!

Wednesday, Feb. 4

Involvement Fair
- UC Ballroom, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
  - Come explore a wide array of the extracurriculars UWRF has to offer! It's a new semester, why not find a new student organization to be a part of?!
Life Depends on Rivers: How Healthy Rivers Support Strong Communities
- North Hall Auditorium (222), 5-6 p.m.
  - Part of the Sustainability Speakers Series. This talk examines the powerful role rivers play in our communities, the health of our environment and our well-being in the face of increasingly extreme weather. Link available at River Falls Public Library Facebook and YouTube.
Women's Basketball vs. UW-Eau Claire
- Page Arena at the Falcon Center, 7 p.m.
  - Come cheer on the Falcons as they take on the Blugolds!
Free Bowling
- St. Croix Lanes (1153 S. St. Croix St., River Falls), 10 p.m.-midnight
  - Hosted by Campus Rec.

Tuesday, Feb. 5

Jazzin' in Stratton
- Stratton Coffeehouse, 7-9:30 p.m.
  - Warm up with some tunes, coffee and good vibes in the Stratton Coffeehouse in the Stratton basement. We encourage you to bring your own cup or mug!
Open Skate
- Hunt Arena, Falcon Center, 9-10:15 p.m.
  - Free admission, skate rental is $5.

Friday, Feb. 6

Frances Kohler Coffee Concert
- Abbott Concert Hall, KFA, noon
Crate Stacking Tournament
- Falcon Center Climbing Wall, 5-9 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7

Track and Field, UWRF Winter Classic
- Knowles Fieldhouse, Falcon Center, 11 a.m.
  - Come cheer on the Falcon track and field program as they host the UWRF Winter Classic!
Men's Basketball vs. UW-Oshkosh
- Page Arena, Falcon Center, 5 p.m.
  - Come cheer on the Falcons as they tip off against the Titans!
Women's Hockey vs. UW-Eau Claire
- Hunt Arena, Falcon Center, 7:05 p.m.
  - Come cheer on the Falcons as they face off against the Blugolds!

The fun doesn't end there!

There are activities, events and opportunities for engagement across campus throughout the whole year! Just in the next week, Student Involvement and Campus Recreation have some "fan favorites":

Monday, Feb. 9:
- Makers Monday
  - Falcon's Nest, UC, 6-8 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 12:
- Dog Therapy
  - Involvement Center, UC, 4-6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13
- Badlands Snow Park Sledding Trip
  - Badlands Sledding Park
    - Hosted by Falcon Outdoor Adventures, registration required.
Saturday, Feb. 14
- Get on the Bus to the World's Toughest Rodeo
  - Meet at the Cup of Knowledge
    - Hosted by Student Involvement, tickets go on sale Jan. 27.

What is Week of Welcome?

WOW is two jam-packed weeks of free events for new students to celebrate your arrival to campus! From the Involvement Fair to Midnight Mayhem, there is free food, giveaways and fun for everyone. This is where you’ll find ways to get involved on campus, make new friends and begin to call UWRF “home.”
Any questions can be emailed to orientation@uwrf.edu or texted to 715-941-0410 throughout Orientation and Week of Welcome. For live event updates and behind-the-scenes updates, follow @uwrforientation on Instagram!