Weeks of Welcome

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13

•  New Student Move-In
  9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Founders Hall, Governors Hall, Ponder Hall, and The Village
• Asheville Lore and More + First 30 Days Challenge
  3 – 4 p.m. | Blue Ridge Room, Highsmith Student Union
  Discover Asheville traditions, campus tips, and ways to make the most of your first 30 days as a Bulldog.
• Family Reception
  3 – 4 p.m. | Highsmith Student Union First Floor

• Ice Cream Social Game Night
  7 – 10 p.m. | Highsmith Student Union First Floor

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14

• New Student Move-In
  9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Mills Hall, South Ridge Hall, West Ridge Hall, and The Woods
• First Year Seminar Meeting
  2:30 – 4 p.m. | The Quad
• Family Reception
  3 – 4 p.m. | Highsmith Student Floor First Floor 
• Chancellor’s Welcome
  4 – 5 p.m. | Kimmel Arena
• Welcome Picnic
  5 – 7 p.m. | The Quad
• Bingo Night Bash
  9 – 11 p.m. | Blue Ridge Room, Highsmith Student Union

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 

• Returning Student Move-In
  9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• EmBark Orientation for New Students
  8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
• Women’s Soccer vs North Alabama
  2 p.m. Greenwood Soccer Field
• Registered Student Orgs (RSO) Tailgate and Cookout
  4:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Parking Lots P11 & P12
• Pep Rally and Volleyball Scrimmage
  6:30 – 8:30 p.m. | Justice Center
• Highsmith After Dark
  9 p.m. – 12 a.m. | Highsmith Student Union
  Get a taste of Highsmith After Dark in the semester’s first event of the series! Enjoy free snacks, games, inflatables, and late night vibes with fellow Bulldogs.
  

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 

• Returning Student Move-In 
  9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Brunch with the Deans
  10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Mountain View Room, Kimmel Arena
  RSVP REQUIRED HERE
• Poster Sale
  10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Student Life Porch, Highsmith Student Union
• Asheville Lore and More + First 30 Days Challenge
  11 a.m. – 12 p.m.  | Blue Ridge Room, Highsmith Student Union 
• Fun in the Sun
  1 – 5 p.m. | The Quad
• Sunset Party
  7 -9 p.m.  | Sunset Lot P8

MONDAY, AUGUST 17 

• Welcome Crew
  9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Reed Plaza, Main Quad, Gov Hall
  Your go-to team for the first days of the semester. Need help finding a building, reading your schedule, or figuring out where to go next? We’ve got you. Stop by our tents for maps, directions, and real people ready to help you start strong.
• First Scoop
  11 a.m. – 2 p.m.  | The Quad
  Start your semester on a sweet note. Grab some free ice cream, meet campus teams, and get the inside scoop on everything happening this year.
• Campus Magic Live!
  7-8:30 p.m. | Blue Ridge Room, Highsmith Student Union
  Catch your first surprise of the semester. A live magician is taking over campus with mind-blowing tricks, quick laughs, and moments you won’t see coming.
  

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 

• Welcome Crew
  9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Reed Plaza, Main Quad, Gov Hall
• Tuesday Trivia Premier Party
  7:30 – 9 p.m. | The Grotto, Highsmith
  Kick off the weekly Tuesday Trivia series with themed rounds, prizes, snacks, and a high-energy game night atmosphere. Come for the competition and stay for the laughs.
  

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19 

• Women’s Soccer vs Southern Wesleyan
  6 pm Greenwood Soccer Field
• Syllabi and Spaghetti
  7 – 9 p.m. | Blue Ridge Room, Highsmith
  Start your semester with a full plate! Join us for a free spaghetti dinner while you map out your semester, get a planner, and pick up simple, real-life study tips from the Academic Success Center. Come hungry, leave organized (and maybe a little more confident about what’s ahead).
  

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 

• Men’s Soccer vs Northern Kentucky
  6 pm | Greenwood Soccer Field
  Pass the Mic: UNCA Stories
  7 – 9 p.m. | The Grotto, Highsmith
  Real stories, no script. Join us for a night of short, honest, and sometimes hilarious stories from students and staff. Share your own or just listen in; either way, you’ll leave with a few moments you won’t forget!
  

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21

• Rockypalooza Pre-Registration
  11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Reed Plaza
  Get your wristband early for UNC Asheville’s signature event: Rockypalooza! Avoid the lines and get a preview of the evening’s events!
• Bulldog Friday
  11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Reed Plaza
  Wear Bulldog gear every Friday for Bulldog Fridays, a weekly campus spirit tradition featuring surprise giveaways, pop-up photo moments, and blue-and-white pride across campus.
• Rockypalooza
  5 – 8 p.m. | The Quad
  The biggest welcome celebration of the year is here. UNC Asheville’s high-energy festival experience is packed with music, food, games, giveaways, student traditions, photo moments, and full-on Bulldog spirit. Come ready to explore, celebrate, meet new people, and kick off the year with the kind of campus energy you’ll remember long after the first week.
  

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22

• Weekends in AVL Kickoff – Off Campus
  9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Day)
  6-  10 p.m. (Dark) 
  Explore Asheville through local adventures, festivals, markets, outdoor activities, and student-friendly weekend experiences.
  
• Glow Flow: Rave Yoga
  9 – 10 p.m. | Kimmel Arena
  Join us in the arena for a beginner-friendly yoga experience featuring neon lights, pumped-up music, glow gear, and an unforgettable after-hours atmosphere right on the basketball court. Whether you’re a yoga pro or just in it for the fun, this is your chance to move, reset, and light up the night.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23

• Women’s Soccer vs ETSU
  2 PM | Greenwood Soccer Field
• Blue Ridge Sunrise Summit  – Off Campus
  6 – 9 a.m. | Blue Ridge Parkway 
  Start the day with a sunrise gathering, light breakfast, and a moment to reflect on the year ahead in the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
  RSVP REQUIRED HERE
• Mountain Made: Music and Makers Fest 
  1 – 5 p.m. | Reynolds Green
  Celebrate Asheville’s creative spirit with live music, local makers, student artists, hands-on crafts, and festival-style fun.

MONDAY, AUGUST 24 

• Speed Friending 
  7 – 9 p.m. | Alumni Hall, Highsmith
  Meet new Bulldogs through quick conversation rounds, shared-interest activities, and fun group games designed to make connecting easier.
  

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25

• Involvement Showcase
  11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | The Quad
  Explore student organizations, campus programs, leadership opportunities, and ways to get connected at UNC Asheville. There’s a place for every Bulldog to belong.
• Tuesday Trivia 
  7:30 – 9 p.m. | The Grotto, Highsmith Student Union
  Kick off the weekly Tuesday Trivia series with themed rounds, prizes, snacks, and a high-energy game night atmosphere. Come for the competition and stay for the laughs.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26 

• Murder Mystery Dinner
  5 – 7 p.m. | Blue Ridge Room, Highsmith Student Union
  Step into an evening of suspense and intrigue where dinner is served alongside clues, secrets, and a mystery waiting to be solved. Reserve your seat today.
  RSVP REQUIRED HERE
• Bulldog Boardwalk
  7 – 10 p.m. | Wellness Way, Student Rec Center
  Cool off with Campus Recreation at the ultimate end-of-summer celebration featuring a giant slip ‘n slide and inflatable water slide, games, food trucks, and a live DJ!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 

• Part-Time Job Fair
  11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Ramsey Library
  Explore majors, career paths, and campus resources through an interactive experience designed to help you connect your interests to future possibilities. Whether you have a plan or are still figuring it out, this is a great place to start.
• Late Night Food Truck Rally 
  7 – 10 p.m. | Reed Plaza
  Enjoy local food trucks, music, giveaways, and late-night campus energy with your fellow Bulldogs. Bring your appetite and come hang out.
  

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 

• Volleyball vs Montreat
  10 am | Justice Gym
• Volleyball vs Boise State
  6 pm | Justice Gym
• Welcome Concert
  7 – 10 p.m. | Greenwood Baseball Field
  Celebrate the start of the semester with live music, food, friends, and campus spirit at one of the biggest welcome events of the week.
  

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 

• Relax on Reed
  2 – 6 p.m. | Reed Plaza
  Relax on Reed Plaza at this laid-back event featuring live acoustic music, cozy seating, creative pop-ups, and low-pressure ways to connect.
  
• Volleyball vs Middle Tennessee State
  4 pm | Justice Gym

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

• Paint and Pour
  7 -9 p.m. | The Grotto, Highsmith Student Union
  Take a creative break with a guided painting session, fun drinks, snacks, and a relaxed atmosphere. No art experience needed.
  

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 

• Men’s Soccer vs Warren Wilson
  6 pm | Greenwood Soccer Field
• Volleyball vs Elon
  6 pm | Justice Center
• Tuesday Trivia
  7:30 – 9 p.m. | The Grotto, Highsmith Student Union
  Make Tuesday nights your weekly trivia tradition. Themed rounds, team competition, snacks, prizes, and plenty of laughs. Come with a team or join one when you arrive; no expert knowledge required, just a willingness to guess, laugh, and have fun.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 

• Capture the Campus
  7 – 9 p.m. | Reynolds Green
  Grab your crew and explore campus like never before! Complete challenges, solve clues, and take on fun, fast-paced missions across campus after dark.
  

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

• Women’s Soccer vs Citadel
  6 pm | Greenwood Soccer Field
• Find Your Team: Club Sports Sampler
  7 – 8 p.m. | Reynolds Green
  Try something new, meet current club sports students, and explore ways to get active at UNC Asheville. No experience needed; just come ready to move, play, and find your team.
• Movie Under the Mountains
  8 – 10 p.m. | Reynolds Green
  Bring your friends and join us on the quad for an outdoor movie night under the Asheville sky. Enjoy snacks, campus vibes, and a relaxed night with fellow Bulldogs. Grab a free blanket!
  

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 

• Bulldogs at the Ballpark: UNCA Night with Asheville Tourists – Off Campus
  6 – 10 p.m. | McCormick Field
  Take UNC Asheville spirit into the city for a night with the Asheville Tourists. Join other Bulldogs for baseball, giveaways, and a fun off-campus welcome experience.
  

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 

• Men’s Soccer vs Wofford
  6 pm | Greenwood Soccer Field
• Tuesday Trivia
  7:30 – 9 p.m. | The Grotto, Highsmith Student Union
  Make Tuesday nights your weekly trivia tradition. Themed rounds, team competition, snacks, prizes, and plenty of laughs. Come with a team or join one when you arrive; no expert knowledge required, just a willingness to guess, laugh, and have fun.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 

• Canoe Battleship
  7 – 9 p.m. | Student Rec Center, Justice Pool
  Climb in, grab a bucket, and prepare to battle. Canoe Battleship brings the classic game to life as teams compete from canoes, trying to splash, strategize, and sink the competition. Come with a team or sign up solo — either way, expect laughs, chaos, and plenty of water.
  

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

• Bulldogs Serve: National Day of Service
  1-5 p.m. | Reed Plaza
  tart the semester by giving back to the community you now call home. Join fellow Bulldogs for hands-on service projects across campus and Asheville.
• Founder’s Day Reynolds Ball
  7:27 – 10 p.m. | Reynolds Green