A Festival of Fun – RIC Homecoming and Reunion Weekend

Homecoming weekend runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. Most events are family-friendly, free and open to RIC graduates, the campus community and friends of the college.

On Thursday, Sept. 29, from 7-10:30 p.m. in Roberts Hall Auditorium, jam with Providence-based live bands: Roz and the Rice Cakes (indie-pop), Royal Street (funky pop-rock), Infusion Evolution (flamenco Afro-Cuban) and the Drama Kings (rock and roll/hard rock). And be entertained by special guest Hillary Costa (Class of 2014), who will deliver her unique brand of stand-up comedy.

Come early for a pre-concert reception (beer, wine and giveaways) from 5:30-7 p.m. in the lobby of Roberts Hall. Admission is free for RIC alumni and students. General admission is $10. Registration is required.

On Friday, Sept. 30, RIC will fire up the grill for the Alumni and Student Volleyball Tournament and BBQ from noon-2 p.m. at Weber Hall Beach. No experience at volleyball is necessary. This event will be DJ’ed by RIC radio station WXIN. Admission is free but registration is required.

From 5:30-8:30 p.m., the fifth through 45th reunion classes will reconnect with classmates, greet faculty and meet RIC’s new president, Frank D. Sánchez, in the lobby of ALEX AND ANI Hall. Heavy appetizers, wine and beer will be served and music provided. This event is $10 per person. Registration is required and guests of alumni are welcome.

Saturday, Oct. 1, will be filled with festive, family-centered events: 

• From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Quad is the site of a free BBQ lunch and ice cream sundae bar, pumpkin and face painting, balloon sculptures, local artisans and authors, a photo booth, selfie sticks, the ferris wheel five-in-one, the bouncer maze and community drumming. Drums and percussion instruments will be provided or participants may bring their own. 
• From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., pottery workshops will keep hands busy in ALEX AND ANI Hall’s art studio. Everyone is welcome.
• From 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., music and dance enliven the Quad. New this year are performances on the mainstage. Also enjoy a concert of nostalgic tunes from the 1940s – a tribute to alumni veterans – by The Company Bees. The medley begins at 1:30 p.m. and includes a posting of colors.
• From noon-3 p.m., tours and a family swim will be held at the Recreation Center. To register, contact the Athletics Department directly at 401-456-8007.
• A reunion/continental breakfast for former RIC Chorus members takes place at 9:15 a.m., followed by a 10 a.m. rehearsal and a grand finale concert at 11:30 a.m. in Roberts Hall. For information and registration, call Conductor and Professor of Music Teresa Coffman at 401-456-9506 or email tcoffman@ric.edu.
• A number of open houses are scheduled from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and the Admissions Office will lead an information session from 10:15-11 a.m. and campus tours from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Registration is required.
• Athletic events include the 5K race/walk at 9 a.m. Pre-register online for $20 or register on the day of the event for $25 at the Robert T. Black Track beginning at 8 a.m.
• Athletic matches and games run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include baseball and softball games open to alumni athletes, a women’s and men’s soccer game also open to alumni athletes and a doubles tennis tournament open to faculty, staff, students and alumni.
• At 1 p.m. the RIC Anchorwomen soccer team will play UMass Dartmouth, and the RIC Anchorwomen tennis team will challenge UMass Boston. For tickets to matches and games, contact the Athletics Department directly at 401-456-8007.
• In the evening, the RIC Athletic Hall of Fame will hold its annual dinner and recognition event in the college’s Donovan Dining Center, with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased by calling 401-456-8007.

Homecoming will take place rain or shine. For a full calendar of events, visit http://www.ric.edu/homecoming. There are three ways to register for Homecoming events:

1. Register online today.

2. Register by emailing alumni@ric.edu.

3. Call the Alumni Office at 401-456-8086.