What to Do This Welcome Back Weekend

BU and the city of Boston have a plethora of events to welcome students back to the city.

It’s hard to believe that the summer is nearly over. Thousands of students have already arrived on campus and thousands more are expected this weekend. But classes don’t begin until Wednesday, September 2, and there are lots of ways to celebrate the final dog days of August both on and off campus this weekend. We’ve put together a list of events to enjoy and ensure that your first weekend of the school year is a fun one.

Friday, August 28

BU Field Hockey Home Opener

Cheer on the 2014 Patriot League champions as they  take on the University of New Hampshire in their home season opener at New Balance Field. The team has been voted the unanimous favorite to defend its title, according to the league’s preseason poll. The Terriers will also host UMass Amherst at 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 30.

Both games begin at 6 p.m. at New Balance Field, 286 Babcock St. Admission is free.

Ice Cream Social at BU Central

What better way to mark the end of summer than with free ice cream, music, and board games at BU Central? Vegan or lactose-intolerant? Don’t worry. Dairy-free options will be available. Doors open at 9 p.m., but plan to arrive promptly or RSVP in advance at wowbu.eventbrite.com because seating and frozen treats are limited to the first 500 guests.

The Ice Cream Social is at BU Central, in the lower level of the George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Ave., from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Free Friday Flicks

Head to the DCR Hatch Shell on the Esplanade to catch the final installment of Free Friday Flicks, the popular outdoor summer movie series sponsored by WBZ NewsRadio 1030 and the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation. Tonight’s flick, Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie, begins at sundown, but arrive early for free food samples and giveaways. Bring a picnic dinner or avail yourself of one of the nearby food trucks.

Maleficent begins at sundown at the Esplanade’s Hatch Shell, 47 David G. Mugar Way, Boston. The screening is free and open to the public. Take an MBTA Green Line trolley to Park Street, transfer to the Red Line towards Alewife, and get off at the Charles/MGH stop.

Saint Anthony’s Feast

Boston’s North End is famous for its Italian restaurants and for its summer series of religious street festivals honoring various Italian saints. This weekend, it’s the annual Saint Anthony’s Feast, billed as “the Feast of All Feasts” by National Geographic magazine. The festival, a 96-year-old tradition, starts at 7 p.m. on Friday with a blessing of Saint Anthony’s statue, a procession through the North End, and live Italian music. Throughout the weekend, visitors can sample Italian dishes at the tasting tent or from any of the 100 pushcarts lining the streets, enjoy live performances on the main stage, and join in parades and candlelight processions. The highlight of the feast is the 10-hour procession of the Statue of Saint Anthony through the streets of the North End, beginning at noon on Sunday, August 30. Saint Anthony’s Feast ends Sunday, but is followed on Monday, August 31, by a one-day festival in honor of Saint Lucy, which concludes at 10:30 p.m. See the full schedule of events here.

Saint Anthony’s Feast is held on Endicott, Thacher, and North Margin Streets in the North End. Take a Green Line trolley to the Haymarket stop and walk over to Endicott Street.

Saturday, August 29

Next-Level Bingo

Forget every stereotype you’ve ever had about bingo. This is definitely not the game that your grandmother played. Best of all are the prizes, which include BU gear, event tickets, an iPad Air, and a semester’s worth of free books. The event is free and begins at 10 p.m. in the Metcalf Ballroom at the George Sherman Union. However, reservations are required; make yours here.

Next-Level Bingo is held in the Metcalf Ballroom, George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Ave., from 10 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Parent Pit Stop

Parents, this event is just for you. After a long day of travel, unpacking the car, and getting your BU student settled in his or her dorm, you’re going to need some relaxation. So head on over to the BU Pub for some snacks and a cold adult beverage (nonalcoholic drinks will be on hand, as well). Staff members from the Dean of Students office will be on hand to answer any last-minute questions you might have. Admission and food are free, but guests must pay for their drinks.

The Parent Pit Stop is at the BU Pub in The Castle, 225 Bay State Rd., from 6 to 8 p.m.

Berklee Summer in the City Concert with Jive McFly and Sara Kendall

A popular and enjoyable way to spend a late-summer afternoon is offered by Berklee School of Music’s Berklee Summer in the City concert series—listening to great music on an island in Boston Harbor. So take a ferry over to Georges Island, part of the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, and catch one of the final concerts in the series. Boston funk-rock band Jive McFly takes the stage at 1 p.m., with original music inspired by Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers. Sara Kendall, an electronic and indie singer-songwriter and current Berklee student, follows.

The Berklee Summer in the City concert with Jive McFly and Sara Kendall is on Georges Island beginning at 1 p.m. Georges Island is accessible via ferries leaving from Long Wharf North. Take an MBTA Blue Line train to the Aquarium stop or the Orange Line to the State Street stop and walk a few blocks. Ferries depart every hour from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and tickets cost $17 or $12 for students with an ID. Find a ferry schedule here.

Sunday, August 30

Florence and Chafetz Hillel House Welcome Back Bagel Brunch for Students and Parents

Here’s a chance to learn about Jewish life on campus while noshing on bagels and schmear. You’ll have an opportunity to meet staff and student leaders from Boston University’s Florence and Chafetz Hillel House. The brunch is from 10 a.m. until noon.

The Hillel House Welcome Back Bagel Brunch for students and parents, at Florence and Chafetz Hillel House, 213 Bay State Rd., is free and begins at 10 a.m. Make a reservation here.

Matriculation Parade and Ceremony

The Class of 2019’s official welcome ceremony begins at 2 p.m. at Agganis Arena, preceded by a parade up Comm Ave. Freshmen and their families are invited to attend. Speakers will include University President Robert A. Brown; concert pianist Moisès Fernández Via, project curator and researcher for the Medical Campus and College of Fine Arts collaborative Arts Outreach Initiative; Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore (SED’87); the Rev. Robert Allan Hill, dean of Marsh Chapel; and Andrew Cho (CAS’16), recently elected Student Government president. Matriculation is the only time members of the Class of 2019 will gather together before their Commencement in May 2019. Security for the event is expected to be tight, so guests are urged to arrive early. All bags will be checked on entrance.

The student parade begins at Myles Standish Hall, 610 Beacon St., at 1 p.m. with freshmen joining in as it passes their residence hall. The parade concludes at Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Ave., where the Matriculation ceremony will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Scarlet Fever

New and returning Terriers alike are invited to head to nearby Nickerson Field immediately following Matriculation for a carnival to celebrate the kickoff of the new academic year. The festivities will include games, prizes, food, and more.

Scarlet Fever is from 3 to 6:00 p.m. at Nickerson Field, 285 Babcock St., and is free and open to all students with a BU ID. 

The South End Open Market @ SoWa

Need to buy some fresh produce or find some vintage plates for your new apartment? Head over to the South End Open Market @ SoWa, on a compact three-block area along Harrison Avenue. (SoWa is short for “south of Washington Street.”) Billing itself as “New England’s largest outdoor weekly bazaar,” this open-air market boasts a farmers market with locally grown flowers, produce, and baked goods; an arts market featuring handmade jewelry, paintings, photographs, and ceramics; and more than a dozen food trucks offering Asian, Mexican, Italian, and organic cuisine. There’s also an indoor vintage market where you can find all manner of knick-knacks, glassware, and china. With the exception of the Vintage Market, which is year-round, the markets operate seasonally, from May through the end of October.

Shop at the South End Open Market @ SoWa every Sunday through October 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Farmers Market is at 500 Harrison Ave.; the Arts Market is at 460 Harrison Ave.; and the Food Truck Court is at 540 Harrison Ave., in front of the old power station. The SoWa Vintage Market is at 450 Harrison Ave. and is open on Sundays year-round. Take any inbound Green Line trolley to Copley Square, then the number 9 bus to City Point/Copley Square via Arlington Street and get off at the Albany and East Berkeley stop. 

Monday, August 31

Comm-Ave-Con

On Monday afternoon, both sides of Comm Ave from East Campus to West Campus will be lined with booths offering giveaways, prizes, music, and food. Cool off with a snow cone courtesy of the School of Hospitality Administration, join in the fun at the College of Arts & Sciences Student Programs and Leadership’s inflatable bungee run. The fair runs from 1 to 4 p.m. It’s a great way to catch up with old friends or meet new ones before the start of classes.

Terrier Tailgate

The annual Terrier Tailgate marks the official start of the BU men’s varsity athletics season. Now in its ninth year, this season’s Tailgate begins at 6 p.m. at Nickerson Field, an hour before the BU men’s soccer’s home opener against archrival Boston College. The pregame celebration will include free food courtesy of Raising Cane’s, music, and carnival games. Admission is free. Download the Terrier Fanzone app before the game and check in during kickoff at 7 p.m. for a chance to win points, rewards, and prizes, among them iPads and Beats speakers.

And there’s more. For information on back-to-school events after this weekend, both on and off campus, check out the BU Student Activities Weeks of Welcome page.

Ashley Mayrianne Jones can be reached at ashjones@bu.edu.