A Guide to Senior Week 2016

Got your tickets? Senior Week, sponsored by the Student Activities Office, kicks off this Sunday, May 8, and concludes Thursday, May 12.

Four years really do go by in a flash. For most seniors, memories of freshman year move-in remain vivid. And now it’s time to pack up for good. You’ve toughed it out through years of midterms and finals, late nights at Mugar, and the snowiest winter in Boston history.

As the final days count down, celebrate all the hard work that’s brought you this far. In the lead-up to BU’s 143rd Commencement, Student Activities has put together a week of fun events on and off campus—everything from a sophisticated night of art and cocktails at a world-class museum to an afternoon of thrills at an amusement park. Tickets to events are going fast, so get them here while you can.

Check the BU Senior Week Facebook page or the University’s official senior class website for announcements about ticket availability, weather-related cancellations, or possible changes in venue.

Sunday, May 8

Six Flags New England

If being swung around a tower 400 feet above the ground at a speed reaching 40 miles per hour is your kind of fun, don’t miss this year’s pilgrimage to Six Flags New England. Featuring more than 20 adrenaline-pumping rides, including the aforementioned New England SkyScreamer, the tallest swing ride in the world, and the Goliath, a “super-coaster” that whirls you around a 102-foot vertical loop at 65 miles per hour, Six Flags is guaranteed to keep you entertained all afternoon long.

Tickets to Six Flags are $60.50 and include round-trip transportation, admission, and all the rides you can handle. Buses begin departing from the GSU Plaza, 775 Commonwealth Ave., at 9 a.m. and will begin returning to BU at 5 p.m., with the last bus departing at 6 p.m. sharp. The event is open to all BU students, who are invited to bring one guest. Dress is super casual. Six Flags New England is at 1623 Main St., Agawam, Mass. 

Monday, May 9

Foxwoods Resort & Casino

If a night of upscale entertainment is more your thing, consider this trip to Foxwoods Casino, New England’s largest. Hit the slots, get a strike at at the retro-chic bowling alley High Rollers, or show off your best dance moves at the venue’s Shrine Nightclub. Recharge at one of the casino’s many fine dining and casual restaurant options, from lavish brasserie Vue 24 to the Brooklyn-themed Junior’s, where you can get everything from bulging deli sandwiches to burgers to blintzes. We bet your night will be as much fun as getting a royal straight flush.

Tickets for the Foxwoods Resort & Casino trip are $30.50. Tickets include round-trip transportation, admission to an exclusive BU-only evening at Shrine Nightclub, and a game of bowling at High Rollers. You must be 21+ to enter the gaming floor and Shrine Nightclub. Dress: trendy upscale. The outing is for BU seniors only. Graduates can bring one guest. Buses begin departing BU at 4 p.m. and will begin returning from Foxwoods at 1 a.m., with the last bus departing at 1:30 a.m. sharp. Foxwoods Resort & Casino is at 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket, Conn.

Senior Arts Reception

The BU Arts Initiative invites you to an evening of swanky mingling in the courtyard of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a 15th-century Venetian-style palace located in the heart of the Fenway. Enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and conversation with your classmates while you admire the museum’s world-class art collection, featuring more than 2,500 paintings, tapestries, statuary, and more.

The Senior Arts Reception is from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 25 Evans Way, Boston. Tickets are $10.50 and include one drink. The event is open to BU seniors only.

Harbor Cruise

All aboard for a night of fun! Book your ticket for this year’s Harbor Cruise on the Provincetown II. Take in the stunning views of the city at sunset from Boston Harbor. Dance the night away to music from a live DJ and enjoy complimentary food. A bar will be available and is cash only. Note: this event is 21+ only.

The Harbor Cruise is from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the Provincetown II, which is located at 200 Seaport Blvd., Boston. Tickets are $30.50. The boat begins boarding at 6:45 p.m. and leaves the dock at 7:30 p.m. You’ll return to dry land at 11:00 p.m. Dress: cute, but nautical. BU seniors only, 21+.

Wednesday, May 11

Senior Bash

Prefer to party on land rather than at sea? Celebrate the unofficial kickoff to Commencement graduation at the Senior Bash at BU’s 808 Gallery. Toast the class of 2016 with Eastern Standard–style cocktails, the largest charcuterie board you’ve ever seen, and confections that include chocolate-dipped strawberries and French macaroons. Dance to live music by Cover Story, who delighted partygoers with their talent and energy at this year’s Back Bay Ball. Make sure to don your finest threads for this bash to remember. BU seniors can bring one guest. Limited tickets are still available, but they are going fast.

The Senior Bash takes place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the 808 Gallery, 808 Commonwealth Ave. Admission is free, but students must RSVP through Eventbrite. BU seniors can bring one guest. This event is 18+ only.

Thursday, May 12

BU Beach Party

Join Student Activities and the Class Gift Campaign for a free afternoon of live music, games, and great barbecue. We’re talking open-fire grilled beef brisket with a Southern Comfort glaze and grilled Mediterranean chicken in a garlic herb marinade (vegetarian options will also be available), in addition to salads and corn on the cob. There will also be an old-school ice cream truck on hand full of frozen delights, and kegs of beer and cider. Note: an Eventbrite ticket is required for entry.

The BU Beach Party is at the BU Beach, located behind Marsh Chapel, 735 Commonwealth Ave., from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free and open only to BU seniors. Eventbrite tickets are required for entry. Your first two drinks are free.

To stay up-to-date on graduation festivities, follow BU Senior Week on Facebook, @saoBU on Instagram, and the University’s official senior class website.

Be sure to check back with BU Today next Thursday, May 12, when we’ll have a complete roundup of Commencement weekend activities.

Kylie Obermeier can be reached at kylieko@bu.edu; follow her on Twitter at @kyliekobermeier.