Welcome Week:  Welcome Week is an annual celebration to welcome students to campus and Washington for the Fall semester.

Freshman Convocation:  Freshman Convocation is the University’s traditional academic kick-off for all new students.

Fall Fest and Spring Fling:  Sponsored by the GW Program Board, these student-run weekend events in September and April include a variety of activities as well as performances by well-known artists.  Past performers have included Kanye West, Regina Spektor, and Maroon 5.

Colonials Weekend:  This GW version of Parents Weekend is an opportunity for family and friends to visit students on campus. The weekend is full of events and incredible performers such as the Beach Boys, Dana Carvey, Patti LaBelle, Jon Stewart. and Billy Crystal. 

Octoberfest:  Held on the Mount Vernon campus during Colonials Weekend, this annual family event features music, pumpkin carving, arts & crafts, games, fall desserts, contests and more.

Spirit Week and Colonials Invasion: A week of special GW spirit events in October is concluded with Colonials Invasion, the kick off for the GW basketball season.

Midnight Breakfast:  A GW tradition during the final exam period in the fall, this is a night where faculty and administrators serve students breakfast at midnight.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Day, Award, and Celebration:  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service brings GW students together to serve the DC community in various projects. The MLK Award is the highest honor a student can achieve in recognition of humanitarian service. GW’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration takes place in late January.

GW Fight Song:  Every day at 12:15 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., the GW Fight Song is played throughout campus.  (Download the GW Fight song at http://spirit.gwu.edu.)

Arts Fest and Chalk-In:  This annual April event, sponsored by The University Counseling Center, is a celebration of student talent in the arts and a stress-free day before finals. Students perform, participate in creative activities, and H Street is closed to traffic so that students can draw on the street and sidewalks with chalk.

Fountain Day:  The Mount Vernon campus sponsors this end of the academic year celebration with lots of great food, fun amusements, and live music by a nationally recognized act. Past performers include Howie Day and Ben Kweller.

Senior Prom:  Hosted by students in the Neighbors Project, the University student community comes together to host a night of dinner and dancing for local DC senior citizens.

Rubbing the Hippo’s Nose for Good Luck:  The bronze hippo which stands proudly outside of Lisner Auditorium was a gift presented to the Class of 2000 by former GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg. Legend has it that this unofficial University mascot brings luck to all who rub its nose.

Mount Vernon Community Day:  This is a day when students and the community come together to celebrate fall by trick-or-treating in the residence halls, cheering on the Colonials soccer team, and enjoying a film in Eckles Auditorium.

Grad Week:  When you are a senior, this weeklong series of special events leads up to graduation. Past events include excursions to Atlantic City, trips to a Baltimore Orioles game, the Senior Toast, and Monumental Celebration.