Ready to branch outside of your doom room and go somewhere other than the classroom and the dining hall? There are many fun activities to help reduce the stress college can bring. And the RIT campus and City of Rochester have you covered.
While RIT’s very own CAB (College Activities Board) runs events throughout the year, some events occur yearly and therefore will always be waiting for you.
RIT Campus
The following are events you don’t even need to leave campus for! These are great if you don’t have a car and are unable to make it off-campus easily.
Humans vs Zombies: Two times a year, once a semester, comes RIT’s very own zombie tag event. The twist: NERF blasters are present, making for a weeklong all-campus event where you try to tag and not get tagged. This is a recurring event, so as long as you make it to the in-person registration session before each event week, you can Nerf blast other players to your heart’s content.
Seasonal Fests: Named FallFest, FreezeFest, and SpringFest, these three events are yearly season-based activities led by RIT’s very own CAB organization! Every year, these events will feature a variety of activities led by different departments and student-run organizations. It's a great way to enjoy all the seasons of New York without having to leave campus!
Students playing a game at FreezeFest
Cosplay Snowfest: A one-day convention led by RIT’s Cosplay Club, Snowfest is a cosplay-themed winter event taking place in January. Various panels, stage events, and artists will be present for interactive events and conversation. This is a great time to meet like-minded individuals and come in your best costumes.
ToraCon: The student-run Anime Club runs this massive yearly convention held every March, featuring voice actors, artists, and panels run by people from across the country. Held on the RIT campus, you can watch varied panels, purchase amazing artwork, and have conversations with your fellow fans.
Imagine RIT: See creativity and innovation come to life. This tagline is not just for show- anybody can head over to campus for this free event. Showcasing what students and faculty have been working on across many fields of science, walk around campus for a show of special effects, new programs, and things you didn’t even expect!
In ROC
These are events that take place outside of RIT’s campus and would therefore require travel. No worries- none of these events will be outside of the city of Rochester!
Fringe Festival: Every year in September, prepare for Rochester’s 2-day, all-out, no-holds-barred, multi-arts festival. This is a giant festival taking place across Rochester with theater, comedy, dance, musicals, opera, poetry, and even more to be experienced. If you’re a fan of the arts, this is a great time to see what local artists have been up to!
Rochester Fringe Festival
College Nights at the Strong National Museum of Play: Hosted periodically by the Strong Museum of Play, these events let you experience the museum with fellow college students. This event is specifically for college students, so spend your night playing games and having childlike fun with people your age.
SimCon: New York’s longest-running tabletop gaming convention takes place yearly at the University of Rochester. If you’re looking for a chill convention where you can try out new board games, RPGs, and card games, this one is great for you. Find your new favorite game or introduce people to your existing favorite, or just check out the vendors!
Rexpo: Do you like snakes? Geckos? Lizards? Bugs? Maybe you even like frogs. All of those are present at Rochester’s- and New York’s- largest reptile expo. Whether you’re interested in seeing the animals or maybe taking home a new pet, this is a unique experience located right in Rochester. If you like reptiles, you get to see some cute animals for sale- and if you’re afraid of them, maybe this will change your mind!
MEGACON: Also run by Rexpo, this is a massive convention taking place in July that features not just reptiles, but plants, fossils, birds, and fish. See a larger variety of cute animals, see people’s collections, and talk about your shared passions.
Make sure you’re checking the RIT Events Calendar and your emails! Believe me, you won’t believe the number of things to do on and off campus all year round!
About the author
My name is Elizabeth Sanabria, a New Media Interactive Development major, hailing from Yonkers, New York. My life passions are drawing, writing, and as expected for a RIT student- playing video games. I’m ready to share what RIT and the surrounding Rochester area has to offer for prospective students and newcomers!
