The Weekender highlights free(ish) student-focused social events happening on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campus on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons and evenings. All students are welcome.
Ongoing
Free Bowling
- Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday
- 5:30 p.m. to midnight Friday; 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday; 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday
- Husker Bowling Center, inside the Nebraska East Union
UNL students enjoy free bowling + shoe rental w/ their NCard.
Details + Reserve a laneOctober 2, 3, 4, 5
12:30 pm TO 2:30 pm, October 2, 2025
Ice Cream Social on East Campus
Dinsdale Family Learning Commons Room: Outdoor Plaza
Enjoy a free scoop of dairy store ice cream and live music by local artist Jonathan Leach.
Details5:00 p.m. TO 8:00 p.m. October 3, 2025
Cornstock Festival
Memorial Stadium East Plaza
Cornstock offers a memorable evening for Husker fans of all ages. Check out the homecoming parade, enjoy food trucks (free for students with NCard), mocktails, balloon twisting & face painting, tattoo station, tractor hayrack rides, live music and more!
Details6:00 p.m. October 3, 2025
Homecoming Parade
Nebraska Union Room: South Side - R Street
Come celebrate Homecoming by watching student organizations, community groups, homecoming royalty, the Cornhusker Marching Band and some special guests as they perform in our annual parade. Participants will include floats, golf carts, balloons, performances and more!
The Lincoln community, alumni and friends of the university are all invited to watch along the parade route, which starts outside the Nebraska Union and makes its way down 16th Street and Vine Street, ending up in the East Memorial Stadium Loop.
Details8:00 p.m. TO 11:00 p.m. October 3, 2025
GLOW Skate
Breslow Ice Center
UNL students lace up the skates and hit the ice for free with a valid NCard.
Skate rental is 5$
DetailsOctober 10, 11, 12, 16
10:00 am – 3:00 pm. October 10, 2025.
Nebraska Innovation Campus Blood Drive
The Club, The Mill Coffee & Bistro 2021 Transformation Drive
American Red Cross will be at Nebraska Innovation Campus on Friday, October 10 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The University of Nebraska is once again teaming up with Abbott and the Big Ten Conference for the We Give Blood challenge — a national campaign aimed at addressing critical blood shortages and encouraging young adults to become donors.
The school with the most verified donations will receive $1 million to support student or community health initiatives.
Join the challenge!
5:30 p.m. October 10, 2025
Badminton Doubles Tournament
Campus Recreation Center
FREE EVENT! Winners will receive this year’s intramural sports championship t-shirt!
Leagues: Co-Rec, Women’s, Men’s, and Open
Sign-up on site to enter. All participants will need to be checked in on-site by 5:30pm to participate in the tournament.
2:00 p.m. October 11, 2025
Drop-in Tour at Sheldon Museum of Art
Sheldon Museum of Art
Sheldon’s drop-in tours are a great way to learn more about the Sheldon’s architecture, exhibitions, and collection.
Drop-in tours are free and open to everyone. No registration is required.
Details7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, October 16, 2025
Music Bingo
Nebraska Union Room: Regency Suite
Play for free to win amazing prize packages at a huge one-night game.
Bring friends as there is plenty of space and cards for HUNDREDS of Huskers to play. Prepare your knowledge of popular music from the 1990s through 2000s - or at least be able to recognize songs by sound - because this is the key for you to win.
This event is FREE for UNL students with Event Pass.
DetailsOctober 23, 24, 25, 26
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm, October 23, 2025
Popcorn Pop-Up
Nebraska Union Room: The Crib
The best hour of the week! Every Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m. pop into The Crib for an afternoon social hour with 100s of other Huskers.
It’s free and every student, staff, and faculty is welcome.
Snack on fresh-popped popcorn straight from the kettle. Join in the game/activity while learning about campus organizations and departments. Mingle with friends and new acquaintances.
Details7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, October 23, 2025
Life in Lincoln: West Coast Swing Dancing
Constellation Studios
Life in Lincoln is a series of select evenings for UNL students to gather and enjoy a nearby activity or tour to sample and learn about the local Lincoln culture, neighborhoods, and people.
Get ready to move and groove. No dance experience? No problem. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes you can move in to dance the night away.
Meet in Louise Pound Hall, Room 130 at 6:30 p.m. and the group will walk together to the final destination; otherwise, meet the group at Constellation Studios at 7 p.m.
FREE to attend. Open to all UNL students with Event Pass.
Details7:15 pm., October 23, 2025
Mrs. Warren’s Profession (National Theatre Live)
Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center-Van Brunt Visitors Center Room: Ross Theaters (123 & 124)
Five-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton (The Crown) joins forces with her real-life daughter Bessie Carter (Bridgerton) for the very first time, playing mother and daughter in Bernard Shaw’s incendiary classic.
Ticket is $5 for UNL Students.
Details7:00 pm – 9:30 pm, October 24, 2025
Community Climbing Event
Outdoor Adventures Center
Come join us for a monthly night of climbing and a special event at the Outdoor Adventures Center Climbing Wall! Whether we perform some karaoke or pedal our smoothie bike, friends will be made and good times will be had by all.
Details7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, October 24, 2025
Bathtub Dogs x The Red Keys Halloween Show
Nebraska Union
The Bathtub Dogs and The Red Keys are teaming up for an a cappella Halloween show!
Details8:00 pm – 10:00 pm, October 24, 2025
Night of the Living Drag Show
Andersen Hall
Student performers lip-sync to popular songs in two acts for the end-of-the-semester drag show. A short intermission will take place between the acts.
There is no entry fee to this event, yet attendees are asked to bring a nonperishable food item or personal hygiene product to be donated to Husker Pantry. Some requested items are: shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, chips, flour, sugar, cooking oil, and beans.
Time: TBD, October 25, 2025
East Campus IANR Tailgate
Nebraska East Union Room: Great Plains Room
Join us for an East Campus IANR Tailgate with Free Food, Football, and Fun! Everyone is invited to attend; no RSVP is required!
GAME: Huskers vs. Northwestern
GAME TIME: TBA
Tailgate starts 4 hours before kick-off.
Free parking is available.
Wednesday, Oct 29 - Special Event
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, October 29, 2025
Husker Haunt
Nebraska East Union Room: Great Plains Room
A campus tradition for hundreds of Huskers. Wear a favorite Halloween costume and bring your crew for a fun-tastic night of indoor Halloween-themed activities and treats, all in one location:
• An eerie and frightening Haunted House
• Costume Contest - sponsored by UBT. Prizes valued at $100, $50, and $25. Check-in by 8:15 p.m. Contest starts at 8:30 p.m.
• DIY Mini Pumpkin Decorating
• Hay Rack Ride
• Bowling @ the Husker Bowling Center
• Halloween-themed Mocktails, hosted by Alcohol and Other Drug Education.
• Free Candy
Free for UNL Students with Event Pass.
DetailsOct 31, Nov 1, 2
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM, October 31, 2025
Morrill Hall-oween
Morrill Hall
Join us for a spooktacular time trick-or-treating while exploring exhibits, participating in games, and doing crafts and activities.
Please bring your own trick-or-treat bag to fill (we will have a limited number of basic paper treat sacks for those without a bag).
Activities:
- Halloween BINGO!
- Spooktacular crafts
- Scavenger hunt
- Candy Corn Bowling
- Pumpkin Toss
1:00 p.m. November 2, 2025
Mrs. Warren’s Profession (National Theatre Live)
Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center-Van Brunt Visitors Center Room: Ross Theaters (123 & 124)
Five-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton (The Crown) joins forces with her real-life daughter Bessie Carter (Bridgerton) for the very first time, playing mother and daughter in Bernard Shaw’s incendiary classic.
Ticket is $5 for UNL Students.
Details