Your Guide to DU Traditions

Every year, students looking to have fun with friends and celebrate DU pride have a nonstop variety of campus events to choose from, including time-honored traditions like Homecoming and Winter Carnival and newer favorites like Munch Week and Battle of the Bands. 

The events, some hosted by the University and some by student groups, include something for everyone. Here’s a look at all the opportunities you don’t want to miss.

Munch Week

Who doesn’t love free food? One of the first events of the year and perhaps the most frequented by students, this week-long celebration provides students with free snacks across campus. Organized by the DU Programming Board (DUPB), Munch Week features a mix of local favorites and classic treats, from empanadas and bubble tea to doughnuts and coffee. The event features Denver-based food businesses and ensures students have a delicious way to refuel during their busy week.

Hockey Night Lights

A beloved tradition since 2001, students camp out on the north lawn of the Ritchie Center in mid-October for a chance to win “golden tickets” granting access to every home game of the season. Hockey Night Lights is more than just waiting in line—students can enjoy lawn games, live music, free food from popular restaurants like Raising Cane’s and Snarfs, intramural competitions, an open skate at Magness Arena, and a movie screening on the lawn. 

Making it through the night isn’t for fair-weather fans. “It is always freezing cold,” says a member of DUPB. “But bonding over hot chocolate is great!” Adds another student, “It’s a core memory as an undergraduate experience and brings fans together.” 

Homecoming

Nothing brings current students and alumni together more than Homecoming. All week, students enjoy festivities like Sundaes on Wednesday, the Multi-Cultural Block Party, HomecomingOUT, and the Crimson Classic 5K. Not to be missed is the DU Duck Hunt, where students search for rubber ducks hidden around campus to exchange for prizes. DU Palooza adds to the excitement with live music, food trucks, and art showcases, along with activities like golf simulators and face painting. The week concludes with HocktoberFEST, a pre-game festival for the entire community featuring food, drinks, and celebrations before the Denver Pioneers take the ice in Magness Arena.

National Coming Out Day

Hosted by the Cultural Center each fall, this event raises awareness and provides support for LGBTQ+ students through campuswide festivities and the sharing of informational resources.

Día de los Muertos

Each November, the Cultural Center hosts Día de los Muertos, a celebration of life, death, and family that originated in central Mexico and is recognized throughout Latin America and among various communities in the U.S. The Multicultural Greek Council and other campus groups collaborate to create a community “ofrenda” (“offering” in Spanish), providing a space to honor loved ones, role models, and ancestors. Participants can contribute to the ofrenda during the event, which also features sugar skull painting, face painting, and performances by local Denver cultural organizations.

First Snow

As winter approaches, DU students eagerly await this tradition, which occurs the first time at least one inch of snow accumulates on campus. The University marks the occasion with giveaways, hot cocoa, and opportunities to enjoy the winter wonderland.

Winter Carnival

The colder months also bring one of DU’s most cherished traditions, Winter Carnival. DUPB hosts a week of on-campus winter festivities, from a relaxing paint-and-sip to casino night, culminating in a weekend trip to Winter Park Resort, where students can enjoy all that the mountain offers and take advantage of discounted lift tickets, lodging, rentals, and lessons for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. 

“It’s an easy way to go to the mountains without planning it yourself,” says a DUPB member. “And it’s also accessible through the sponsorship program for students.”

Battle of the Bands

Every year, music lovers on campus look forward to Battle of the Bands, an annual showcase of student talent. Organized as a lead-up to MusicFest—when DUPB hosts a nationally recognized artist to perform for students—the competition gives student bands the chance to perform live, with the winner earning the opportunity to open at MusicFest, which takes place at Denver’s Levitt Pavilion. 

“Battle of the Bands helps create a culture that celebrates live music and artists on campus,” says a DUPB member. And MusicFest is one of the best ways “for people who are not from Denver to discover a local music venue and the free concerts it puts on for the city.”

May Days

As the academic year winds down, DU celebrates its longest-running tradition, dating back to 1913. May Days, held at the end of spring quarter before finals, features a week of outdoor activities and entertainment to help students enjoy the beautiful Colorado weather and get “a fun break away from finals and homework,” says a member of DUPB.

Senior Week

In the lead up to commencement, the Office of Student Engagement hosts Senior Week, a week packed full of celebrations, networking opportunities, and chances to get a professional headshot, just in time for graduating seniors as they prepare for their lives and careers after DU. 

From sports and music to cultural celebrations and seasonal festivities, DU’s traditions foster a strong sense of community and support students’ 4D experience, creating lasting memories and bringing students together to celebrate.