As many as 15,000 students will participate in Big Red Welcome events Aug. 23-30 at UNL. The week of events is a celebration of the beginning of fall classes and includes a welcome convocation, concerts, rallies, free food and other stuff.

Beginning Aug. 23 with the New Student Convocation, followed by the traditional “Tunnel Walk” and Cornhusker Marching Band exhibition in Memorial Stadium, carrying through Aug. 30 with tours, and the pre-class highlight Aug. 25 at the huge Welcome Festival, students will meet others, get to know campus, eat and have fun.

The full list of Big Red Welcome events is available at http://bigredwelcome.unl.edu. Following is a schedule of events that are free and open to UNL students.

Friday, Aug. 23 - 5 p.m., residence hall floor meeting and dinner; 6, commuter student gathering, Nebraska Union, Memorial Stadium gates open; 7, Cornhusker Marching Band concert; 8:15, Tunnel Walk begins, followed by welcome from Chancellor Harvey Perlman, and pep rally with Husker athletes and coaches; 9:30, Husker Mania, Campus Recreation Center.

Saturday, Aug. 24 - 11 a.m., Chipotle Burrito Bike Rides - Lunch Ride, go to http://go.unl.edu/rnx for details; 1 p.m., class schedule tours, Nebraska Union; 4, Chipotle Burrito Bike Rides - Dinner Ride; 9:30, Party at the Union, Nebraska Union; midnight, Midnight Pancake Feed, Nebraska Union Plaza.

Sunday, Aug. 25 - 2 p.m., out-of-state student gathering, Nebraska Union; 6:30, Welcome Festival Street Fair, East Stadium Loop, 14th and Vine streets.

Monday, Aug. 26, and Tuesday, Aug. 27 - Fall semester classes begin; 8 a.m.-3 p.m., UNL Guides: faculty and staff volunteers across campus to answer student questions.

Thursday, Aug. 29 - 4:30 p.m., East Campus Welcome, East Union.

Friday, Aug. 30 - 9:30 p.m., Big Red Rave.