Students from around the globe are descending on campus this week as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln prepares to kick off its fall semester on Aug. 22.

All new and returning students will be welcomed back to campus with the annual Big Red Welcome celebration. Events begin Aug. 19 with New Student Convocation at the Devaney Center. Opening day events also include the Tunnel Walk for new students and a pep rally, both at Memorial Stadium, and free food, games, entertainment and prizes at the Campus Rec Center.

This is the third year UNL has hosted a multi-week slate of welcome activities. The expanded Big Red Welcome, which previously offered activities over a single week, is designed to give students a better chance to become fully acquainted with what the campus has to offer.

“Many clubs and departments have traditionally hosted welcome events for new and returning students yet it was difficult for new students to find out when each organization’s welcome was being held,” said Pat McBride, associate dean of new student enrollment. “We are providing one-stop website listing all welcome events will make it easier for new and returning students to accelerate their social integration to UNL.”

For a complete list of Big Red Welcome events, click here. Events scheduled for Aug. 19-21 are below.

One of the highlights of the festivities will again be the Big Red Welcome Street Festival 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 21 in the parking lot east of Memorial Stadium at 14th and Vine streets. More than 10,000 students are expected to attend, enjoying free food and a chance to win prizes.

Other Big Red Welcome events include an ice cream bike ride on Aug. 24; “Neon Lights” dance on Aug. 26; a Sept. 7 fair featuring information on the various student clubs at UNL; Fiesta on the Green on Sept. 22; and workshops on how to succeed as a student; a fair with boots on the various clubs at UNL.

The full schedule of Big Red Welcome events is available at http://bigredwelcome.unl.edu.

Aug. 19

• 11:30 a.m., CASNR Freshman Luau, East Union — Open to all College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources first year students and their families.

• 4 p.m., Transfer Student Welcome, Hall Learning Commons, Love Library North — Open to all transfer students. Will include information about UNL’s First Year Experience and Transitions Programs Office.

• 4:30 p.m., New Student Convocation, Devaney Center — A formal welcome to campus by UNL administrators, faculty and staff.

• 8:30 p.m., Tunnel Walk, Memorial Stadium — Open to UNL freshmen. Participants should wear the Traditions Tee available at the University Bookstore.

• 8:45 p.m., Pep Rally, Memorial Stadium

• 9 p.m., Husker Mania, Campus Rec Center — Free food, entertainment, games, and prizes in the Campus Rec Center.

Aug. 20

• 8:45 a.m., Campus-to-Campus Run, Yoga, and Snack — A friendly run from the Campus Recreation Center to the East Campus Rec and Wellness Center.

• 10 a.m., Ice Cream Bike Ride, Outdoor Adventures Center — A fun, casual ride to help students meet each other while learning about the Outdoor Adventures program.

• 9:30 p.m., Party at the Union, Nebraska Union — Includes activities such as: karaoke, caricature artist, various student club activities; balloon artist, improvisational comedy, student group concerts and a DJ on the plaza.

• Midnight, Pancake Breakfast, Nebraska Union Plaza — Free pancake feed served by Student Affairs staff.

Aug. 21

• 5 p.m., Street Fair Pre-Party, Outdoor Adventures Center — To include bouldering, slack lining, lawn games and information about UNL’s Outdoor Adventures Center.

• 6:30 p.m., Big Red Welcome Street Festival, east side of Memorial Stadium — Festival attended by 10,000-plus UNL students. Features information on hundreds of student clubs and organizations, as well as free samples and giveaways from local businesses and vendors.