Welcome Week Events You Can’t Miss!
Every year, just before the academic year officially begins, Freshers get the chance to explore everything Lancaster has to offer ahead of time.
When you first arrive in Lancaster, there’s a lot of stuff going on. So, that’s what Welcome Week is for!
Welcome Week is a week full of events for Freshers to make sure you have the chance to settle into your new home and explore what the next few years are going to be like.
What Events Are There?
There’s lots of different events during Welcome Week, all of them different so there’s always something for everyone…
Arrivals Weekend
Lancaster University Bailrigg Campus, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th September 2024
Throughout Arrivals Weekend, we’ll be in Alex Square to welcome you to Lancaster from 10-3pm. So why not come and say hello, and grab some free wall planners and LUSU Shop vouchers while you’re at it?
Fresher’s Fair
Sports Centre Complex, Wednesday 2nd October 2024
The Fresher’s Fair is a must-visit event to discover your students’ union and our 203(!) student groups, learn about uni life, and so much more!
You can read more about what the Fresher’s Fair is all about here.
This year’s Fresher’s Fair is sponsored by Dominos.
Deck Out Your Student Digs!
New room looking a little bare? Check out our markets and events taking place throughout Welcome Week to help you make the place your own:
LUSU Plant Sale - Alexandra Square, Monday 30th September & Tuesday 2nd September 2024
Prepare to live your plant parent fantasy and pick up a plant or two (or ten) from Alexandra Square and transform your new living space into a tropical paradise.
Plant Potting with Green Lancaster - Furness Quad, Tuesday 1st October 2024
Pot yourself a free houseplant with Green Lancaster in Furness Quad.
LUSU Poster Sale – Alexandra Square, Wednesday 2nd October 2024
It’s time to make your new uni pad your own and there’s no better place to start than a poster. In Alexandra Square, come and browse hundreds of big and small prints at student-friendly prices to bring some life to your new room.
Ikea, Anyone?
Warrington Ikea, Sunday 6th October 2024
Fancy furnishing your flat on a budget? Longing for a Djungelskog? Or simply craving some Swedish meatballs? Look no further! Assemble your new flatmates and book on our coach trip to IKEA to help make your Uni space truly feel like home.
Get your tickets here.
Explore Lancaster at Students in the City
Lancaster City Centre, Thursday 3rd October 2024
In a brand new event for 2024, we are working with a whole host of high-street businesses to bring you Students in the City. Lancaster city centre will be dedicated to students with offers, discounts and freebies galore. Pick up an offer booklet from Freshers' Fair to find out what's available. We'll also be bringing some LUSU energy to town so you can expect high-street DJ sets, inflatable axe throwing, giant games, samba drumming and much, much more.
From 3-5pm, the first 150 visitors can get a FREE Welcome Drink from Atkinson's Coffee at the Castle so be sure to stop there first and take in some of the heritage of our historic city.
This is a self-guided event. Please make your own way into town using the bus services. From there, we recommend first starting at Lancaster Castle (before 5pm only) and working your way through town thereafter.
Find out more and get your ticket here.
Hang Out with the Colleges
At Lancaster, there are nine colleges – and you’ll be a part of one! During Welcome week, plenty of the colleges will host their own events for you to go to. You don’t have to go to only your own colleges events either, they’re for everyone!
Check out the full list of College Freshers Events here.
The Sugarhouse Club Nights
Did you know that here at LUSU we own and run our very own club: The Sugarhouse, located in town, is your students’ union ran, student-only club!
And during Welcome Week, Sugar hosts a whole bunch of events for students:
Confetti Party – Monday 30th September 2024
Big Freshers Icebreaker – Tuesday 1st October 2024
VK Takeover – Wednesday 2nd October 2024
Indie Night w/ Kate Frost – Thursday 3rd October 2024
Redbull Additions Party – Friday 4th October 2024
UV Paint Party – Saturday 5th October 2024
Grab yourself an exclusive Freshers Week Wristband for entry (and queue jump!) to all the above Sugar events – saving you 30% on entry fee!
Outdoor Cinema
Lancaster Square, Sunday 6th October
Unwind from a hectic week with our Outdoor Cinema experience, brought to you in collaboration with Take2 Cinema.
From 3:15pm, dive into the Mushroom Kingdom with the iconic Super Mario Bros Movie.
The adventure doesn't stop there... from 5:15pm join us for the iconic film that is Barbie.
This event is free to attend and everybody's welcome - just come along and find a space! We'll have picnic blankets and deckchairs available for you to kick back on, or feel free to bring your own along. There'll also be tasty food stalls on site so you can grab yourself some movie snacks.
Find out more here.
We hope you’ve found some events that you’re interested in to help you kickstart your new uni life!
For more key dates to fill up your Uni Calendar, check out this article, and keep up-to date with us by following us on instagram @lancastersu, or by signing up to our newsletter.
Written by Shannon Daniel
ENGLISH LANGUAGE & CREATIVE WRITING GRADUATE