Kaicie Boeglin
Opinions Editor
PROVIDENCE, R.I., — The beloved traditions typically hosted every year will still go on, but with the twist of being on the go. Rhode Island College is hosting a series of events this October labeled as RIC Fest 2020. These events will include virtual and drive-through activities in order to connect the school community as a whole. All the happenings this season are brought together by the RIC Alumni Association, and are hosted to promote a sense of normalcy.
The full list of events and times can be found on the institution’s website under the RIC Fest tab. Registrations will be through Eventbrite. This fall the Alumni Association will be hosting drive-in movies, a bingo session, meet-the-authors conferences, drive-through trick-or-treating and a Golden Anniversary for the class of 1970. There will also be virtual activities held all month long; including things such as a virtual marketplace, virtual auction, author showcase, artisan showcase, academic informational sessions, virtual and 3-D tours and much more.
The homecoming events will commence on October 4 at 6 p.m. with the virtual ceremony honoring the class of 1970. Although this event is virtual, all events require tickets this homecoming season.
The drive-in movies are each Saturday within the month of October and take place in parking lot A. The tickets for the movies are $5 and include a boxed snack. Registration links can be found on the school website. Tickets will sell out fast due to limited space. The movies being shown this homecoming season are Grease, The Goonies, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Space Jam and Remember the Titans.
Halloween falls on the last Saturday of the month. Instead of hosting another movie, the college has a trick-or-treat family event. Students are encouraged to dress up and bring the youth of their families through the campus for some candy and fun. Each car is free to pass through the campus as the event is free, however, tickets are still required.
One of the ticket options in the registration process is a RIC spirit package. An individual who buys this package receives free admission to a movie of their choice, a RIC logoed face mask, a RIC pennant and a $5 Lasalle Bakery gift card. These packages cost $10 and are an attempt to connect the students as a community.
You can stay up to date with these events through #RICFEST2020. Students also have the opportunity to win prizes by utilizing this hashtag across Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Save the dates from Oct. 3 to Oct. 31, because RIC’s homecoming officially goes live all month long.