It’s time to kick back, relax, and soak up the fun of summertime in Madison! Join fellow UW alumni who have graduated in recent years for a weekend of reconnection and celebration, featuring good food, good music, outdoor activities, and more.
Don’t miss DJ Ree Maniac MS’18: the official DJ of Recent-Grad Weekend!
Cost
- $40 per person
- $35 for Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) members
If you graduated in 2023 or later, be sure to activate your complimentary two-year WAA membership to take advantage of the member price of Recent-Grad Weekend! Membership is discounted for other alumni within five years of graduation.
Registration coming soon.
All activities are subject to change depending upon weather or other conditions.
Schedule
All-Weekend Passes and Discounts
| 6 a.m.–10 p.m. |
FREE Weekend Pass at the Nicholas Recreation Center and the Bakke Recreation and Wellbeing Center, courtesy of University Recreation & Wellbeing. Just show your photo ID with birth date and your 2024 Recent-Grad Weekend wristband at each visit. Additional programs and services are available for purchase. |
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Friday, June 7
| 5–8 p.m. | Recent-Grad Weekend (RGW) Welcome Reception at One Alumni Place. Check in here for the weekend, pick up your RGW merch and official weekend wristband, and meet up with other recent grads to jump-start the weekend. Two drink tickets and appetizers are included. |
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| 10 p.m.–1 a.m. | Friday Night Karaoke Kickback at Camp Trippalindee in the Graduate Madison Hotel at 601 Langdon Street. Two drink tickets and late-night bites are included. Hosted in partnership with the College of Letters & Science. |
Saturday, June 8
| 9:30–11:30 a.m. | Coffee & Convo’s in the Greenhouse. Start your morning with coffee and conversation in the award-winning D.C. Smith Greenhouse, then tour the space designed as a combination of science and aesthetics. Hosted by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. |
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| 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | Late Check-in. Arriving late? Check in at the Pyle Center and pick up your RGW merch and official weekend wristband. |
| 12–2 p.m. | Multicultural Rooftop Day Party at the Pyle Center, featuring DJ Ree Maniac. Two drink tickets and a lunch menu are included. Hosted in partnership with the Division of Diversity Equity & Educational Achievement. In the event of inclement weather, we will gather in the Pyle Center Alumni Lounge. |
| 2–4 p.m. | A Day on the Lake will feature activities at Alumni Park and Memorial Union. Grab a free scoop of our beloved Babcock ice cream and vibe to music curated by DJ Ree Maniac in Alumni Park, or snag a spot on our very own Bucky pontoon! Paddling on Lake Mendota via Outdoor UW, along with spaces for attendees to create a terrace-themed painting with Wheelhouse and more are included! |
| 5–7 p.m. | A Night on State Street. A private social mixer featuring the chance to try your luck and be named a RGW Badger bingo and trivia game winner. State Street Brats at 603 State Street. Appetizers included. |
| 7–11 p.m. |
Cheese Curd Crawl throughout downtown Madison at your choice of seven participating locations. Included are four tickets to be used for food and beverages, two tickets to be used at your designated starting points, and the remaining tickets may be used at your discretion. Tickets are good for one sample-size serving of cheese curds or a non-dairy alternative AND one half-pour of an alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverage. Of course, you are free to buy additional food or beverages at any location. |
Lodging and Parking Options
We have a hotel block reserved at Graduate Madison. The discounted rate is $190 per night (not including taxes and fees). Discounts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You must book by May 31 to get the discounted rate. Valet parking is $34 plus tax per day. Oversized vehicles may park for $40 plus tax per night.
If you are not leaving your vehicle at a hotel, we recommend UW lot 46 for its proximity to activities and lodging. Submit the UW Transportation Value Permit Order Form or call 608-262-8683 to purchase passes. Please allow at least two weeks for processing.
Additional Information
Wheelchair-accessible and gender-neutral restrooms are available on campus. For information on parking, bus routes, accessible entrances, and more, please view the university’s interactive campus map.
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association will hold this event in accordance with all local public health guidance. Mask usage is welcome but not required. Participants who are sick are asked to stay home to help keep our Badger community safe and healthy. If conditions require a change to this event, you will be notified via email or phone call.
