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Princeton University reunions and graduation activities schedule

No other university welcomes its alumni back quite like Princeton. The school has been hosting reunions since 1859. Alumni have already begun arriving in town for the big celebration. The official festivities begin tomorrow, June 1, and run until Sunday morning, June 4. As alumni events wind down, graduation events begin, and run through Tuesday, June 6.

If you are in Princeton or traveling to Princeton June 1 through June 6, leave extra time for the drive and to find parking. Shops and restaurants will be crowded too. (Hint – It’s a great weekend to postpone errands in town or visit another place if you want to avoid the crowds and delays).

While most of the lectures, events and ceremonies are for graduating students, alumni and their families, the following events are open to the public:

Friday, June 2

Reunions Organ Concert with Organist Eric Plutz
Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

3:30 p.m., Princeton University Chapel

Arch Sings

Hear Princeton University student groups perform.

9-10 p.m. – Old NasSoul Arch Sing, 1879 Arch
9-11 p.m. – Tigerlilies Arch Sing, Blair Arch
10-11 p.m. – Wildcats Arch Sing, 1879 Arch

11-midnight – Nassoons Arch Sing, Blair Arch

11-1 a.m. – Roaring 20 Arch Sing, 1879 Arch
Food trucks – Half a dozen food trucks will be at the U-Store courtyard from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The trucks are: Cupcake Carnivale, Jammin Crepes, Princeton Catering, the Cow and the Curd, Nomad Pizza, and JianBing.

Saturday, June 3

Reunions P-Rade
Alumni and their families are welcome to march. The finale is on Poe-Pardee fields. Parents of members of the Class of 2017 are encouraged to sit on the bleachers reserved for them at the finale for the best views and photos.

2 p.m., central campus

Tico’s, Joe’s Ice cream and Princeton catering will have food trucks at Poe’s Field during the P-Rade.

Fireworks
Sponsored by the Alumni Association of Princeton University. Princeton Stadium is available for spectators to view the fireworks. Powers Field is inaccessible due to construction. Bring a blanket or chair to Finney and Campbell Fields next to Princeton Stadium to join in the fun.  A concert starts at 8 p.m. and will be followed by the fireworks show starting at 9:15 p.m.

Arch Sings

Hear Princeton University student groups perform.

8-9 p.m. – Kindred Spirit Arch Sing, Blair Arch
8:30-10 p.m. –  Shere Khan Arch Sing, 1879 Arch
10-midnight – Katzenjammers Arch Sing, Blair Arch
10-11:30 p.m. – Tigressions Arch Sing, 1879 Arch

Midnight-1:30 a.m. – Tigertones Arch Sing, Blair Arch

11:4 -2 a.m. –  Footnotes Arch Sing, 1879 Arch

Food trucks – Half a dozen food trucks will be at the U-Store courtyard from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The trucks are: Cupcake Carnivale, Jammin Crepes, Princeton Catering, the Cow and the Curd, Nomad Pizza, and JianBing.

Sunday, June 4

Special worship service features the Rev. Frank Strasburger
Strasburger is a guest preacher from the 50th Reunion Class of 1967. Sponsored by the Office of  Religious Life. Strasburger is no stranger to Princeton residents. He served as the associate rector at Trinity Church in Princeton from 1999 to 2007, was the Episcopal chaplain at Princeton University from 1986 to 1997, and was also a member of the school board for the Princeton Regional Schools.

10 a.m., Princeton University Chapel

Tickets are required to attend the following graduation events:

The Baccalaureate service for seniors will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 4, in the University Chapel. Guests must be seated by 1:30 p.m. The speaker will be 1980 alumna Anne Holton, whose career has focused on advocating for families and children in Virginia.

The Pan-African Graduation will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 4, in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall.

The Latinx Graduation is set for 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 4, in the Fields Center.

The graduation ceremony for first-generation college students is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 5, in McCosh Hall, Room 50.

The Class Day ceremony for seniors is set for 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 5, on Cannon Green. The speaker will be film director Baz Luhrmann.

The Hooding ceremony for advanced degree candidates will begin at 4:30 p.m. Monday, June 5, on Cannon Green.

The University’s 270th Commencement program will begin with the academic procession at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, on the lawn in front of Nassau Hall. Guests must be seated by 10:20 a.m. Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber will preside and address the graduates.

Simulcast sites for the ceremonies are:

Baccalaureate: McCosh Hall, Rooms 10 (not air-conditioned) and 50 (air-conditioned); McCormick Hall, Room 101 (air-conditioned and accessible); Betts Auditorium in the School of Architecture (air-conditioned and accessible); Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall (air-conditioned and accessible); and Dillon Gym.

Class Day: McCormick Hall, Room 101 (air-conditioned and accessible); Betts Auditorium in the School of Architecture (air-conditioned and accessible); Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall (air-conditioned and accessible); McCosh Hall Rooms 10 (not air-conditioned) and 50 (air-conditioned); and Dillon Gym. In the event of inclement weather, Class Day will be held in the University Chapel.

Hooding: Betts Auditorium in the School of Architecture (air-conditioned and accessible) and Dillon Gym. In the event of inclement weather, the Hooding ceremony will be held in Jadwin Gym.

Commencement: Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall (air-conditioned and accessible); McCormick Hall, Room 101 (air-conditioned and accessible); Betts Auditorium in the School of Architecture (air-conditioned and accessible); and Dillon Gym. No tickets will be required at the simulcast site. In the event of severe weather, Commencement will be held in Jadwin Gym.

In addition, Baccalaureate, Class Day and Hooding will be simulcast on two big screens on Cannon Green.

Baccalaureate, Hooding and Commencement ceremonies are scheduled to be broadcast live on TigerNet Channel 7 on campus and in Princeton on Channel 27 for Comcast subscribers and Channel 21 for Verizon FIOS subscribers. The events also are scheduled to be webcast live and archived online for later viewing on the University’s Media Central site.

It’s that time again — Princeton University reunions and graduation. File photo.