A Beginner’s Guide to Red and White Week
If you're new to the Wolfpack, or newly excited to get involved, allow us to introduce you to our favorite week of the year. Our homecoming celebration is the place to be, Oct. 27 through Nov. 3, whether you're in Raleigh or taking part from afar.
When we say we’re red and white for life, it goes deeper than our favorite colors — although we do look great in red. It’s a way of saying that we’re always a part of the Wolfpack. That we still get chills whenever the band plays the fight song. That we’ll always call NC State home.
Mark your calendars and join us Oct. 27 through Nov. 3 for Red and White Week, presented by Coca-Cola. Explore all the ways you can celebrate NC State, our Wolfpack community and the transformation that’s taken place under Chancellor Woodson’s leadership.
Join the Fun, All Week Long
We named our homecoming celebration Red and White Week because (as noted above) once you join the Wolfpack, you’re red and white for life.
The week is filled with events that remind us to treasure our connections to all the other members of our Pack — past, present and future. There’s something happening for everyone, so take a look and plan your week.
Students
Here are just some of the festivities taking place on campus that you almost certainly won’t want to miss. Gather your Wolfpack and get involved.
- All Week | Wear Red, Get Fed
Monday through Thursday, you can show up at Stafford Commons from 12 to 1 p.m. wearing your Wolfpack red and people will just hand you free food. Incredible.
- Monday, Oct. 28 | Red and White Week Kickoff
The party officially starts for students on Monday at 10 a.m. during our student kickoff event on Stafford Commons. This is your chance to pick up your official Red and White Week T-shirt.
- Tuesday, Oct. 29 | Wellness Fest
Take a break from celebrating NC State to celebrate taking care of you! At Wellness Fest, you can learn about campus wellness resources while playing carnival games, painting pumpkins and enjoying free food, free plants and quality time with therapy dogs.
- Wednesday, Oct. 30 | Pack Appreciation Day
You love NC State and this uplifting event is all about showing appreciation for the people and experiences that shape your time here. There are also yard games, swag and snacks to be enjoyed. Take part at Stafford Commons, the Corner or the College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Wednesday, Oct. 30 | Chancellor’s Fall Address
Chancellor Randy Woodson — the man, the myth, the legend — is retiring soon so don’t miss his final fall address in Talley Student Union. Join us at 1:30 p.m. to hear updates on life at NC State, try to snag a selfie with the man of the hour, and enjoy some free Howling Cow ice cream.
- Thursday, Oct. 31 | NC SYNC Lip Sync Contest
Head to Stafford Commons at 7 p.m. to watch performers from various student organizations take the stage with over-the-top routines to lip sync their favorite hits from the ’80s and ’90s. It’s sure to be an entertaining addition to your Halloween festivities.
- Friday, Nov. 1 | Tuffy Trivia
Showcase your Wolfpack pride and knowledge with a little friendly competition in the auditorium at Witherspoon Student Center starting at 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 2 | NC State vs. Stanford
We know we’ll see you at the game on Saturday. Go Pack!
Faculty and Staff
Stop by any of the events outlined above to soak up some NC State spirit. But if you’re looking to streamline, here are a few we think you’ll really enjoy (spoiler: Wednesday is a very big day).
- Oct. 30 | Wear Red Wednesday (the name says it all)
- Oct. 30 | Pack Appreciation Day
- Oct. 30 | Chancellor’s Fall Address
- Nov. 1 | Red and White Fest: An Employee Celebration
- Nov. 2 | The homecoming game, of course
Alumni
There are so many amazing events for alumni taking place during Red and White Week — both on campus and around the world — that we couldn’t possibly list them all. Be sure to connect with your Pack through lunches and brunches and college events while you’re here.
- If you’re passionate about Wolfpack sports, check out men’s soccer on Sunday, women’s basketball on Tuesday, the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, women’s volleyball on Friday, and of course Pack football on Saturday.
- Don’t miss Chancellor Woodson’s last fall address on Wednesday in Talley Student Union — or tune in to the livestream.
- There are tours of Woodson Hall on Wednesday and of the Memorial Belltower on Friday.
- Don’t miss the start of Moonlight in the Garden at JC Raulston Arboretum — the Friday night preview event is sold out, but you can still go Saturday for opening night.
- And if you can’t make it to Raleigh this year, be sure to check out your regional alumni network for events closer to your (current) home. You can also download the family party pack to plan your own Red and White Week festivities.
Show Your True Colors
There’s no time like the present to really lean into your red era (Wolfpack’s Version). If you’re a student, there’s even free food in it for you, since you can Wear Red, Get Fed Monday through Thursday on Stafford Commons.
For the rest of us, there are a few major moments that you’ll want to plan your wardrobe around:
- Wear Red Wednesday. Whether you’re on campus or halfway around the world, show off your NC State spirit by wearing red on Wednesday, Oct. 30. And don’t forget that we’d love to see you! Be sure to take a photo and tag @NCState on social media using #RedWhiteWeek. You might win a free T-shirt.
- Red and White Fest: An Employee Celebration. For faculty and staff attending our favorite party of the year, be sure to wear your red so you can celebrate with your colleagues in NC State style (and maybe get a selfie with one or more Wufs).
- The homecoming football game. I mean, do we need to explain this one?
Celebrate Transformation
Unless you’ve been living under a rock (a perfectly respectable choice), you’ve likely heard that our chancellor, Randy Woodson, is retiring. While we celebrate everything we love about NC State, we’re also celebrating all of the advancements made under Chancellor Woodson’s leadership.
For fans of the man of the hour, here are a few events you won’t want to miss:
- Chancellor’s Fall Address. It’s a bittersweet fall address this year, as Chancellor Woodson will share exciting updates on the “state of NC State” for the final time. Join us in Talley Student Union on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. for his annual reflections (and some Howling Cow ice cream), or stream the address online.
- Record your stories. Share your favorite memories and messages of support for Chancellor Woodson during several of our Red and White Week events. Students can record a story or message during Pack Appreciation Day on Wednesday. Faculty and staff can record theirs at Red and White Fest on Friday. Your stories may be featured on the Celebrating Transformation website (where you can also submit stories any time), or in an upcoming oral history project.
Cheer On the Pack
Yes, by all means, head to Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday to support Pack football as they take on Stanford. But cheering on your Wolfpack takes many shapes during Red and White Week.
Above all, Red and White Week is a chance to celebrate and reconnect with the people that NC State brought into your life — the communities you built here and the ones you took with you. Throughout the week, and all year long, be sure to show your #PackAppreciation for your Wolfpack, every chance you get.
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