Rutgers Day: Frequently Asked Questions

Taking place on the last Saturday in April (rain or shine), Rutgers Day is a free, annual event open to the public and your chance to get a glimpse of exciting things happening at New Jersey’s state university. With free performances, exhibits, hands-on activities, and demonstrations, Rutgers Day will engage and inform you about the valuable contributions the university makes to the people of New Jersey and beyond.

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Everyone is invited. Bring your family and friends. This is also a great field trip for school groups. There will be interesting, informative, and entertaining activities for parents and children, teens, current and prospective students, faculty and staff, alumni, and the public. Registration is not required.

Beginning in early April, you can browse programs on this website by area of interest or location. Most programs run continuously from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but some have specific times listed.

On the Busch Campus in Piscataway and the College Avenue and Cook/Douglass campuses in New Brunswick.

The Rutgers Day bus loops run continuously all day. You can catch a bus on each campus. Dogs are not permitted on Rutgers buses, except for official guide dogs. Rutgers buses are handicap accessible.

Food vendors are located on each campus. You can also dine in the student dining halls for a special Rutgers Day price. No reservation is required for individuals or small groups.

There are entertainment stages, called the Big R Stage, located on each campus that offer a variety of performances from talented faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Cows, and pigs, and horses, oh my! You can see all of our farm animals on the Cook Campus. The animal barns are located on College Farm Road.

You can learn all about engineering, life sciences, chemistry, and medical science on the Busch Campus. Visit the "Health Village," where you can get health and wellness information.

You will be doing a lot of walking, so comfortable shoes are a must. Sunscreen is also recommended. If rain is in the forecast, bring umbrellas or rain gear.

You can bring your dog on a leash to the Cook Campus only. Dogs are not permitted on Rutgers buses, except for official guide dogs.

If you have found something you would like to turn in, or you lost something, look for a staff member in a Rutgers Day T-shirt.

Rutgers Day strives to be a welcoming event to all. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations or who have questions about physical access may contact Patricia Kastner at 848-445-1921 in advance of the event.

All Rutgers Day parking lots have accessible parking. Rutgers buses are handicap accessible.

Rutgers University is proud to be an Aira Access Partner, providing free visual interpreting services throughout the Rutgers–New Brunswick campuses. Any student, staff, faculty, or visitor can use Aira for free on a smartphone simply by downloading the Aira app and connecting with an agent. Learn more about Aira on the Office of Disability Services website.

Large groups of 10 or more can dine in the student dining halls with advance reservations for a special Rutgers Day price of $15 per person for all you care to eat. Contact Ken Budrow, kbudrow@dining.rutgers.edu, for more information.

Bus parking is available in the Yellow Lot on the Livingston Campus. Groups can be dropped off at the Busch Student Center before parking and use the Rutgers Day bus loop to travel between campuses.

We offer several levels of sponsor participation each year, with a variety of benefits to the sponsor on Rutgers Day. Please contact Patricia Kastner at 848-445-1921 for more information.

Food vendors are located on each of the Rutgers Day campuses. Food vendor applications for Rutgers Day 2025 will be accepted until February 17, 2025. 

Unfortunately, merchandise and craft vendors are not permitted to participate in Rutgers Day.