Rutgers Day FAQs

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.

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.

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

You will be doing a lot of walking, so comfortable shoes are a must. Sunscreen is also recommended.

The health and safety of the Rutgers University community remains our top priority. We ensure that all in-person events are carried out in a manner that complies with CDC, New Jersey Department of Health, and Rutgers University guidelines. 

• Rutgers Day attendees will not be required to wear masks or show proof of vaccination. 
• Attendees will have the option to wear a mask on Rutgers Day buses; masks are not required.
• If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or have come in contact recently with anyone who has been infected with COVID-19, we kindly ask that you stay home.
• All travelers, foreign or domestic, must adhere to the U.S. Department of State Travel Restrictions.

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

The Rutgers Day bus loops runs continuously all day. You can catch a bus on each campus. Masks are optional when riding on the Rutgers Day buses.

Food vendors are located on each campus. You can also dine in the student dining halls for a special Rutgers Day price of $15 per person. To make a reservation for your group in advance, contact kbudrow@dining.rutgers.edu.

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.

The New Jersey Folk Festival is a Rutgers Day partner and is located on the lawn of the Eagleton Institute on the Douglass Campus.

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.

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.

Food vendors are located on each of the Rutgers Day campuses. The food vendor application period has closed.

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

We have five levels of sponsor participation in Rutgers Day 2023. Each level provides a variety of benefits to the sponsor on Rutgers Day. Please contact Patty Kastner at 848-445-1921 for more information.

Groups can dine in the student dining halls with advance reservations. 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.