New and returning students will be welcomed back to West Virginia University next week with dozens of activities, headlined by the return of FallFest.

The university’s annual free concert for students will return this year for the first time since 2019, according to a news release from WVU. The concert caps the university’s Welcome Week that is full of activities designed to immerse students into campus life and culture.

Some of the key activities begin Saturday, Aug. 13, with a pool party at the rec center from 4 to 9 p.m., along with a cookout from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Mountainlair and rec center for students with dining plans.

Two student organization fairs – one from noon to 3 p.m. at the Mountainlair Plaza and the other from 6 to 7 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum – will be held on Sunday, Aug. 14, followed by Mountaineer MovieFest at the Coliseum from 7 to 9 p.m.

“Monday Night Lights” will be held at Milan Puskar Stadium on Aug. 15 for first-year students only. The event will feature a performance from the WVU Marching Band and the taking of the official class photo, the news release said. Students will also be participating in a service project to benefit the West Virginia United Way Collaborative.

FallFest and Mountaineer Midway is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 16 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Evansdale Rec Fields. A lineup for the concert, which has been canceled the previous two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to be announced Friday, Aug.12.

For a full look at the schedule of events, click here.

Students are set to begin arriving at residence halls on Thursday, Aug. 11, and will continue throughout the weekend. The first day of the fall semester is Wednesday, Aug. 17.