Every October, the Rhode Island College Alumni Association hosts RICFEST Homecoming & Family Weekend, a signature weekend of events and activities that brings together alumni and the campus community in celebration of college spirit. Due to the COVID-19 global health pandemic, we had to re-invent and re-imagine the three-day event to adhere to new health and safety restrictions.
Instead of a single weekend, this year’s celebration included both online and socially distanced drive-in and drive-through events throughout the month of October. Some of our favorite annual homecoming events, including the Golden Anniversary Class Reunion, RIC Beehive experience, Bannister Gallery exhibit, and the Alumni Author & Artisan Marketplace, all went virtual. We also implemented brand new events, including “Carpool Cinema” drive-in movie nights, Drive-Thru Trick or Treat on campus, an online family Bingo game and, perhaps most exciting, “Park, Look and Listen,” an outdoor performing arts experience featuring students from our Music, Theatre and Dance Department that kicked-off RICFEST.
Rhode Island College alumni, students, parents, faculty, and staff were invited to join us in celebrating #RICSpirit, and enjoy our many fun and creative online and on-campus events and activities, while abiding by health and safety protocols. The on-campus socially distanced and contactless events that we offered also supported the RI Governor's new “Take It Outside Initiative,” that encourages businesses and organizations to move activities outside that would normally be held inside.
