When I first got to WashU, I had no idea what events to go to. I spent most of my college application research on factors like academics, the No. 1 ranked dorms, and the weather. Beyond iconic events like WILD, I hadn’t done much research on all the cool things that happen on campus.

Since coming to WashU, some of my most memorable nights have been in McDonnell 162, Risa Commons, the DUC, and more random classrooms and buildings on campus. Although these buildings house academics or serve as study spaces during the school day, they often transform into performance venues for student groups to showcase their talents on evenings and weekends. From comedy and improv to live music, a capella, or dance, WashU has endless entertainment options to offer. Below are some opportunities to see your peers perform.

Cultural Events

One of the first things people highlighted about WashU was the variety of cultural performances and events that happened throughout the year. There are four main performances that happen during the year: Diwali in the fall, and Black Anthology, Lunar New Year Festival (LNYF), and Carnaval in the spring. All of these events present music, dance, and culture on the Edison Theatre stage, and are well attended by the entire student body and the WashU community. Make sure to get tickets early, because they will sell out. Additionally, the Asian American Association (AAA) hosts a yearly Night Market with food and performances. Asian Multicultural Organization hosts an annual “Taste of Asia” event that takes students to Asian enclaves plus an annual food truck event on Umrath Lawn in the spring. To learn more about some of these events, check out Tanvi’s article on Page 26.

Improv and sketch comedy 

WashU’s three improv groups cover all different kinds of improvisational comedy, ranging from short-form sketches (K.A.R.L.) to long-form sketches (SPISH), or a mix of both (Mama’s Pot Roast). For SNL- style sketch comedy, check out the semesterly show from Kids on Campus (KOC). These performances typically happen in McDonnell 162 or the Village Black Box a few times throughout the semester. Improv shows on campus are highly anticipated: Lines for the show start sometimes over an hour before performances begin, so arrive early. 

Theater

WashU is home to a variety of fantastic theater performances from its three different theater groups and the Performing Arts Department (PAD). Firstly, PAD is home to dance and drama students, who put on 3 shows throughout the year in Edison Theatre. Cast n’ Crew is a traditional student theater group that operates out of the Village Black Box and puts on three shows a year: two plays in the fall and winter and a musical in the spring. All Student Theatre is a technical theater group that puts on an immersive, haunted house-style show in the fall and a musical on the Brookings Quad in the spring. Finally, Thyrsus, founded in 1895, is the oldest student group on campus. The experimental theater group performs a 24-hour Day Of Shame playwriting and performance festival. There are endless opportunities for theater on campus, through performing, tech, music, design, and more. 

Music

Our campus boasts an incredible music scene, with 13 different a capella groups, a local college radio station, and student bands. Each a capella group has a different niche, ranging from Disney music to Broadway songs, jazz, pop, and more, with some competitive groups and some performance groups. KWUR, WashU’s underground radio station, broadcasts the shows of roughly 80 student DJs every week. Near the start of each semester, the group hosts a “KWUR Week” full of performances, featuring students and local and national headliners. Any student can start a radio show, and live events typically take place at local homes or at venues near campus, like the Duck Room at Blueberry Hill.

Dance

WashU Dance Collective puts on an annual show at Edison Theatre in the Spring. WashU Hip Hop Union (WUHHU) is WashU’s premier hip hop dance team and puts on a semesterly showcase that often fills up Tisch Commons or Edison Theatre. WU Sauce is WashU’s performance salsa dance team and WU Fuego is WashU’s performance latin dance team. Both host social dances throughout the year as well as semesterly performances. WU Cypher is a freestyle dance group that hosts competitions and performances throughout the year. Additionally, there are opportunities for different cultural dances in Diwali, LNYF, and Carnaval. Some groups from these cultural shows even perform or compete throughout the year.

Sports

Although we’re not a Division I sports school, athletics are still a part of the WashU experience. Our teams are highly successful and recently won the Learfield Directors’ Cup, which recognizes the best all-sports program in D-III. During the 2025-26 school year, WashU clinched national championship victories in women’s indoor track and field and women’s soccer. Attending games is a fun and free way to support your peers. Rep your red and green, and go Bears!

Speaker and artist events

Every semester, affinity groups, clubs, the Social Programming Board, the Kemper Art Museum, the 560 Music Center, and more organizations put on various speaker talks, exhibitions, and performances. Many times they feature famous writers, actors, comedians, or activists. Last year, I had the opportunity to hear author Ocean Vuong, comedian Caleb Hearon, and philosopher Judith Butler speak on campus. Events often are posted on WashU Campus Life, Student Union, or Social Programming Board’s Instagrams. 

WashU activities

S40 food trucks. Every Thursday, the South 40 transforms into food truck heaven, with two or three new local food trucks stationed near the Clock Tower. It’s an excellent way to learn about St. Louis restaurants nearby, and, as a bonus, they take meal points.

Well-being Wednesday. Every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mudd Field, Student Affairs puts on Well-being Wednesdays, a series of outdoor activities, food, and experiences designed to support students. Wednesdays often feature a farmers’ market or local farmstands, WashU comfort dogs Bear and Brookie, or a food truck.

Dr. G’s Fun House. Two to three times per year, Vice Chancellor Anna Gonzalez hosts Dr. G’s Fun House, a series of activities, games, and food on Mudd Field or outside the DUC. In the winter, there is often an ice skating rink.

DUC n’ Donuts. On the first Friday of the month, Campus Life hosts a DUC n’ Donuts for students, handing out free donuts and rubber ducks for all who pass by. It’s a great pick-me-up if you have an early morning Friday class, and building a duck collection is an honorable WashU tradition.

Miscellaneous

There are so many other student-run activities that I can’t even begin to name here! I’ve gone to JuggleFest with the WashU Juggling Club and slam poetry with WUSlam, and I’ve heard countless hours of advice from seniors at KTalks, a quarterly storytelling event put on by students. The point is, there is so much offered at WashU, you just need to know where to look. Instagram is a really good resource, but also remember to look around campus. Posters are everywhere, clubs advertise in the underpass, and people love to talk about events they are hosting. 

This article is just a short list of the countless activities that happen on campus every single day. Don’t worry if it takes a while to find your “thing” — everyone is different! With so many options, you’re bound to find something you love.