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Events

Events Calendar: Fall 2026

Everything public on campus from Monday, October 12 through December commencement on Saturday, December 19, 2026, month by month: Millrace Week, concerts and shows, home games, lectures, Preview Days, deadlines and the holiday concerts.

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How to use this calendar

This page covers the rest of the fall term in one place, starting with Millrace Week (October 11–17) and ending with December commencement. Each linked event has its own page with a schedule, directions, access information and a contact. Rows linking to the arts season, the fall athletics schedule or the alumni calendar go to those pages of record. If a time on this page disagrees with one of them, the page of record wins, and we would like to hear about it.

Three dates shape everything else. Fall break is Thursday–Friday, October 15–16, in the middle of Millrace Week. Classes do not meet, but offices stay open. Thanksgiving recess is November 25–29. Classes end Friday, December 11, and finals run December 14–18. The full dates are on the academic calendar, and weekly opening hours are on campus hours.

  • Add anything to your calendar from MyPorter. Every listing has an “Add to my calendar” button that syncs to your phone.
  • Students get into nearly every arts and athletics event free with a Porter Card.
  • Visitors park free in the general lots on evenings and weekends. See visitor parking.

October 12–31

Millrace Week, fall break, the Forge Bowl, the fall play, Family Weekend and the first Preview Day all land in the same three weeks.

DateEventWhere and whenCostType
Mon., Oct. 12Millrace Week residence hall banner judgingThe quad, 4 p.m.FreeTradition
Tue., Oct. 13Millrace Week trivia nightFounders Union ballroom, 7 p.m.FreeStudent life
Tue., Oct. 13Volleyball vs. Tamarack State (Millrace Week)Ironclad Fieldhouse, 7 p.m.Students freeAthletics
Wed., Oct. 14Cardboard boat regattaForge Recreation Center pool, 6 p.m.Free; teams registerStudent life
Wed., Oct. 14Soccer doubleheader vs. Northern Wesconsin TechMillwright Stadium; women 4 p.m., men 7 p.m.Students freeAthletics
Thu., Oct. 15Foundry pourFounders Hall high bay; doors 6 p.m., pour about 6:30FreeTradition
Thu., Oct. 15–Oct. 25The Supper ClubThorsen Theatre; Thu–Sat 7:30 p.m., Sun 2 p.m.$12; Porter students freeArts
Thu., Oct. 15Financial Aid Workshop: Reading Your Award LetterFounders UnionFreeWorkshop
Fri., Oct. 16Ring of Iron and pep rallyFounders Hall at dusk (about 6:15 p.m.); Ironclad Fieldhouse, 8 p.m.FreeTradition
Fri., Oct. 16Distinguished Alumni Awards dinnerFounders Union ballroom, 6:45 p.m.$45Alumni
Sat., Oct. 17Alumni 5K on the Riverfront TrailFrom Millwright Stadium, 8 a.m.$25Alumni
Sat., Oct. 17Homecoming paradeFounders Drive, 10:30 a.m.FreeTradition
Sat., Oct. 17Forge Bowl vs. Chippewa Valley StateMillwright Stadium, 1 p.m.Students freeAthletics
Sat., Oct. 17Fireworks over the quadThe quad, 7:30 p.m.FreeTradition
Sat., Oct. 17Last day of Fence Line, photographs by Karin HauglandFurlong GalleryFreeArts
Sun., Oct. 18Soccer vs. Chippewa Valley StateMillwright Stadium; women 1 p.m., men 3:30 p.m.Students free; public $8Athletics
Sun., Oct. 18Cybersecurity Capture the FlagJarvis Technology CenterTeams of four; registerAcademic
Mon., Oct. 19Spring 2027 schedule of classes postsMyPorter—Academic deadline
Tue., Oct. 20Flu shot clinicHalvorsen Library, Level 1, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.Free with Porter CardWellness
Thu., Oct. 22Alumni webinar: asking for a raiseOnline, noon–12:45 p.m.Free; registerAlumni
Fri., Oct. 23Family Weekend (through Oct. 24)Across campusRegisterStudent life
Sat., Oct. 24Preview Day, October 24Welcome Center and across campus, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.Free; registerAdmissions
Tue., Oct. 27Mock interview nightCommerce Hall, second floor, 5–8 p.m.Free; book a slotCareer
Wed., Oct. 28Volleyball Senior NightIronclad Fieldhouse, 7 p.m.Students free; public $8Athletics
Wed., Oct. 28Graduate & Professional School FairCommerce HallFreeCareer
Thu., Oct. 29Load Bearing openingFurlong Gallery, 5–7 p.m.FreeArts
Thu., Oct. 29Lake City chapter: hospital-district happy hourThe Switchyard, Lake City, 5:30 p.m.Pay your ownAlumni
Sat., Oct. 31Hall trick-or-treatMillrace Hall and Riverside Hall, 4–6 p.m.FreeCommunity

November

Registration, International Education Week, Veterans Day, the second Preview Day and the busiest month of the concert season. Thanksgiving recess begins Wednesday, November 25.

DateEventWhere and whenCostType
Sun., Nov. 1Election Information & Voter ResourcesFounders UnionFree; nonpartisanCommunity
Mon., Nov. 2Spring registration opensMyPorter, from 7 a.m.—Academic deadline
Tue., Nov. 3WCAC soccer quarterfinals, women and menHigher seed hostsTBAAthletics
Thu., Nov. 5WCAC volleyball tournament (through Nov. 7)Top seed hostsTBAAthletics
Fri., Nov. 6Ironclad Robotics InvitationalFounders HallFreeAcademic
Sat., Nov. 7Football Senior DayMillwright Stadium, noonStudents free; public $8Athletics
Sat., Nov. 7Fall Jazz NightFounders Ballroom, 7:30 p.m.$8; Porter students freeArts
Sat., Nov. 7Commencement regalia order deadlineCampus store—Academic deadline
Mon., Nov. 9–Nov. 13International Education WeekFounders Union, The Forge and Halvorsen LibraryFree; International Night ticketedInternational
Mon., Nov. 9Winter drama auditions (through Nov. 10; callbacks Nov. 12)The Black Box, 6:30 p.m.FreeArts
Tue., Nov. 10Winter Carnival planning meetingFounders Union 204, 7 p.m.FreeStudent life
Wed., Nov. 11Veterans Day ceremonyMemorial Plaza, 11 a.m.FreeCommunity
Thu., Nov. 12Load Bearing gallery talkFurlong Gallery, 4:30 p.m.FreeArts
Fri., Nov. 13International NightFounders Union BallroomStudents $6; public $10Student life
Sat., Nov. 14Preview Day, November 14Welcome Center and across campus, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.Free; registerAdmissions
Sat., Nov. 14STEM Saturday: circuitsJarvis Technology Center 120, from 9 a.m.$12 per child; free on requestCommunity
Sun., Nov. 15Chamber Music Recital IFurlong Gallery, 2 p.m.FreeArts
Tue., Nov. 17Distinguished Lecture: Old Dams, New WaterHalvorsen Library auditorium, 7 p.m.FreeLecture
Tue., Nov. 17–Nov. 18Campus blood driveFounders Union ballroom, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.FreeWellness
Wed., Nov. 18Town–Gown Council meetingCity Hall Council Chambers, Main Street, 4:30 p.m.Free; publicCommunity
Thu., Nov. 19Lantern Brass QuintetThorsen Theatre, 7:30 p.m.$12; Porter students freeArts
Thu., Nov. 19Alumni webinar: From engineer to managerOnline, noonFreeAlumni
Sat., Nov. 21Thanksgiving Community MealFounders CommonsMeal plan or $9Community
Wed., Nov. 25Thanksgiving recess begins (through Nov. 29; offices closed Nov. 26–27)No classes—Break
Mon., Nov. 30Exam conflict deadlineMyPorter; Registrar, Founders Union 105, until 4:30 p.m.—Academic deadline
Mon., Nov. 30Spring musical auditions (through Dec. 2; callbacks Dec. 4)Thorsen Theatre, 6 p.m.FreeArts

December 1–19

Holiday concerts, the last week of classes, finals and commencement. Campus closes for winter December 24 through January 1, and Winter Term begins January 4.

DateEventWhere and whenCostType
Tue., Dec. 1Undergraduate Research Poster SessionHalvorsen LibraryFreeAcademic
Tue., Dec. 1First-round merit scholarship date for 2027 applicantsAdmissions—Admissions deadline
Thu., Dec. 3Winter wellness workshopFounders Union Great Room, 4–5 p.m.FreeWellness
Thu., Dec. 3Lake City chapter holiday socialEllery House, Lake City, 5:30 p.m.$20Alumni
Fri., Dec. 4Foundry Friday ornament buildThe Foundry, Founders Union, 1–5 p.m.FreeStudent life
Fri., Dec. 4Last day of Load Bearing, the faculty exhibitionFurlong GalleryFreeArts
Fri., Dec. 4Commencement name cards and access requests dueMyPorter—Academic deadline
Sat., Dec. 5Winter Choral ConcertHeritage Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.$8; students freeArts
Sun., Dec. 6Wind Symphony Winter ConcertHeritage Auditorium, 3 p.m.$8; Porter students freeArts
Wed., Dec. 9De-Stress FestFounders UnionFreeWellness
Thu., Dec. 10The Cities chapter holiday socialDowntown event room, 6 p.m.$20Alumni
Fri., Dec. 11Last day of classes; last Foundry Friday of the term——Academic
Sat., Dec. 12B.F.A. Senior Exhibition openingFurlong Gallery, 5–7 p.m.FreeArts
Sat., Dec. 12STEM Saturday: The Drop TestFounders Hall 146, from 9 a.m.$12; free on requestCommunity
Sun., Dec. 13Community Band Holiday ConcertHeritage Auditorium, 3 p.m.Free; food pantry donations welcomeCommunity
Sun., Dec. 13Chamber Singers at the libraryPorter Falls Public Library, 2 p.m.FreeArts
Mon., Dec. 14Final examinations (through Dec. 18)Usual classrooms; common exams as posted—Academic
Sat., Dec. 19December commencementIronclad Fieldhouse, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.Free; no ticketsAcademic

Submitting an event and getting updates

Departments, offices and registered student organizations add events through the MyPorter event form. A listing appears within two business days after University Events checks the room booking. Student organizations should read student organization registration first. Events open to the public need a contact name and an accessibility line, and the form will not submit without them.

Weather changes are posted on campus status by 6 a.m. for daytime events and by 3 p.m. for evening events. The spring 2027 calendar, from Winter Term through May commencement, will be posted here in early December. Until then, the year-at-a-glance list on Events has the spring highlights.

Fictional information

UW–Porter Falls is a work of parody. Every event, date, venue, price and person on this calendar is invented for a fictional university; nothing here announces a real event, and none of it can be attended.