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Footage of fireworks at First Night Carolina

Fomo No More 2026

Mark your calendars for these can’t-miss Carolina Welcome events

Posted on: August 12, 2026; Updated on: August 12, 2026
By Kayla Jeffers, kjeffers@email.sc.edu

Welcome to Carolina! We’ve been waiting for you.

As the home of the nation’s best first-year student experience among public universities, you better believe that we pull out all the stops when we welcome Gamecocks back to campus each fall. This year is no exception. From First Night Carolina to College Colors Day, get ready to Sandstorm with new friends, show off your Gamecock spirit and make the most of the Carolina Welcome Experience.

First Night Carolina 

📍    The Horseshoe and Greene Street
⏰     7 p.m.
📅     Monday, Aug. 17

Picture this: You’re on the Horseshoe Sandstorming for the first time as a student with 7,000 new friends at Cocky’s Call. Your next stop is Greene Street for a huge block party. The night ends with fireworks shot from the top of Russell House. Life is good.

Pro tip: Don’t party too hard! First Night Carolina always takes place the night before the first day of classes.

  • Students looking up watching fireworks
  • Group of students swing towels around and participating in sandstorm
  • Students looking at fireworks
  • Three girls holding up "Welcome Home" ralley towels

 

  • RecFlix N' Chill

    📍    Wellness and Fitness Center
    ⏰    7-10:30 p.m.
    📅    Tuesday, Aug. 18

    Enjoy a movie night in the pool with free snacks and treats at RecFlix ’N Chill. The Wellness and Fitness Center offers state-of-the-art amenities designed to meet your fitness needs, including a weight room, a cardio deck and even a 52' climbing wall.

  • 3 women in the pool on floaties
  • Marshmallow being roasted over a fire pit.
  • Men playing beach volleyball
  • two girls in gamecock shirts laying on pool loungers
  • Person getting a dino chicken nugget from a buffet.

AAAS cookout

📍     Greene Street   
⏰     5-8 p.m.   
📅     Friday, Aug. 21

Every fall, the Association of African American Students starts off the school year with a block party and cookout open to all students. This year’s theme is 1990s/2000s Throwback. Join AAAS to learn more about the oldest and largest multicultural student organization and celebrate a new school year with food, fun and music. Make sure to check their social media for yearly cookout themes.

  • Group of students showing the peace sign
  • A male line dancing on greene street
  • A large crowd of students dancing on Greene Street
  • Students line dancing on Greene Street
  • A man hoping on Greene Street
  • 3 girls holding the peace sign

  • Fountain and Columbia skyline at Finlay Park

  • New! Capital City Kickoff

    📍 Columbia Districts |   📅 Thursday, Aug. 27-29

    This citywide inaugural welcome celebration invites college students from across Columbia to rediscover and experience everything the city has to offer. The kickoff will spotlight Columbia’s unique districts — from vibrant arts and entertainment hubs to local shopping, dining and cultural hotspots. The festivities will culminate in an unforgettable finale event at Finlay Park, bringing everyone together for live music, entertainment and a high-energy celebration to welcome students back to Columbia for the 2026-27 academic year. Shuttles will be provided for USC students to and from each of the districts.

    Thursday, August 27
    Bull St. District | 5-9 p.m.
    Night at the Fireflies | 7 p.m.
    Night at the Fireflies kicks off Gamecock Entertainment's Thursday After Dark series.

    Friday, August 28
    Devine St. District | 1-5 p.m.
    Five Points District | 5-9 p.m.

    Saturday, August 29
    The Vista | 1-5 p.m.
    Finlay Park | 5-9 p.m.

  • Aerial view of tents and students on the Horseshoe by Maxy Monument

  • Student Org Fair

    📍     Horseshoe
    ⏰    11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. 
    📅     Wednesday, Sept. 2

    The No. 1 piece of advice we get from our alums to incoming Gamecocks is to get involved, and the student org fairs that take place throughout the semester are the best opportunity to find your fit. You can also search more than 600 student organizations on campus by logging into the Garnet Gate directory. There’s a student organization for everyone. Don’t bee-lieve us? Check out orgs like the Beekeeping Club, where you can get up close and personal with our honey-making friends.

    Garnet Gate

 

Football season kickoff 

📍  Greene Street   |   ⏰  Noon-2 p.m.  College Colors Day  |   📅  Friday, Sept. 4

Before the football season kicks off, tour the new and improved Williams-Brice Stadium from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3. Then, sport your garnet and black for a special College Colors Day event on Greene Street as you gear up for the first football game of the season. Lastly, don’t miss the first home game! Cheer on the Gamecocks as they take on Kent State at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5. 

Pro tip: Sign up for the Cockpit Rewards app to see which events help you earn reward points, track your points and complete the student ticketing process for all Gamecock sporting events.

  • 3 guys pointing at the camera and smiling at Williams Brice Stadium
  • Crowd of people sandstorming at Williams Brice Stadium
  • Football players running on the field
  • Crowd of student sandstorming

USC events

Whew. We’re really just scratching the surface in this roundup. To keep your calendar up to date with all of the best ways to make the most of your time on campus, bookmark the USC Calendar and follow Gamecock Entertainment and UofSCStudents.

While you’re bookmarking pages, don’t forget to save the Student Gateway, which includes links and resources that will help you throughout your time at USC.

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