In Spite of Some Drizzle, Tens of Thousands Enjoy Rutgers Day
Crowds of visitors headed to Rutgers-New Brunswick campuses for hundreds of programs and activities, including a football scrimmage
A bit of drizzle couldn’t dampen scarlet spirit on Saturday as an estimated 30,000 people gathered in student centers, school buildings, gyms and barns to celebrate Rutgers Day.
The popular rain-or-shine event, which began at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in 2009, was held on Busch campus in Piscataway, N.J., and the College Avenue and Cook/Douglass campuses in New Brunswick, N.J. Many activities were moved indoors because of the forecasted thunderstorms.
“Even the gray skies couldn’t dim the energy,” said Patricia Kastner, associate director of strategic events and programs for Rutgers Communications and Marketing. “Seeing so many people come out to Rutgers proves that spirit always shines brighter than the weather.”
Attendees engaged in hundreds of programs, demonstrations and activities, including crafts, games, trivia and music performances on the College Avenue campus; children-friendly science experiments on Busch campus; and farm and agricultural activities at the Cook/Douglass location.
“The excitement simply moved indoors, where the energy remained electric,” said Melissa Selesky, senior director of strategic events and programs for Rutgers Communications and Marketing. “Thanks to our incredible program providers from across the university, attendees enjoyed a full day of engagement, discovery, and unforgettable experiences.”
At the College Avenue Student Center live performances ranging from Bachata dancers to student rock bands entertained crowds of people.
Outside the center, adults and children alike scrawled messages and doodles on chalkboard Rs in the R Garden. Among them was Betsybell Sanchez, a business school student who took part in the Bachata dance performance before enjoying the festivities and making her mark on a chalkboard R.
“You get to learn about literally so much that you don't normally get to see every day,” Sanchez said. “That makes me really thankful. It takes a village to raise a child, and so I'm very thankful that everyone has an opportunity to see where their village is, where they can find community and where they can get involved.”
Visitors filled the College Avenue Gymnasium to stop by tables staffed with students and faculty touting their schools, departments or college-related programs.
At the nearby Zimmerli Art Museum, student interns provided tours of exhibitions and children participated in a printmaking activity led by an art instructor.
At Busch campus, people visited the Health Village – a space focused on Rutgers Health programs and other science- and medical-related initiatives. In addition to free blood pressure and other screenings, attendees could learn more about the university’s research and health and wellness resources. Students and faculty highlighted engineering programs in the Richard Weeks Hall of Engineering.
Rutgers Day 2025 also featured the annual Scarlet-White Game, a preseason scrimmage between members of the Rutgers football team, at SHI Stadium in Piscataway. Team Scarlet claimed a 14-13 victory.
The Cook/Douglass location also is home to Ag Field Day, which highlighted the university’s environmental and agriculture-related programs and featured student exhibitions of farm animals, arts and crafts, plant and flower sales, student club activities and a petting zoo.
Visitors also could meet puppies training to become guide dogs and watch them demonstrate their skills in the ring. The event was presented by the Rutgers University Seeing Eye Puppy Raising Club, which raises puppies for The Seeing Eye Inc., a Morristown, N.J.-based national nonprofit group.
Scarlet Spirit Shines Through on Rutgers Day
