GrizzFest, Oakland University’s annual volunteer, community, business and involvement fair, is considered one of the greatest ways to get involved on campus. And it’s almost here.

According to the Office of Student Involvement, Grizzfest will have “over 200+ tables with information on how to get involved on campus or around the community.”

Student organizations, such as sororities, fraternities, academic and social clubs, as well as political and religious groups, will have booths with information on how to get involved.

GrizzFest will be held from 11 a.m – 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept 6 in the plaza outside of Kresge Library, Dodge Hall and Hannah Hall.  In case of inclement weather, there is a makeup day scheduled for Monday, Sept 10 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the same location outside of Kresge Library.

Along with student orgs, businesses in the community will be on campus handing out coupons, samples, and information to students. For those interested in volunteering, organizations and agencies will be there to connect students with those opportunities.

“If you want to get involved on campus, this is the place to check out organizations,” Jennifer Yetter, graduate assistant for Student Organizations at the OSI said. “If you want to volunteer, there will be a lot of volunteer agencies, and then there will be a lot of businesses promoting themselves. It’s a really fun event to figure out what you want to do on campus.”

Clubs and organizations stand to gain a lot by setting up a booth at Grizzfest, as Adam Delbeke of Grizzlies Racing has seen.

“We have gained multiple valuable members through Grizzfest and other events that Oakland hosts,” he said. “Grizzfest makes it easy enough for us to reach out to the student body and promote our student org.”

According to Delbeke, student orgs will typically set up a booth, make and pass out fliers, and have org members at the booth to answer any questions and recruit passing students. Catching the attention of students is important at the fair, and Grizzlies Racing even brings their FSAE car out to do so.

There will be free food provided by Lipuma’s, as well as a free ice cream cart, both being first come, first served.

At OU, events like GrizzFest allow students to explore and cultivate who they are, while pursuing new opportunities and relationships.

GrizzFest is one of many Welcome Week events being put on by the OSI. Other events are a meet and greet with the OSI in South Foundation Hall “fishbowl” from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. on Sept 6, “The Walk” from Hamlin Circle to Meadow Brook Hall with the Fraternity and Sorority Life Student Org starting at 9:30 p.m. on the same day, and a Welcome Event in part with the Residence Halls Association that features comedian T Murph and an indoor “Glow-in-the-Dark” roller rink at the Oakland Center banquet rooms from 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept 8 to midnight.

Students interested in going to GrizzFest, “The Walk” or any other Welcome Week events can RSVP on the OSI GrizzOrgs page. Any questions regarding the event can be sent to the OSI at [email protected].