May 4, 2026
Contact: Janese Heavin, heavinj@missouri.edu
Photo by Mizzou Visual Productions
You made it through the semester, Tigers, and now there’s a new way to mark the end of the academic year.
Celebrate Your Semester, a day-long line-up of events, is set for Friday, May 8, and will offer a mix of outdoor activities, entertainment and food across campus.
The initiative, debuting this year, is designed to give you a break between the last day of classes and the start of finals. Mizzou traditionally holds no classes on the Friday before finals week, creating space for both studying and downtime.
“This is about giving students a chance to exhale before finals,” said Jake Tatta, assistant director for fitness and wellness at MizzouRec and co-chair of the Reading Day Committee, which planned the activities. “We wanted to create something that feels energizing and low-pressure as a way to wrap up the semester on a positive note.”
Events will run throughout the day with food trucks offering a range of options. Participate in activities to receive vouchers redeemable for free food, including popular comfort foods and sweet treats.
The day begins at 10 a.m. on Stankowski Field with a 5K Bubble Run. Run or walk a campus route at your own pace, ending in a festival-style finish line where music, bubbles and a food truck await.
Programming continues in the afternoon with the National Pan-Hellenic Council Yard Show featuring performances from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Virginia Avenue Amphitheater.
The event series wraps up with a silent disco from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Reynolds Alumni Center. Headphones will be available, along with several playlists so you can find your vibe and dance alongside friends.
Co-coordinator Megan Jones, associate director of the Wellness Resource Center, said the event reflects a broader push to support student well-being as the semester wraps up.
“Our Celebrate Your Semester events are a great opportunity for students to commemorate the end of the semester as a community, have fun with their friends and relieve stress ahead of finals,” she said. “There are opportunities to get outside, to get moving or get a bite to eat, as well as to take much-deserved brain breaks.”
Organizers hope the end-of-year event becomes a recurring campus tradition.
