New and returning Bruins are gearing up for another academic year, but before they hit the books they’ll be having some fun. This year’s True Bruin Welcome, which runs Sept. 15–29, features dozens of events, including festivals, concerts, film screenings, receptions, networking events, social activities and tours.

This year, UCLA will welcome 6,400 freshman and 3,300 transfer students to campus. The fall quarter starts Sept. 19 and classes begin Sept. 22.

True Bruin Welcome begins with hundreds of student volunteers lined up and ready to help their fellow Bruins move into on-campus housing beginning Thursday, Sept. 15 and ending Sept. 17. Roughly 12,800 students will be living on The Hill, UCLA’s on-campus residential community, during the 2016–17 school year.

Students will get a taste of what it means to be a Bruin on Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Welcome to Bruin Life Show, where UCLA Chancellor Gene Block will formally welcome them to UCLA. The event, which will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion, also features spoken word, dance, music and theater.

Monday, Sept. 19 marks UCLA’s eighth annual Volunteer Day. This UCLA rite of passage involves close to 7,000 new students fanning out across the city to perform community service at 50 locations between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Once their work is done, students are invited to ServeFest, an opportunity for civic-minded Bruins to learn more about all the ways they can get involved with student-run service organizations and their work in the community.

The much-anticipated Bruin Bash, also happens Monday with a festival from noon to 5 p.m. on the Intramural Field and a concert from 8 to 10 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion. Rapper Ty Dolla $ign will headline the show, along with Norwegian DJ Matoma and an unannounced act. In addition, a free film screening will be held in the Ackerman Grand Ballroom from 8 to 10 p.m.

On Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Enormous Activities Fair will bring together many of the more than 1,000 registered campus organizations at UCLA, along with club sports, Greek life and student service groups to share information, offer demonstrations and attract new members. Representatives from these groups and organizations will be at Royce Quad, Schoenberg Quad and Perloff Quad from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This year’s Common Book, “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, will be the focus of two events on Wednesday, Sept. 21. A discussion for students living in residence halls will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on The Hill. This will be followed by a panel discussion featuring UCLA students and alumni from 7 to 10 p.m. in the De Neve Auditorium.

Other events include:

  • Saturday, Sept. 17: Football viewing party. Watch the UCLA Bruins take on the BYU Cougars in the Covel Grand Horizon Room beginning at 6 p.m.
  • Monday, Sept. 19: Graduate Student Networking Night in De Neve Plaza Room from 5 to 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 21: Academic Advancement Program Awareness Day Fair in Dickson Court North from noon to 2 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 21: Non-Trad Transitions in the Student Activities Center, basement conference rooms, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Sept. 22: New Bruin Mixer at De Neve Plaza Room from 7 to 9 p.m.
  • Sunday Sept. 25: UCLA Welcome Carnival at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center from 2 to 5 p.m.
  • Tuesday Sept. 27: First Generation Welcome Soiree at Covel Commons Grand Horizon Ballroom and Terrace from 5 to 7 p.m.