Welcome Student Weekend brings Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) students together to learn about our downtown area

Welcome Student Weekend returns this year! *Rain or shine

Welcome Student Weekend returns this year, but this time, it will be ONE weekend with all three schools combined (Cornell University, Ithaca College and TC3)! The 2023 Welcome Weekend will take place on Saturday, September 9th, 2023 from noon-5pm.

Welcome Student Weekend is Downtown Ithaca’s way of sharing a bit about who we are with new and returning students, to help them feel welcome and comfortable in their home over the next few years.

Downtown has a lot to offer students in the way of shops, restaurants, services, art & culture, and entertainment for students to feel at home in their new town.

Welcome Student Weekend 2023 information below!


2023 Welcome Student Weekend Guide
Welcome CU Students logo
Welcome TC3 Students logo
Welcome IC Students logo

a Cornell student group performs on the Bernie Milton in front of a crowd of students

Welcome Student Weekend is an annual tradition in Downtown Ithaca, where we invite the three local schools (Cornell, Ithaca College and TC3) and all their new students to come and explore their new "home," for the next several years. This year, we are doing something special, and we are combining all THREE schools to come down on ONE day! This year's event will take place on Saturday, September 9th from noon-5pm on and around the Commons. *Please note: TC3 President- Amy Kremenek, Cornell Vice President for Student and Campus Life- Ryan Lombardi, and Ithaca College President- La Jerne Terry Cornish, will all be making special appearances at this year's event!

Welcome Student Weekend is a free, family-friendly event, and everyone is invited: new students, returning students, and the whole Ithaca community! Cornell and Ithaca College will offer many student performances throughout the day *schedule is in the guide above! The annual downtown "scavenger hunt" will take place again this year...this year's theme is "plants." Over 20 local downtown businesses will be participating, with a chance for ONE lucky student to win a Downtown Ithaca gift basket (info for this also available in guide above)! There will also be several other smaller prizes given out throughout the day. Also, The History Center in Tompkins County will be offering two different downtown tours, one at 1pm and another at 3pm. The tours are FREE and will take approximately 70 minutes each. To sign up, click one of the buttons below! *Hurry though, availability is limited.

TCAT will provide FREE transportation to students throughout the day (visit their website, here, for more information on their regularly scheduled routes). Passes for that will be distributed to students accordingly, once we get closer to event day. Additional transportation will be provided by OurBus, and a schedule and list of pick up/drop off locations for each school will be provided to students as we get closer to event day.

Some donuts will be provided by Cornell, and a complete guide and map of the event will be distributed day of. Any questions/comments or concerns, please email hannah@downtownithaca.com.

Click Here to Register for the 1pm "History of Ithaca Commons" Tour

Click Here to Register for the 3pm "Prohibition and Speakeasies" Tour