Saving money doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your social life. From free talks to study sessions and ways to unwind, take advantage of free events and activities on campus this month.

Welcome Wednesday

  Wednesday, Dec. 4   11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Koenig Alumni Center
Enjoy a free lunch provided by The Herd on the first Wednesday of every month. This month’s Welcome Wednesday will feature free food from Pop's Chicken on the Hill. Don't forget, you must have your CU Herd app ready to be scanned in order to get your free lunch and Herd swag.

Pizza & Perspectives: South East Asia

  Wednesday, Dec. 4   11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  UMC 247
This monthly lunchtime gathering features a panel of students from a specific region and, of course, free pizza. Hear different international student perspectives on culture, life here in the U.S. and life back home. Plus, get a chance to ask your own questions.

Wellness Wednesdays: Meditation and Gratitude

   Wednesday, Dec. 4   2–4 p.m.  Wardenburg, third floor solarium
Looking to de-stress before finals? Join for a drop-in meditation and movement class. You can also write a letter of gratitude to a loved one, and it will be mailed for you! Stop by Dec. 11 to make a stress ball, get a cup of tea and pick up some cold-care supplies.

CU Housing Fair

  Wednesday, Dec. 4   4–7 p.m.  Village Center
Looking for housing for next semester or next year? The CU Housing Fair is a great way to explore local housing options from multiple landlords, property managers and vendors. Get information to help inform your housing search—whether it be for now, next semester or next year. 

Video game tournament: Halo 5

   Wednesday, Dec. 4   7 p.m.  UMC 415
Are you a gamer? Want bragging rights? Here’s your chance! Join the Halo 5 video game tournament. Sign-up starts at 6 p.m. Free to enter. Tournament formats are double-elimination and/or round-robin. This tournament is played on the Xbox One.

Karaoke night

   Thursday, Dec. 5   7 p.m.  UMC 457
Are you tired of singing in the shower and want a chance to hit the stage? Well then come to karaoke night and get the full rock-star experience.

Science and Society talk: “Art, A Matter of Mind”

   Thursday, Dec. 5   7–8 p.m.  Fiske Planetarium
The average time Americans spend looking at a work is less than half a minute. How, in our culture of increasing distraction, might we truly connect with the beauty around us? What does that connection mean to how we connect with others? What do we lose by collapsing our multidimensional world into a tiny, flickering, 2D image? Join Flux, a CU Boulder graduate student, as he explores these questions and more.

Dog Basketball, Dry Ice double album release

  Thursday, Dec. 5   7–9 p.m.  Old Main
Club 156 is proud to present Dog Basketball and Dry Ice for a night of killer local music at this double album release show.

Program Council Film Series: Hustlers

  Thursday, Dec. 5   8–10 p.m.  Chem 140
Join Program Council for a free screening of the film Hustlers, about a woman, Destiny, who works as a stripper to make ends meet. However, her life changes forever when she becomes friends with Ramona—the club's top money earner.

Feel Good Fridays

  Friday, Dec. 6   12:15–12:45 p.m.  CU Art Museum
This drop-in workshop is an opportunity to be led through a powerful guided meditation to undo stress, soothe the nervous system and feel better. Participants are encouraged to bring materials for personal comfort that will aid meditation (e.g., yoga mat, a small pillow or cushion). Please arrive on time, as there is no late admittance.

IEC Game Club

  Friday, Dec. 6   2–4 p.m.  International English Center, Room 101
Come play fun board and video games, make friends and start your weekend off right! The IEC Game Club events are open to all International English Center students and CU Boulder students with a Buff OneCard.

Fri-Yay Nights: Hogwarts at Norlin

  Friday, Dec. 6   3:30–7 p.m.  Norlin Library
Join us for a magical evening in the Center for British and Irish Studies. Take a behind-the-scenes tour followed by a screening of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Snacks and house pins will be provided.

CU on Friday: Home for the Holidays

   Friday, Dec. 6   4–6 p.m.  UMC Aspen Rooms
CU on Friday is all about bringing the CU community together. This month, build gingerbread houses and eat sliders and plenty of snacks. Open to students, faculty and staff.

International Coffee Hour

   Friday, Dec. 6   4–5:30 p.m.  UMC
All students, scholars, staff and faculty are welcome to stop by for free coffee, tea and snacks at this weekly social. This is a great opportunity to connect with the international community here at CU Boulder. Held across from Baby Doe’s and the Alfred Packer Grill in the UMC Grill.

HackCU: Local Hack Day

   Saturday, Dec. 7   8 a.m. to 10 p.m.  Idea Forge
Join more than 250 passionate student developers in this regional 12-hour hackathon where to build mobile apps, websites, hardware devices and more. During this time, students around the world will be hosting their own Local Hack Days, resulting in the single largest day of student hacking ever!

CU on the Weekend: “Media Challenges and Campaign 2020”

   Saturday, Dec. 7   1–3 p.m.  Biotech Building, Butcher Auditorium
In this CU on the Weekend lecture, Associate Professor Elizabeth Skewes from the journalism department will provide some context for contemporary campaign coverage and will examine how journalists are responding to the unique factors shaping the 2020 election.

Concert Band and Campus Orchestra

  Monday, Dec. 9   7:30 p.m.  Imig Music, Grusin Music Hall
This combined performance features the Concert Band and Campus Orchestra, both open to music majors and non-majors on campus. The program will feature pieces by Ferdinand Hérold, Modest Mussorgsky, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Eric Whitacre and more.

Fill Your Mug: Journey Leader open house, de-stress event

  Tuesday, Dec. 10   1:30–4 p.m.  C4C S350
Let your mind relax from studying while you decorate mugs, enjoy a hot beverage and snacks, and learn all about the Journey Leader program.

Program Council Film Series: A Christmas Story

  Tuesday, Dec. 10   8–10 p.m.  Chem 140
Follow the wintry exploits of youngster Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), who spends most of his time dodging a bully (Zack Ward) and dreaming of his ideal Christmas gift, a "Red Ryder air rifle," in this beloved holiday movie.

Bipartisanship (and friendship) happen!

  Tuesday, Dec. 10   6:30 p.m.  UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom
Join the Center of the American West for an evening with Congressman Bob Beauprez and Senator Mark Udall in the first event of their new three-year speaker series. Beauprez, former Republican congressman, and Udall, former Democratic congressman, will discuss their sturdy and long-lasting friendship and then move to a wide-ranging conversation about issues on which they agree, disagree and half-agree. The event is free, but tickets are required.

Faculty Tuesdays: Expressions of Conflict

  Tuesday, Dec. 10   7:30 p.m.  Imig Music, Grusin Music Hall
In the final Faculty Tuesdays concert of 2019, pianist Alexandra Nguyen and her colleagues present works that are inspired by conflict—from internal strife to the two world wars—and that celebrate the resilience of the human spirit.

Concert Jazz Ensemble at Dazzle Club

  Wednesday, Dec. 11   6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.  Dazzle Club, Denver
Join the Thompson Jazz Studies program for a joyful and swinging evening of the hippest holiday music ever: The Nutcracker Suite by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. 

Late Night Breakfast

  Thursday, Dec. 12   9 p.m.  UMC, first floor
Hungry Buffs, pack up your study gear and head to the UMC for fun activities and a free meal. Relax, take a break and re-energize yourself before finals. The breakfast menu includes: make-your-own breakfast burrito, scrambled eggs, country-style potatoes, bacon, oatmeal and much more.

Super Surprise Study Sesh

  Friday, Dec. 13   9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  UMC, third floor
Join for a day of studying and fun: Food, prizes and more will be given away each hour! Stay all day or stop by for a couple of minutes to get a studying boost and learn about getting more involved on campus.

DIY holiday gifts

  Friday, Dec. 13   1–3 p.m.  Museum of Natural History, BioLounge
Take a break from studying and drop in to the BioLounge for a crafty afternoon to make handmade, heartfelt gifts for everyone on your list.

Finals Free Week at The Rec

  Friday, Dec. 13, to Wednesday, Dec. 18  See hours Rec Center
Treat yourself to a workout and blow off some steam at The Rec during finals free week! There are a variety of activities you can choose from including free fitness classes, bouldering in the climbing gym, climbing shoe rentals and ice skate rentals.

I Love Mondays: Coffee and donuts

  Monday, Dec. 16   2–3 p.m.  UMC North Dining
Cure your case of the Mondays coffee and donuts. This weekly event provides a place where students can build a community and learn about campus events. Can't make it? Indulge in a hot chocolate bar at the Dec. 9 event.