Weekends@MIT Offers Connections Through Numerous Activities

Events reduce stress and promote wellness while having fun

Weekends at MIT are often a time for students to catch up on sleep, finish p-sets, lab work, and other school assignments. But for more than two decades, through a student-driven initiative supported by the Division of Student Life, students have been able to find welcoming late-night activities designed to build community and reduce stress every Friday and Saturday night through Weekends@MIT.

Housed under the Wellbeing Lab, Weekends@MIT is a growing initiative that brings students together on Friday and Saturday nights for a variety of student-created events and partnerships with student organizations to expand social opportunities. All events are open to both graduate and undergraduate students.

Student leadership

At the heart of Weekends@MIT is a leadership team within the Wellbeing Ambassadors program. Ten leadership team members plan and host a variety of events held from 9 to 11 p.m. in the MIT Wellbeing Lab, transforming the space into a hub for connection and creativity. While DSL staff provide advising, logistical support, and funding, event ideas come from students. Club members are committed to reducing stress and facilitating student social activities, all while increasing health awareness.

Student ownership is intentional, says Assistant Dean, Wellbeing and Belonging, Robyn Priest. “All the ideas for activities come from the students. Leaders brainstorm themes, vote on their favorite concepts, and spearhead events in small teams. The only criterion is that it be substance-free. The students involved are dedicated, and the time commitment can be significant, so they are paid. But our students consistently step up, motivated by the opportunity to create experiences for their peers.”

Past events have included craft nights with boba tea, yoga, trivia competitions, bracelet-making workshops, waffle nights with customizable toppings, and even Spooky Skate, a Halloween costume ice-skating event hosted by the club in the Z Center.

Priest notes that just this past fall semester, more than 2,000 students attended the Friday night events, with many programs designed as drop-in experiences so students can participate around their busy schedules.

“I joined Weekends@MIT because I really liked the idea of helping organize activities on campus that promoted well-being for students and provided them with chill events that they can attend to build community and feel good on Friday nights,” says junior Emily Crespin Guerra.

Senior, Ruting Hung, adds, “I wanted to become more involved in promoting wellness on campus. Since then, I’ve found that it has also served as a way for me to recharge after a long week.”

Expanding Saturday events

While Fridays are led by the Wellbeing Ambassadors team, Saturdays bring additional variety through partnerships with student clubs and groups. Organizations can apply for funding—typically several hundred dollars—to host events between 9 and 11 p.m. that are open to all students.

This approach has broadened both participation and representation. Undergraduate and graduate organizations, cultural groups, and hobby-based clubs have all contributed to programming. The partnerships also introduce new audiences to the Wellbeing Lab, helping the space become a familiar and welcoming destination across campus communities.

Connecting the campus through communication

Another key component of Weekends@MIT is a weekly newsletter distributed to thousands of students. The newsletter highlights upcoming programs in the Wellbeing Lab, along with other campus events that align with the initiative’s goals of connection and community without alcohol.

The newsletter often includes campus happenings, athletic events, and cultural or religious observances, helping students discover opportunities they might not otherwise encounter. Sent each Thursday, it serves as a curated guide to weekend possibilities across campus.

First-year student Vivian Dinh notes, “I love how the events provide a fun escape from the stress of classes and problem sets. The Wellbeing Lab is such a nice facility on campus for students to relax and enjoy themselves.”

A long tradition, evolving for the future

The current initiative builds on a long history of student-led weekend programming that began more than 20 years ago. Over time, the effort has evolved—from early safety campaigns to today’s comprehensive model focused on wellbeing, belonging, and social connection—but the core idea remains the same: students creating healthy spaces for other students.

Looking ahead, Weekends@MIT hopes to continue expanding partnerships and exploring new ways to bring communities together on weekends, new event formats, or additional student leadership opportunities.

Upcoming events for the spring 2026 semester include: pupusas; blitz chess tournament with the Chess Club; craft night; movies and waffles; mocktails and latte art; a Bob Ross paint night, and much more.

Students interested in learning more can visit the Wellbeing website or sign up for the weekly newsletter here.