Despite the hustle and bustle of move-in weekend, new and returning students can find time for entertainment and relaxation at events put on by the University Board.

Each year, UB holds the new student mixer, Up All Nite and Quakin’ in the Quad to recognize the first weekend that students come back to campus.

Carrie Klaphake, a student life graduate assistant, said UB will kick off the weekend with Welcome to Panther District, the new student mixer.

“We will be hosting a lights-out glow party and Night Storm DJ,” she said.

The event is aimed toward new students, so that they can meet each other.

Welcome to Panther District will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

First-weekend festivities will continue Friday evening at Up All Nite: In the Big Blue Capitol, which will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the Union.

Up All Nite will provide students with multiple entertainment opportunities such as cosmic bowling, an airbrush and caricature artist, an indoor roller rink, and a game show titled “Think Fast.” Students will also have the opportunity to receive free prizes and T-shirts, and will be able to enjoy free refreshments.

UB’s first-weekend events will conclude with Quakin’ in the Quad — “The Panther Games: Catching the Blue Blaze.”

Quakin’ in the Quad will be from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday in the South Quad. “This event will have bingo, creation stations, food, giveaways, and eight inflatables including a mobile zip-line,” Klaphake said.

Other activities at Quakin’ in the Quad include a wrecking ball, bungee run, airbots, joust and bouncy boxing.

UB begins to brainstorm ideas for first-weekend events nearly a year in advance to ensure that students will have a good time and to create a good representation of Eastern’s campus.

“Every year, we do our best to bring in new themes, events and activities,” Klaphake said. “Planning in this format, we are able to tailor our planning to what new students might enjoy doing and provide them a space to have fun and meet new people.”

Samantha Middendorf can be reached at 581-2812 or semiddendorf@eiu.edu.