For more than two decades, UConn Late Night has organized free programs and activities in the Student Union every Friday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. a variety of free activities for students. Part of the Student Activities Major Events and Programs office, Late Night offers interactive activities, food, giveaways, and prizes, typically organized around a central theme, with popcorn, karaoke, and bingo always part of the mix. All events are planned and facilitated by student staff who work to provide a safe and inviting experience for all UConn students looking for something enjoyable to do on Friday nights.
A recent Late Night, themed in honor of the 2026 Winter Olympics, showed how this looks in practice:
Snacks were strategically chosen to match the theme. Funyuns – “onion-flavored rings” – represented the five rings of the Olympics logo, and Kinder chocolate bars were given to students, since they are originally from Italy, the country hosting the Winter Games. Students could choose to decorate their own medal with a variety of stickers and markers, or create “Olympic torches” using a mix of construction and tissue paper. Over the course of the night, about 400 students participated.
Carlait Millien ’29 (ENGR) considers himself a Late Night regular, and sings karaoke each time he attends. During the Olympics-themed event, he sang “Superpowers” by Daniel Caesar. “It’s a nice vibe, you get to meet new people, make new friends,” he said.
The first UConn Late Night was held on Sept. 5, 2003, and has been going strong ever since, with events held every Friday during the academic year, except for the weeks of Thanksgiving and Spring Break. The last program takes place each semester the week before final exams begins.
Zohar Rosenberg ’28 (CLAS), a student worker at UConn Late Night, said the weekly event provides an outlet for him to brainstorm various themes. “It allows me to be creative,” he said. “My favorite part is interacting with the student body and making conversation with people I wouldn’t normally interact with.”
Christina Broady ’27 (CAHNR), has worked at Late Night since her freshman year. She said she used to attend Late Night frequently because she and her friends didn’t have much to do on a Friday night. After seeing a job posting, she decided to apply because she thought the staff looked happy and she enjoys thinking creatively.
To Broady, Late Night means “building a community,” and “creating a safe space.”
“You get to meet new people, there’s food, you have crafts and bingo, and you get to connect with the campus,” she said. “If you are like me and you do not like leaving the room because you are studying or working, you at least have one thing to look forward to. There’s something for everyone.”
During Late Night, Chloe Chan ’29 (BUS) made banners with her friends. She said she mainly attends Late Night to catch up with friends while they make crafts.
“It’s a nice way to find some downtime and cool off,” Chan said.
Erin O’Keefe is the program coordinator for Major Events and Programs. She oversees Late Night and said the program offers a “safe space for students to hang out.”
There are currently 14 student workers separated into two groups that decide on the week’s theme. The first group chooses the themes for the first and third weeks of the month, while the second group selects the themes for the second and fourth weeks of the month.
O’Keefe said it’s “important for opinions to be heard, but relatable to the students on campus.”
Students can message the UConn Late Night Instagram page to voice their interests and make suggestions for activities they would like to see. There is also a physical suggestion box during the program’s check-in where students can share their ideas.
Aside from planning and hosting activities for students, O’Keefe ensures that the majority of supplies purchased and used for Late Night are either compostable, biodegradable, or are able to be repurposed. She said crafts are planned in a way that students can use reuse them as decorations or form a personal connection with their creation.
