Cornell’s first Community Field Day – with sports, games, snacks and crafts – will celebrate togetherness, physical play and well-being on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon at Schoellkopf Field.

Co-sponsored by the Office of the President and the Department of Athletics and Physical Education, the Community Field Day will include activities for students, faculty, staff and family members of all ages.

The free event, open to the entire university community, was designed to bring people together and to celebrate play that benefits physical and mental health. Interim President Michael I. Kotlikoff, who conceived of the event, will address the crowd and help kick off the celebration.

“The Community Field Day will be a great opportunity for everyone in our community to get together, get some exercise and make some new friends,” Kotlikoff said. “With the semester well underway, we wanted to give everyone a chance to have some relaxed fun together.”

Energy stations will include healthy activities such as Zumba, soccer, traditional yard games, and strength and conditioning. There will be Cornell-themed arts and crafts activities for children, as well as box hockey and rappelling for those feeling more adventurous.

Fueling stations will provide nutritious snacks and drinks, including bagels and Cornell Dairy chocolate milk, which are regularly featured at the Big Red Refuel station in Bartels Hall for student-athletes. The first 1,500 attendees will receive their choice of several unique branded giveaways to help show off their Big Red spirit.

“We’re thrilled to host the Cornell Community Field Day and thankful that President Kotlikoff suggested this opportunity to get the Big Red family together,” said Nicki Moore, the Meakem Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education. “This fun and relaxed event will showcase the many benefits of play, physical activity and competition on campus.”

Additionally, members of the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams will be in attendance to greet attendees, who will also have an opportunity to thank legendary men’s head coach Mike Schafer ’86 and wish him well in his final season before he retires at the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign.

After the Field Day, participants are encouraged to stay on campus and bring their Big Red spirit up the street to Marsha Dodson Field to cheer on the field hockey team in its 2 p.m. game against Bryant College.

Jeremy Hartigan is senior associate director of athletics for communications.