Schedule of Events

Friday, May 23

Celebration Concert with the St. Olaf Band, St. Olaf Choir, and St. Olaf Orchestra

Skoglund Auditorium, 2:00 p.m.

This combined concert provides an opportunity to celebrate the musical talents of the St. Olaf Band, St. Olaf Choir, and St. Olaf Orchestra, as well as the graduating seniors in those ensembles. This event is free and open to the public. Link to livestream.

Illumination Social

Buntrock Commons, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m., Additional tickets available for purchase, mid-March

The Illumination Social will be held throughout Buntrock Commons for graduating seniors and their guests. This dinner reception showcases some of St. Olaf’s most requested menu items. Come when you can, leave when you must.  Attire for this event is Casual and St. Olaf branded apparel is welcomed.

Illumination Ceremony

Mellby Lawn, 9:00 p.m.

This annual ceremony honors our graduates as they transition to become a member of the St. Olaf alumni community. The class lanterns are placed on the Campus Green on Friday, and we encourage students to locate their personalized lantern sometime during the day, leaving it in place until after the ceremony. At the end of the evening’s program, students should take their lantern as a remembrance of their time on the Hill. This event is free and open to the public. Link to livestream.

Saturday, May 24

Continental Breakfast

Buntrock Commons, Stav Hall, 7:30 – 9 a.m.
Pay at the door.

Baccalaureate

Skoglund Auditorium, 9:00 a.m.

Graduating seniors and their families and friends are invited to gather to worship and give thanks for the life and the community that was shared by the graduating class. This capstone worship service is led by the Campus pastors and also the St. Olaf Band and the St. Olaf Choir. The decision to hold Commencement on the Campus Green or inside Skoglund is announced at Baccalaureate. This event is free and open to the public. Link to livestream.

Brunch

Buntrock Commons, Stav Hall, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Enjoy brunch with family, friends, and students. Tickets may be purchased through the online registration process. There is no charge for graduating seniors or current students with an active meal plan. If your current student (non-senior) is planning to attend this brunch and is not under an active meal plan, please select “Adult” when registering this student for brunch online.

Academic Department Receptions

Locations across campus, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Graduating seniors, family members and guests are invited to meet and celebrate with faculty and staff across campus.

Line up for Seniors

Tostrud Center, lower level, 12 p.m.

Graduating seniors should arrive promptly in cap and gown with tassel to line up and prepare for the Commencement Ceremony.

Commencement Ceremony

Campus Green (outdoor) or Skoglund (indoor), 1 p.m.

Commencement is scheduled to be outdoors on the Campus Green between Mellby and Tomson halls; no tickets are required for general seating in this location. In the event of severe weather or major safety hazards, Commencement will be held in Skoglund Center Auditorium, and tickets will be required. Students will receive three “rain tickets” during GradFest.

Accessible seating including sign language interpreting is available on the Campus Green and in Skoglund Center Auditorium. The Commencement ceremony will be live-streamed in Boe Chapel, Viking Theater and Tomson 280 for guests who prefer to view the ceremony in a temperature-controlled environment. No tickets are required in broadcast locations.