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What are Special Events
The Department of Campus Recreation hosts a variety of events throughout the year for the students of Montclair State University. We host many free events, as well as fundraisers for various local charities. Events are sponsored by RecBoard, a student-run campus organization. The goal of our events is to help students get involved on campus, while having fun!
Check Out Rec Fest!
Click on an image below to enlarge photo.
Fall 2025 Events!
Think fast, play hard, and win big! Join us at the Recreation Center Lounge for Minute to Win It — a high-energy event where every second counts. Each challenge you conquer earns you a chance to win raffle entries for the grand prize: a brand-new MacBook Air! Don’t miss your shot — the grand prize winner will be announced during Rec Fest on 9/4. Come for a chance to win big!
- How do I sign-up?
- Registration is not required
- FREE for students with a valid Montclair State ID
- Where and when?
- August 25 – 17, 2025
- 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
- Student Recreation Center Lounge
Get Ready for Rec Fest: Recess Edition!
It’s time to take a break, play hard, and relive your favorite playground games at Rec Fest: Recess Edition! Come join the fun Thursday, September 4 at the Student Recreation Center and explore everything the Student Recreation Center has to offer this fall—from intramural and club sports to fitness classes, swim lessons, and unforgettable adventure trips.
Jump into classic games like 4 Square, Dodgeball, Knock Out, and more. Enter for your chance to win awesome prizes, including the grand prize: a pair of Apple AirPods Max! Don’t miss out on the best way to kick off your semester at the Student Rec Center.
- How do I sign-up?
- Registration is not required
- FREE for students with a valid Montclair State ID
- Where and when?
- September 4th, 2025
- 1pm – 3pm
- Student Recreation Center Gym
- Prizes
- Aquatics Pack: Swim Fins, Mask, Snorkel, Gearbag, Gopro snorkeling Mask, Towel
- EQC Pack: MSU Sweatpants, Sweatshirt, tank top, shorts, Headphones, JBL Speaker
- Sports Pack: Football (MSU), fit bit, Montclair Flag, Gym bag, Massage gun, Yoga mat, protein shaker
- Guest Relations Pack: Trip tickets; Yankees, Medieval Times, etc.
- IM Sports Pack: Bball Arm band bag, Free IM Reg., IM Tshirt, Gatorade bottle + Pods
- GRAND PRIZE: Apple Headphones
Get your football gear, and ready to watch the defending superbowl champs, the Philadelphia Eagles take on their arch rivals the Dallas Cowboys in the 2025-26 NFL season opener with us here at the Rec Center. Free food will be provided with MSU ID
- How do I sign-up?
- Registration is not required
- FREE for students with a valid Montclair State ID
- Where and when?
- September 4th, 2025
- 8:00pm – 9:30pm
- Student Recreation Center Lounge
We’re showing love to our commuters with free light breakfast all week long! Stop by Monday–Friday, 9AM–11AM to grab some morning fuel. Come early to beat the parking rush, maybe squeeze in a quick workout and shower — then enjoy breakfast before heading to class. All students are welcome!
- How do I sign-up?
- Registration is not required
- FREE for students with a valid Montclair State ID
- Where and when?
- September 15-19, 2025
- 9am – 11am
- Student Recreation Center Lounge
Get ready for a classic American League East showdown as the New York Yankees host the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 3:05 PM! Feel the energy in the Bronx as these division rivals face off in a high-stakes battle that could shake up the playoff race. NY Yankees cap and $20 food voucher included!
Yankees Stadium: Section 331; Rows 5-7; Seats 1-16
- How do I sign-up?
- $35 for students
- Where and when?
- Sunday, September 28, 2025
- 3:05 PM game start; 1:00pm bus leaves from Student Recreation Center
- Yankee Stadium, Bronx NY
Catch a vibe at the Rec on the 1st Wednesday of the month from 2:00-4:00pm at the Student Recreation Center Lounge. Workout to a Live DJ, chill out with Minute To Win It games and who knows what other entertainment will show up!
How do I sign-up?
- Registration is not required
- FREE for students with a valid Montclair State ID
Where and when?
- Wednesday, October 1, November 5, and December 3, 2025
- 2:00-6:00pm
- Student Recreation Center Lobby
Ready for a night out in the city? Join us on Thursday, October 2 for a trip to Broadway to see Hell’s Kitchen—a high-energy, music-filled show you won’t want to miss! We’ll head out at 5:00 PM for the 7:00 PM performance at the iconic Broadway Theatre. Grab your friends, hop on the bus, and get ready for a night of unforgettable fun in NYC!
- How do I sign-up?
- Tentatively $40 for students
- Where and when?
- Thursday, October 2, 2025
- 7:00 pm show; 5:00 pm pickup from Student Recreation Center
- Broadway Theatre
Join us on Friday, October 10, 2025, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM in the Student REC Center Lobby for a free and exciting QR Code Scavenger Hunt! Explore different areas of the Rec Center by following a trail of hidden QR codes. Each code will give you a clever hint leading to the next location. If you make it to the final clue and discover the secret phrase, return to the table and tell a staff member to claim your prize. Come ready to search, solve, and win!
What you’ll do:
- Create a QR code scavenger hunt around the Rec Center.
- 5 codes: EQC, 1st Flr, 2nd Flr, around circle desk, gym or pool
- Each QR = Will have a hint for the next QR code (ex. the first code found on 1st flr will have a hint to find the second code placed near EQC, so on..)
- Last quote will have the secret saying “You Belong” students will have to come back to the table and tell the workers the secret code in order to win a prize.
How do I sign-up?
- Registration is not required
- FREE for students with a valid Montclair State ID
Where and when?
- Friday, October 10, 2025
- 1:30-3:30pm
- Student Recreation Center Lobby
Get ready for an unforgettable night of laughs and competition at our Campus Recreation Center’s College Edition: Family Feud Night! Bring your A-game and team up with friends as you battle it out in a fun version of the classic game show — with a campus twist. The stakes? A chance to win tickets to an NBA game! Don’t miss out!
- How do I sign-up?
- Registration is not required
- FREE for students with a valid Montclair State ID
- Where and when?
- Wednesday, October 15, 2025
- 7:00p.m. – 9:00p.m.
- Student Recreation Center Gym
Ready to scream your head off? Join Special Events of Montclair State’s Recreation Center on Saturday, October 11 for a chilling adventure to 13th Hour Haunted House — one of the scariest attractions in New Jersey! This isn’t just any haunted house… it’s TWO floors of spine-tingling terror, packed with professional actors, cinematic sets, and horror that comes at you from every angle. You’ll wind your way through dark hallways, creepy rooms, and unexpected scares that will have your whole group jumping.
We’ll start loading the buses at 4:00 PM, so get there early, grab a seat, and gear up for a night you won’t forget. Whether you’re a horror junkie or just want to test your courage, this trip promises non-stop thrills and free transportation to make the ride a little less frightening (maybe).
Don’t miss your chance — spots are limited and will disappear fast.
- How do I sign-up?
- $20 for Students
- Where and when?
- Saturday, October 11, 2025
- 5:00pm entry; 4:00pm pickup
- 13th Hour Haunted House – Wharton, NJ
Students
Get wrapped up in the warmth of local creativity at our Cozy & Crafty Holiday Flea Market on Thursday, November 20 at the Student Recreation Center. With more than 50 student vendors, you’ll find handmade goods, unique gifts, and festive finds. Come support student businesses and discover one-of-a-kind treasures before the holiday rush begins!
Vendors
Calling all makers, artists and vendors! Be a part of our Cozy & Crafty Holiday Flea Market on Thursday, November 20 at the Student Recreation Center. This is your chance to showcase your unique creations, handmade goods, and creative finds to the campus community. It’s the perfect space to share your work and connect with shoppers looking for something special. Join a vibrant lineup of 50+ vendors and help us create a festive, feel-good shopping experience.
Vendor sign-up opens: TBD
Deadline to apply: TBD
- How do I sign-up?
- Registration is not required
- FREE for students with a valid Montclair State ID
- Where and when?
- Thursday, November 20, 2025
- 1:30pm – 4:30pm
- Student Recreation Center Gym
Be a Buddy
Be a Buddy at the Rec! Volunteer for Friends Day on Sunday, December 7 at the Student Recreation Center. As a Buddy, you and another MSU student will be paired with a child or young adult to go station-to-station, participate in fun activities and crafts, and help them explore and enjoy the space. You can sign up for one or both sessions, and community service hours will be given. Want to volunteer with a friend? Great! Buddies can sign up together as long as you’re both MSU students. This year’s theme is Nickelodeon, so get ready for a fun-filled day inspired by your favorite characters and shows. Come make a meaningful impact while having fun!
Friends
Register Your Child for Friends Day! Friends Day is a fun, inclusive event at the MSU Student Recreation Center for individuals with disabilities, ages 5–21. Your child will be paired with two MSU student Buddies and guided through a variety of exciting activity stations—including games, crafts, and more—all designed to promote creativity, movement, and fun in a supportive environment. Friends Day takes place on Sunday, December 7, and you may register your child for one session only—either the morning or afternoon session. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity for your child to have fun, make friends, and enjoy a memorable day at the Rec!
- How do I sign-up?
- Students with a valid Montclair State ID can sign up at the Rec
- Where and when?
- Sunday, December 7, 2025
- 10am – 12pm and 2 – 4pm
- Student Recreation Center
Join us Thursday, November 13th, 7PM-9PM, at the Student Recreation Center to create cuddly plushies for children of single parents living in a halfway house at Eva’s Village. Hosted in partnership with the Bonner Program, this event counts toward community service hours—come make a difference, one stuffed friend at a time!
How do I sign-up?
- No registration required.
- FREE for students with a valid Montclair State ID.
Where and when?
- Thursday, 09/02 – 12/17
- 7pm – 9pm
- Student Recreation Center Lounge
Join us on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 for an evening of good vibes and great cheer! Expect fun games, friendly challenges, awesome prizes, tasty treats, a photo booth to capture the memories, and all the holiday spirit you can handle. Let’s celebrate this season! 
Anything else that will be at the event: (if any)
-
- Dinner
- Snacks: Bjs Cookies & Chips
- Photo booth – Marketing + SE event staff to assist
- Dress code: Pajamas
- Playlist: Brit
- Prize Bundles:
- TV
- REC Merch Bundle: Sweat pants, Long Sleeve, Short sleeve,
- Student Reset Bundle:
- Airpods
- Owala
- Individual games – Winners are able to win 2+ raffle tickets
- Blindfolded bow challenge – bows, bowl(SRC), spatula (SRC)
- Pillow Fight
-
- Contest games – Winners are able to win up to 5 raffle tickets
- Holiday Cup Olympics – Cups (SRC), Big pom poms, party blowers
- Balloon fill the cup – Balloons and cups(SRC)
- Snow Dodgeball
- Contest games – Winners are able to win up to 5 raffle tickets
- CLOSING GAME:
- Musical Chairs – winner gets 8 tickets = ticket for each round
- 7 chairs = 8 rounds
How do I sign-up?
- No registration required.
- FREE for Employees ONLY
Where and when?
- Tuesday, December 9, 2025
- 7pm – 9pm
- Student Recreation Center Gym