What is Spirit Week?
In 2017, Student Presidents' Roundtable (SPR) created what has become known as Legacy Week to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the federation of Western Reserve University and Case Institute of Technology into CWRU. This year, SPR has made the decision to merge future legacy and historical programming with Throwback Weekend, which is traditionally held around CWRU's Founder's Day of February 7th.
In place of Legacy Week, we will instead be celebrating Spirit Week! This week is intended to promote class spirit leading up to CWRU's big class competition, the Hudson Relays.
This week gathers the university community in a celebration of campus pride and class spirit.
It is scheduled the week preceding the Hudson Relays in April, celebrating the longest standing tradition at Case Western Reserve University.
When is Spirit Week?
Spirit Week will be held every Spring Semester. Spirit Week 2026 is April 20-25, culminating in the annual Hudson Relays!
Join us in celebrating Spirit Week!
Follow us on social media for a chance to win prizes!
Instagram: @sal_cwru or @cwruspirit
WEEK-LONG EVENTS
| Event | Sponsor | Location | Description | Who Can Participate? |
| Bicentennial Web Exhibit, Celebrating 200 Years of CWRU | University Archives | Web exhibit featuring activities and events, people, and programs from the university's history, currently featuring the Hudson Era | CWRU students, staff, and faculty |
DAILY EVENTS
| Event | Sponsor | Time | Location | Description | Who Can Participate? |
| Friday, April 17th | |||||
| Spring Comedian | University Program Board (UPB) | 7:00 PM | Severance Hall | UPB is excited to host this year's Spring Comedian, Atsuko Okatsuka! Join us on Friday, 4/17 at 7pm in Severance Hall for a night of unforgettable comedy! | $5 tickets for undergraduates and $12 tickets for grads/faculty/staff/CWRU community members. |
| Saturday, April 17th | |||||
| Saturday of Service | Center for Civic Engagement & Learning (CCEL) | All Day/Times Vary | Locations Vary | The Center for Civic Engagement & Learning's (CCEL) annual Spring Saturday of Service is on Saturday, April 18, and is open to all CWRU students. This day of service features off-campus volunteer projects throughout the day. Transportation is provided via private bus, CCEL minivan, or walking/RTA. | CWRU students |
| OneCWRU Day | CWRU Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC), CWRU Staff Advisory Council (SAC), and more listed here | 10:00am-8:00pm | Veale Recreation Center & Van Horn Field | A FREE Community & CWRU organized fun day of intentional collaboration, shared learning, service, and community-building activities for all ages and interests! | CWRU students, staff, faculty, and community members |
| Monday, April 20th | |||||
| Student Leadership Awards Ceremony | Office of Student Activities & Leadership | 4:30 - 7:30 PM | Foster-Castele Great Hall, Linsalata Alumni Center | The Awards Ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate all nominees! All students nominated for awards are encouraged to attend and will be recognized. Award winners are also announced during this event. Register here to attend. | CWRU students, staff, and faculty |
| Tuesday, April 21st | |||||
| Mobile Food Pantry | Dean of Students Office, Office of Student Activities & Leadership, and the Basic Needs Network | 1:30pm-4pm | KSL Oval | Come get FREE fresh produce! We will also have information for on and off-campus food pantries, SNAP, Swipe Out Hunger, and other basic needs resources. Registration is not required. | CWRU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members |
| Wednesday, April 22nd | |||||
| Sign the Spirit Wall | Office of Student Activities & Leadership | 11:00am-1:00pm | At the Spirit Wall outside of TVUC | Come sign your name in your class-designated area of the Hudson Relays painting! | CWRU undergraduate students |
| Thursday, April 23rd | |||||
| Merch Decorating | Office of Student Activities & Leadership | 11:30am-1:30pm | KSL Oval | Come decorate some tote bags, t-shirts, baseball hats, and more! Supplies will include tie-dye, fabric paint, and fabric markers. | CWRU students, faculty, and staff |
| Friday, April 24th | |||||
| Spirit Day! | Class Officer Collective & the University Spirit Committee | All Day | CWRU Campus | Show your Spartan Pride for Spirit Day by wearing your Hudson Relays color!
| CWRU students, faculty, staff, and alumni |
| SPR Spirit Week T-Shirt Giveaway | Student Presidents' Roundtable | 1:00pm-3:00pm | Tink Atrium | Join the Student Presidents' Roundtable (SPR) as they spread the joy with a free t-shirt. | CWRU Undergraduate students |
| Faculty/Staff/Grad Students Spirit Week T-Shirt Giveaway | University Spirit Committee | 1:00pm-2:00pm | Quad outside of Adelbert | Join the University Spirit Committee as they spread the joy with a free t-shirt. | CWRU graduate students, staff, and faculty |
| Saturday, April 25th | |||||
| Hudson Relays | Class Officer Collective and the Office of Student Activities & Leadership | 10:00 AM | Western Reserve Academy & CWRU Main Quad | See description below | CWRU students, staff, faculty, and community members |
| Hudson Relays Watch Party | Class Officer Collective and the Office of Student Activities & Leadership | 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Strosacker Auditorium | See description below | CWRU students, staff, faculty, or community members |
| Springfest | Springfest Committee and the Office of Student Activities & Leadership | 3:00 - 10:00 PM | East Bell Commons | See description below | CWRU students, staff, or faculty |
| UPB Fireworks Show | University Program Board | Directly following the Springfest Concert | East Bell Commons | Following the Springfest concert, join UPB for a spectacular fireworks show lighting up the night sky! | CWRU students, faculty, and staff |
Hudson Relays
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 10 a.m. at Western Reserve Academy.
In 1882, Western Reserve University moved 26 miles from Hudson, Ohio, to the University Circle area. Case Western Reserve University annually commemorates this event with Hudson Relays, a 26-mile relay race around the current campus. The event originally began in 1910, starting in Hudson, Ohio, and ending at the rock in front of Adelbert Hall.
Join the watch party in Strosacker Auditorium from 9:30am to 12:30pm!
Sponsored by the Class Officer Collective and the Office of Student Activities and Leadership
Springfest
Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 3 pm to 10 pm on East Bell Commons.
Springfest, which occurs the last Saturday of the spring semester, is a student-planned event that celebrates CWRU and fosters campus unity. The tradition continues each year with inflatable attractions, novelty games, student organization booths, and great food. Throughout the day you will hear local bands and a national headliner that entertains hundreds of CWRU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.