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A large group of students dancing outside on the Gizmo Patio.

101 Fun Things to Do as a Knox Student

There is a wide variety of fun and exciting activities for Knox students on and off campus, from Jazz Night to intramural sports, students are bound to find an activity that suits them.

Two students stand in front of a wall of art, looking at it.

1. Check out the newest art in the Center for Fine Art's Borzello Gallery.

  • 2. Soak up the atmosphere of Thursday Night Jazz as the members of the Knox Jazz Combo entertain you with live music.
  • 3. Enjoy a delicious freshly ground cup of joe (or a chai latte) at Innkeeper's Coffee or The Beanhive (two coffee shops within walking distance of campus).
  • 4. Supplement "caf food" with oodles of pizza from one of the many pizza joints in town.
  • 5. Run, jump, and catch your way to victory during a satisfying match of Ultimate Frisbee with Knox's Ultimate team.
  • 6. Watch a movie on a 24-foot inflatable screen sponsored by Union Board.
  • 7. Enjoy the outdoors with a picnic, walk, or bike ride at Galesburg's 411-acre park, Lake Storey Recreation Area.
  • 8. Bargain hunt on all three floors of the Galesburg Antiques Mall. 
  • 9. Study with friends under the Whale in the Umbeck Science-Math Center.
A student sits in a crowd, laughing at the show he is watching.

10. Laugh out loud watching Knox's own Improv Club and comedy shows.

  • 11. Jam to old favorites and share your opinions with the world by DJ-ing your own radio show on WVKC, the Knox commercial-free radio station.
  • 12. Head over to the Wordsmith Bookshoppe in downtown Galesburg on Main Street.
  • 13. View original student artwork at the Senior Art Shows or listen to creative writing majors read their work at Milk Route in the winter and spring.
  • 14. Catch a movie at the AMC 8-screen theater in town.
  • 15. Take a break and grab a meal in the Gizmo and eat it on the Gizmo Patio.
  • 16. Hone your skills or just have a few laughs shooting pool in the Game Room in Taylor Student Lounge.
  • 17. Hang out in the biology greenhouse.
  • 18. Enjoy time with some of the friendliest college squirrels around.
  • 19. Find inspiration from the world's great writers and read poetry in Carl Sandburg's backyard.
A student rides a bike across campus with a blue sky in the background.

20. Borrow a bike from the Bike Shop and take a trip around Galesburg on a Sunday morning.

  • 21. Lend a helping paw by walking dogs and petting cats at the Humane Society.
  • 22. Show your purple-and-gold spirit by cheering for the Knox Prairie Fire athletic teams during home games.
  • 23. Express yourself—write and play original songs at "Songwriter's Club" and "Songwriter's Open Mic" at The Beanhive coffee shop every other week.
  • 24. Take a drive with your friends and watch a movie at the Galesburg Blue Moonlight Drive-In Theater.
  • 25. Jam and dance to student and professional bands during Lincoln Fest, Knox's music festival.
  • 26. Explore Galesburg alleyways, historic sites, and parks to take pictures for your own exhibit.
  • 27. Whoever said there's no skiing in Western Illinois? Cross-country ski at Green Oaks.
  • 28. Take advantage of the midwestern prairie winds—fly a kite in the Quads on a spring afternoon.
  • 29. Celebrate spring by eating a Japanese bento box meal and looking at the flowers during Ohanami, sponsored by Japanese Club.
Two students lay out on the grass with their laptops

30. Soak up some vitamin D while laying on any of the many campus lawns.

  • 31. Spend an evening with the Knox-Galesburg Symphony performing in the historic Orpheum Theatre.
  • 32. Sponsor a spontaneous collective shopping spree at Target.
  • 33. Treat yourself to a 2 a.m. donut from Casey's during finals.
  • 34. Have a late-night meal at the 24-hour Steak & Shake.
  • 35. Reflect amongst the trees of Standish Park Arboretum, across the street from Old Main.
  • 36. Meet interesting people as you explore locally owned Galesburg businesses and organizations.
  • 37. Explore the original graveyard of Galesburg, Hope Cemetery, and try to find the oldest headstone.
  • 38. Take a break from studying on Reading Days and get some dog love by going to Pause for Paws.
  • 39. Have dessert and gourmet coffee or the world-famous spinach bisque at the Landmark Café and Creperie.
A plate of danishes.

40. Grab an oatmeal fudgie and a hot chocolate at The Carriage House bakery on Seminary Street.

  • 41. Get involved in one of the student publications: The Knox Student, Catch, or Cellar Door.
  • 42. Spend the evening in, with rented movies from Seymour Library or the Galesburg Public Library.
  • 43. Enjoy delicious ice cream at Kastle Kreme, a locally owned ice cream shop.
  • 44. Throw snowballs at each other during the middle of a Midwest winter.
  • 45. Spend the night in nature, camping out at the College's 700-acre biological field station, Green Oaks, or spend the day hiking or canoeing.
  • 46. Head over to Old Main and sit in Lincoln’s Chair.
  • 47. Attend Art in the Park in Standish Park Arboretum and look at artist booths displaying paintings, drawings, sculpture, jewelry, etc.
  • 48. Compete against your friends in an intramural sport like volleyball, basketball, soccer, or dodgeball.
  • 49. Participate in a barbeque, dance, lecture or discussion hosted by culture clubs.
A student dressed up as Abraham Lincoln with a very tall hat.

50. Dress up or host a theme party (such as Vogue, Anything but Clothes, 80s, Halloween, Space Jam, Highlighter, etc.).

  • 51. Join an international service group like Alpha Phi Omega.
  • 52. Splurge on cheap and generous Chinese take-out from Joy Garden.
  • 53. Make a difference in someone else's life by finding a volunteer opportunity from Knox's Mark and Jeannette Kleine Center for Community Service.
  • 54. Take a "gourmet food break"—eat out with friends at one of Galesburg's top restaurants (Craft, Packinghouse, Landmark Café and Creperie).
  • 55. Take a bike ride to Lake Bracken in the fall or spring.
  • 56. Host homemade cooking parties with friends in the residence halls.
  • 57. Put your world knowledge to use through Model United Nations meetings or a trivia competition about Africa hosted by Harambee Club.
  • 58. Tap your foot while listening to jazz during the annual Rootabaga Jazz Festival.
  • 59. Build your own lunch-time vegetarian sandwich at Cornucopia Natural Food.
Two students stand in the prairie with a fire burning in the background.

60. Burn the prairie in the annual Prairie Burn at Knox's Green Oaks.

  • 61. Get inspired by Knox's scholar-teachers.
  • 62. Dance to South Asian beats at an AAINA or International Club party in Post Lobby.
  • 63. Take a break from studying and work on a puzzle in the lobby of Seymour Library.
  • 64. Splash in frigid Lake Storey during the annual Galesburg Polar Plunge.
  • 65. Cover yourself in bubbles in the Flunk Day foam pit.
  • 66. Race an outhouse at Berwick Days in nearby Berwick, Illinois.
  • 67. Pick up fresh tomatoes and strawberries at the Galesburg Farmer's Market.
  • 68. Be a thrift-shop junkie—explore the Salvation Army, Purple Hanger, Goodwill, and other thrift stores with friends and a small budget for something incredible, or some outrageous outfit.
  • 69. Listen to nationally acclaimed authors read their work at Caxton Club.
A student sits at a table in the library with a laptop, and is taking notes.

70. Read in the Seymour Library or explore the many nooks and crannies.

  • 71. Catch a flick on the big screen at the Orpheum Theatre—Rocky Horror Picture Show one day, The Creature from the Black Lagoon another!
  • 72. Take advantage of the many free and reduced-rate events at Knox and in Galesburg like Wing Wednesday!
  • 73. Experience the famous college "all-nighter"—bond with fellow students in The Carl Sandburg Study Lounge.
  • 74. Indulge your sweet tooth—visit the Calico Cat to buy truffles.
  • 75. Check out 24-hour improv hosted by Improv Club.
  • 76. Try not to get BBQ sauce on your shirt as you eat ribs at the Rib Shack.
  • 77. Organize spontaneous dance parties in your suite.
  • 78. Pump iron or work out at the Fitness Center.
  • 79. Get served by your professors at Midnight Breakfast during finals week.
A student performing in a play is dramatically reaching for the camera.

80. Get involved with your dramatic side—try your hand at the theatre with one of the many Studio Theatre productions.

  • 81. Attend any (or all) of the dozen of theatre productions on campus throughout the year, and at least one of the productions by Prairie Players, the community theatre group.
  • 82. Support the sororities and fraternities when they are hosting a philanthropy event.
  • 83. Get a global perspective with International Fair by performing and watching cultural dances, eating at an international food buffet, and visiting different booths.
  • 84. Participate in an Informal Dance Concert or any of the Dance workshops.
  • 85. Expand your mind with a lecture by a faculty member or visiting professor.
  • 86. Attend the twice-yearly Catch release party and pick up your copy of the award-winning student publication.
  • 87. Commune and socialize with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for social activities on Friday evenings.
  • 88. Show your Knox spirit at Homecoming Week.
  • 89. Attend Mocha with Muslims and get to know the Muslim students in your Knox Community.
A group of students wearing cleaning gear stands on the front steps of a house, next to materials that had been cleaned up.

90. Build your muscles (and a house) with the Knox Habitat for Humanity chapter.

  • 91. Drive, run, or walk around historic neighborhoods of Galesburg and check out all the Victorian architecture.
  • 92. Participate in Fresh Check Day during fall term.
  • 93. Check out the latest art opening at the Galesburg Community Arts Center.
  • 94. Join the Galesburg Community Chorus.
  • 95. Play sand volleyball outside the Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) House.
  • 96. Get fit at dance aerobics, yoga, or belly dancing in the Fitness Center's Fitness Studio.
  • 97. Empower and inspire yourself and others by sharing stories and experiences at Take Back the Night.
  • 98. Page through medieval manuscripts from Seymour Library's Special Collections and Archives with Classics Club or on your own.
  • 99. Get in some snuggle time with Olive the therapy dog.
A student sits at a table with technical equipment in front of them.

100. Join the Engineering Club and make something cool with the 3D printer.

  • 101. Join members of the Galesburg community every week to provide food for Galesburg kids through Blessings in a Backpack.

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