Event Series

Commencement Celebrations Calendar

Oberlin held a weekend of celebrations for the Class of 2023 and their families, culminating with Commencement on Monday, May 22.

Reunion information for alumni

Return to Commencement home

A mom adjusts her son's graduation cap.

Past Events

Lavender Graduation

Thursday, May 18, 2023
10:00 am EDT
Carnegie Building
Lavender Graduation is a tradition at Oberlin College and Conservatory, which celebrates the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ graduates as they finish their time here on campus. This year, Lavender...

Heisman Club Senior Stole Ceremony

Thursday, May 18, 2023
10:30 am to 11:30 am EDT
Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex - Social Space
The Heisman Club celebrates the accomplishments of senior scholar-athletes with a luncheon and stole ceremony. Members of the College’s executive leadership team (ELT) and Heisman Club join the...

Class of 2023 Senior Garden Party

Thursday, May 18, 2023
11:30 am to 1:00 pm EDT
President’s House
Join President Carmen Twillie Ambar and the Office of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving for a Garden Party at the president's house on May 18, 2023, at 11:30 AM. There will be brunch-style...

Unity Celebration

Thursday, May 18, 2023
2:00 pm EDT
Carnegie Building
Unity Celebration is a ceremony to celebrate those of racially and ethnically underrepresented identities. This celebration strives to provide a sense of community by bringing our diverse student...

Musical Studies Department Open House

Thursday, May 18, 2023
4:00 pm to 5:30 pm EDT
Conservatory Annex
An open house hosted by the Musical Studies Department faculty and staff.

Biology Department Open House

Saturday, May 20, 2023
9:00 am to 11:00 am EDT
Science Center
An open house hosted by the Biology Department faculty and staff.

Politics Department Open House

Saturday, May 20, 2023
9:00 am to 11:00 am EDT
Rice Hall
An open house hosted by the Politics Department faculty and staff.

Anthropology Department Open House

Saturday, May 20, 2023
10:30 am to 12:00 pm EDT
King Building
An open house hosted by the Anthropology Department faculty and staff. It will be held along with the Linguistics Department open house

Linguistics Department Open House

Saturday, May 20, 2023
10:30 am to 12:00 pm EDT
King Building
An open house hosted by the Linguistics Department faculty and staff. It will be held along with the Anthropology Department open house

Class of 2023 Family Social

Saturday, May 20, 2023
11:30 am to 1:00 pm EDT
Wilder Bowl
Enjoy an informal social celebration with graduates, family members, and guests. Light lunch fare and beverages will be served. Please register to attend .

OSCA Alumni Picnic

Saturday, May 20, 2023
12:30 pm to 2:30 pm EDT
Harkness Hall
OSCA & OSCAlums are excited to cooperatively host the 2023 OSCA Picnic! Please join us to collectively honor graduating students and their families, current OSCA members and OSCA Alumni returning...

Multifaith Baccalaureate Celebration

Saturday, May 20, 2023
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm EDT
Finney Chapel
The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life presents one of the signature Commencement weekend events at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 20th, in Finney Chapel. Photo by Walter Novak

Russian Department Open House

Saturday, May 20, 2023
2:30 pm to 4:30 pm EDT
Russian House (Allencroft)
An open house hosted by the Russian Department faculty and staff.

French and Italian Open House

Saturday, May 20, 2023
2:30 pm to 5:00 pm EDT
French House (la Maison Francophone or Bailey House)
The Department of French & Italian welcomes graduating students, their families and friends, and returning alumni for a reception at the Maison Francophone.

Organ Department Open House

Saturday, May 20, 2023
2:30 pm to 4:30 pm EDT
Warner Concert Hall
An open house hosted by the Organ Department faculty and staff.

Shansi Open House

Saturday, May 20, 2023
2:30 pm to 4:30 pm EDT
Shansi House
Shansi alumni, friends, community members, new Fellows and their families, and reunion attendees interested in Shansi’s efforts to connect Oberlin and Asia are invited to come by Shansi House...

Theater Department Open House

Saturday, May 20, 2023
2:30 pm to 5:00 pm EDT
Eric Baker Nord Performing Arts Annex Upper Lobby
An open house hosted by the Theater Department faculty and staff.

Environmental Studies Department Open House

Saturday, May 20, 2023
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm EDT
Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies
An open house hosted by the Environmental Studies Department faculty and staff.

Phi Beta Kappa Initiation Ceremony

Saturday, May 20, 2023
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm EDT
Perlik Commons, Science Center
Initiation Ceremony for students being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Families and Friends welcome.

Archives Display and Reception

Saturday, May 20, 2023
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm EDT
Mudd Center, Seeley G.
The Archives will have an exhibit open in conjunction with the Friends of the Libraries reception.

Women in History Performance

Saturday, May 20, 2023
3:00 pm EDT
Clark Bandstand, Tappan Square
This live, historical re-enactment will portray Sara Lucy Bagby, the last slave to be prosecuted as a runaway after the Fugitive Slave Act. She made it all the way to Cleveland, Ohio, before being...

Heisman Club Hall of Honor Ceremony

Saturday, May 20, 2023
3:00 pm to 4:30 pm EDT
Jesse Philips Physical Education Center
The Heisman Club Hall of Honor was created as a means to recognize individuals who have helped advance the goals of the athletics and physical education department in the areas of varsity sports,...

Organ Pump: Late Night Music and Antics

Saturday, May 20, 2023
10:30 pm to 11:30 pm EDT
Finney Chapel
Enjoy a fun-filled musical spectacle! Hilarity guaranteed. Sponsored by the Organ Pump Committee of Oberlin.

Shansi Breakfast

Sunday, May 21, 2023
8:30 am to 10:00 am EDT
Stevenson Hall
The Shansi Breakfast is a tradition from Oberlin Shansi, a non-profit affiliated with Oberlin that connects our campus to institutions in Asia. Shansi alumni, friends, new Fellows and their families...

Neuroscience Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
9:00 am to 11:00 am EDT
Science Center
An open house hosted by the Neuroscience Department faculty and staff.

Economics Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
10:00 am to 12:00 pm EDT
Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies
An open house hosted by the Economics Department faculty and staff.

Crimson and Gold Celebration

Sunday, May 21, 2023
10:30 am to 11:30 am EDT
Finney Chapel
A special convocation featuring President Carmen Twillie Ambar; a celebration of 50th reunion class giving; the presentation of Alumni Association awards; and an organ recital.

English Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm EDT
Peters Hall
An open house hosted by the English Department faculty and staff.

Cinema Studies Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm EDT
Peters Hall
An open house hosted by the Cinema Studies Department faculty and staff. It will be held along with the English Department open house.

Frank Lloyd Wright Open House / Commencement Reunion Weekend

Sunday, May 21, 2023
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT
Weltzheimer/Johnson House
The Weltzheimer/Johnson House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright will be open for public tours for graduating seniors and their families. The house is an example of Wright’s Usonian style and one...

Computer Science Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT
King Building
An open house hosted by the Computer Science Department faculty and staff. All CSCI Majors and Families are Welcome!

Dance Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT
Warner Center
An open house hosted by the Dance Department faculty and staff. The Dance Open House will be followed by the Commencement Contact Jam at 4pm in Warner Main Space

Geosciences Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT
Carnegie Building
An open house hosted by the Geosciences Department faculty and staff. Everyone is welcome!

Art History Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT
Clarence Ward Art Library
An open house hosted by the Art History Department faculty and staff.

Psychology Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT
Asia House (Quadrangle)
An open house hosted by the Psychology Department faculty and staff. If it rains, this will take place in the Bosworth Hall Front Lobby.

Bonner Center Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm EDT
Mudd Center, Seeley G.
An open house hosted by the Bonner Center faculty and staff. Bonner Alums please RSVP here to the event.

Mathematics Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT
King Building
An open house hosted by the Mathematics Department faculty and staff. We will be announcing this year's prize winners at 3pm!

Chemistry & Biochemistry Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT
Science Center
An open house hosted by the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department faculty and staff. From 2:15-3:00pm, we will have a short program recognizing each of our graduating seniors. While at our open...

Philosophy Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm EDT
King Building
An open house hosted by the Philosophy Department faculty and staff.

Classics Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm EDT
King Building
An open house hosted by the Classics Department faculty and staff.

Sociology Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm EDT
Peters Hall
An open house hosted by the Sociology Department faculty and staff.

Comparative Literature Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm EDT
Spanish House (La Casa Hispánica; Harvey House)
An open house hosted by the Comparative Literature Department faculty and staff.

Black Families Appreciation Ceremony and Dinner

Sunday, May 21, 2023
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm EDT
Warner Concert Hall
A pre-commencement event created to celebrate the graduation and accomplishments of students of the African diaspora. Kente Cloth stoles will be given to students at the ceremony. The Black Family...

Hispanic Studies Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm EDT
Spanish House (La Casa Hispánica; Harvey House)
An open house hosted by the Hispanic Studies Department faculty and staff.

History Department Open House

Sunday, May 21, 2023
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm EDT
Peters Hall
An open house hosted by the History Department faculty and staff.

Conservatory Reception

Sunday, May 21, 2023
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm EDT
David H. Stull Recital Hall
A celebratory reception congratulating the Class of 2023 and recognizing families and alumni of the conservatory and college music degree programs.

OCircus! Commencement Show

Sunday, May 21, 2023
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm EDT
Hales Gymnasium
OCircus! is back with their commencement show - the largest circus show of the year! Join our talented aerialists, acrobats, stilters, and jugglers as they perform an amazing show for you! This event...

Oberlin’s Acapella Groups Performance

Sunday, May 21, 2023
4:30 pm EDT
Finney Chapel
Join Oberlin’s acapella groups: The Obertones, Pitch Please, ‘Round Midnight, The Acapelicans, and Nothing but Treble for an afternoon of fun music, filled with pop, classics, and even a...

Illumination and Social on the Square

Sunday, May 21, 2023
7:30 pm EDT
Tappan Square
Experience Tappan Square at its most beautiful, with hundreds of colorful Japanese lanterns strung across the green. Join us for this Oberlin tradition that gathers faculty, alumni, graduates and...

Oberlin College Commencement

Monday, May 22, 2023
9:30 am to 12:30 pm EDT
Tappan Square
We will honor the graduates of the Class of 2023 with a Commencement Ceremony on Tappan Square.