El Centro Upcoming Events
Fall 2026 Events
August
Golden Welcome Week*
First-Floor Lobby | Aug. 24–27, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Kick off the semester with Cafecito Con Pan! Meet staff, ask questions, and connect with peers during your first week at El Centro.
Paint and Sip Pet Café
Community Room | August 26, 11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Paint your own cups and enjoy the presence of therapy dogs.
Tie-Dye and THRIVE
Create your own tie-dye shirt and mingle with fellow students.
September – Latine Heritage Month
Tarde De Loteria
Community Room | Sept. 2 , 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Join us for nonstop games of Loteria with prizes. Snacks provided!
DIY Papel Picado
Community Room | Sept. 9, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Create your own papel picado to display either at ELC or at home.
La Taquiza
ELC Parking Lot | Sept. 16, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m..
Celebrate with tacos, dessert, music, and activities as part of Latine Heritage Month.
Homecoming Week: Paint and Sip At El Centro*
First-Floor Lobby | Sept. 17, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Join us for a Homecoming event in collaboration with Alumni Relations.
Alebrije Workshop*
Third-Floor Lobby | Sept. 21, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Create your own wooden alebrije with beautiful colors. Limited space, please register on CampusGroups!!
Movie Screening: La Misma Luna*
ELC 201 | Sept. 24, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
La Misma Luna will be shown along with popcorn. There will be a discussion following the movie screening, this will be a safe space and we need everyone's cooperation as this movie deals with heavy topics. (Viewer discretion is advised)
October
Horror Movie Night @ El Centro: Obsession
ELC 201 | Oct. 14, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Chills and thrills at El Centro! Come and watch Obsession with your friends and enjoy some popcorn! (Viewer discretion is advised)
Monster Mash: Pumpkin Carving Contest
First-Floor Lobby | Oct. 19, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Come and carve your best pumpkin alongside your friends, winner gets prizes! Snacks & refreshments will be provided while a movie plays in the background.
FAFSA Workshop
Third-Floor Lobby | Oct. 24, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
FAFSA workshop guided by Financial Aid. This workshop will focus on how to fill out your FAFSA and best practices regarding the application.
Dia De Los Muertos: Sugar Skulls
Computer Lab | Oct. 29, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
A sugar skull (calavera de azúcar) is a decorated skull, traditionally molded from sugar and adorned with colorful icing, foil, and often a name, that is made for Mexico’s Día de los Muertos to honor and celebrate deceased loved ones, usually placed on ofrendas (home altars).
November
Dia De Los Muertos Altar
Third-Floor Lobby | Oct 26-Nov. 2,
The table for the Dia De Los Muertos Altar will be placed in the first floor lobby. It is open to all students, staff, and community members who frequent El Centro. Please add any contributions to the altar if you would like!
Fall Into Financial Success
ELC 110 | Nov. 4, 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Presentation on how to build your financial future. This workshop will focus on spending habits, credit cards, budgeting and tips to build on your foundation and how to make sure you are set for the future. Food will be provided!
Cartas Del Corazon: First Gen Stories
Third-Floor Lobby | Nov. 5, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Tell your first-gen college experience story through art and create a card to display in the or take home!
Stress Free Zone:
Third-Floor Lobby | Nov. 9, 2:45 - 4:00 p.m.
Unwind before finals with coffee! In collaboration with Student Health Services.
Resource Fair: Community Collaboration
First-Floor Lobby | Nov. 18, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Get to know your community resources and organizations. This is a collaboration with the neighboring partners who make El Centro a resource center as well.
El Mercadito
First-Floor Lobby | Nov. 23, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Come and shop with local vendors! We will have an assortment of products from arts and crafts to food and drinks! Participation in this event will enter you in a raffle to win select items from the vendors.
December
Finals Stress-Free Zone: Cookie Decoration*
First-Floor Lobby | Dec. 2, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Take a break from finals with cookies, relaxation, and support. We will have coffee, hot chocolate, and of course cookies!
Holiday Traditions: Las Posadas
First-Floor Lobby | Dec. 3, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Celebrate the holiday season with food, music, piñatas, and games in this cultural tradition. Las Posadas are a Mexican and Latin American Christmas tradition held nightly from December 16 to 24, in which people process from house to house reenacting Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging in Bethlehem, singing a call-and-response song at each door until they’re finally welcomed in for, food like tamales and ponche, and a piñata.
Ongoing Weekly Events
- Recreational Tuesday – First-Floor Lobby, Noon - 3:00 p.m.*
- Walking Wednesday – Indoors/Outside, 1:15 p.m.*
* Only for students.