RIT’s Brick City Weekend filled with dozen of activities and reunions

Dozens of events are planned–from sports, tours, entertainers, music, and dance–for Rochester Institute of Technology’s Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend, Oct. 18-20.

Thousands of the more than 150,000 RIT alumni and their families, as well as current RIT students, faculty, staff, and retirees, are expected on campus for the events.

“Whether you are a hockey fan, love dance performances and music, enjoy big laughs at a comedy show, or seek inspiration from our special guest and Marvel superhero, Alaqua Cox, the weekend promises a diverse range of activities for alumni, students, faculty, staff, and families alike,” said Lisa Stein, executive director for events and conferences at RIT.

Marvel Cinematic Universe actress Alaqua Cox, and Charlie Berens, a stand-up comedian who enjoys poking fun at his Midwestern background, are featured guests in the Gordon Field House and Activities Center.

Cox, a deaf actress known for her breakout role as Maya Lopez and Echo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will be the guest at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19. Tickets for her discussion are $10 for RIT students, and $25 for all others.

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Alaqua Cox, right, who portrays Echo on Disney+. Credit: Disney

Cox appeared as Echo in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, which debuted in late 2021. This year, all five episodes of her solo spin-off series, Echo, premiered on Hulu and Disney+.

She was born and raised on the Menominee Indian Reservation in Keshena, Wisconsin and is of the Menominee and Mohican nation. Since landing her acting role after friends urged her to apply, she has become an inspiration to many and continues to be a strong advocate for the deaf community.

“It feels like a huge honor to be representing all these underrepresented communities. I want kids to be able to see themselves and feel worthy. We deserve this space in this moment. I am so happy Hollywood is making these changes and accommodations for us. It’s a great time to live right now,” she said on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Berens, a Wisconsin native, has been featured on networks including Comedy Central, Fox, CBS, and TBS. He provides weekly content on social media for his 9 million followers.

In 2013, Berens won an Emmy Award for “The Cost of Water” while reporting for KDAF in Dallas. In 2017, he created the online comedic news show, Manitowoc Minute, and he added weekly Midwest-focused sketch comedy videos on his social media platforms.

His bestselling book, The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink and Eat … Everything With Ranch, was released in 2021 and spawned three stand-up tours. He also hosts the Cripescast podcast where he interviews musicians, artists, comedians, creators, and more about their stories and connections to the Midwest.

His appearance is open to the public at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18. Tickets are $10 for RIT students; $25 for RIT guests, family, alumni, faculty, and staff; and $40 for the public.

Both presentations are open to the public. Ticket information and registration can be made on RIT’s Brick City Weekend website.

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A packed house watches men’s hockey play Notre Dame at the Blue Cross Arena during last year's Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend. Credit: Carlos Ortiz/RIT

Many of RIT’s individual colleges are scheduling events of their own for their students, their families, and alumni. Other events have a wide appeal and are open to all.

More than a dozen performing arts events,  ranging from dance, singing, concerts, and steel drums; and Mt. Hope Cemetery Tours, where Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass are buried, will be offered on Friday and Saturday for $15. Food trucks will also be on site.

• Thursday, Oct. 17, and Friday, Oct. 18, women’s hockey vs. RPI, 6-8:30 p.m., in the Gene Polisseni Center. Free.
• Friday, Oct. 18, 50 Years of NTID Performing Arts – Dyer Exhibit, Dyer Arts Center, Lyndon Baines Johnson Hall, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.
• Friday, Oct. 18, Bevier Gallery Exhibition: After the Charrette, Booth Hall, room 2600. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
• Friday, Oct. 18, men’s soccer vs. Skidmore, Tiger Stadium (Doug May Field), 4-6:30 p.m. Free.
• Saturday, Oct. 19, Build-A-Tiger, the SHED, room 3350. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $35.
• Saturday, Oct. 19, Popular Music Collective, several bands and groups perform, Munson Music Loft, the SHED, room 2120. 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.
• Saturday, Oct. 19, Family Fun Zone, interactive experiences for all ages, including arcade games, an obstacle course, and inflatable bounce house, Frank Ritter Memorial Arena, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 19, Rochester City Ballet, the SHED Dance Studio, room 1140. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.
• Saturday, Oct. 18, men’s soccer vs. RPI, Tiger Stadium (Doug May Field), 2-4:30 p.m. Free.
• Saturday, Oct. 19, men’s hockey vs. Bowling Green, Blue Cross Arena, downtown Rochester, 7:05 p.m. Shuttles will start from campus at 5 p.m. Tickets range from $9 to $25.
• Sunday, Oct. 20, Brick City Weekend 5K. 10-11 a.m. $25; free for students.

Go to the Brick City Weekend website for more activities, registration, and ticketing information.