The most popular and colourful day of Welcome Week gets underway tomorrow morning as thousands of University of the Sunshine Coast students join in a New Semester Fiesta.

Celebrations around the Library between 9am and 3pm will include a Market Square with diverse stalls and student clubs, a Players’ Pitch with an obstacle race, Quidditch game and barefoot bowls, and Fun and Games with giant Twister, a sticky inflatable wall and more.

The Brasserie will host a Mexican Cantina between 1pm and 3pm, as a mariachi band and singer-songwriter Carl Wockner boost the party mood for new and returning students on campus at Sippy Downs.

A Connect to Country from 9am will include a Gubbi Gubbi dance performance with traditional fire-lighting and an official launch of the Water Refill Campus at 11.30am will be presented by USC and ProAcqua Australia.

“Career speed dating” will be an attraction of the Career Lab in Building E between 9am and 3pm.

USC Welcome Week, which started today, runs until Friday 27 February. Almost 4,000 new students will join about 7,000 current students when Semester 1 starts on Monday 2 March.

Thursday 26 February will feature the USC Student Guild’s ‘Last Chance at Childhood’ celebrations at the Uni Club, including a Clubs and Societies Fair, slack-lining competition with USC Activate, music, food and games into the evening.

USC Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Birgit Lohmann said Orientation provided plenty of opportunities for new students to get to know their campus, its facilities and services, before classes started.

“I encourage all USC students to attend Welcome Week to prepare for their studies in 2015 while having some fun and making new friends,” she said.

The week’s program includes practical sessions on degree programs, IT and library use, and student support services.

Academics and administrative staff, student ambassadors and mentors will be answering individual questions, while a Parent Lounge will be set up in the Library.

Click here for a timetable and further information

— Julie Schomberg