Midway through semester, there are still plenty of events to be thankful for

Now that Halloween celebrations are over and students are counting down the days until Thanksgiving break, here's what they can do to keep busy and have fun around Rider in November.

These are this month's events students should not miss around the University.

1. Men's soccer final home game of the season

Come cheer on the defending MAAC champs during their final home game of the season! Rider’s men’s soccer team will host Saint Peter’s on Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. on Ben Cohen Field. Rider is now 5-0-1 in its last six games.

Nearly 1,000 fans cheered the team on in their 1-0 win over Fairfield on Oct. 22 at home, and on Oct. 29, during a battle between the top two teams in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the second place Broncs defeated the first place Quinnipiac Bobcats. The MAAC Championships are set to begin Saturday, Nov. 5.

Another reason to come: At halftime, one Rider student will be selected to take three penalty kicks on President Dell’Omo. Two goals score a $100 gift card to the bookstore!

2. Family Weekend

Family Weekend brings students and their families together for several days of fun. The annual event encourages students and families to visit Rider’s Lawrenceville and Princeton campuses and take part in favorite annual traditions.

From Friday, Nov. 4, through Sunday, Nov. 6, Rider will offer an array of activities and events that all can join. Westminster will be offering open choir rehearsals. In addition, Lawrenceville’s campus will feature a special version of Bronc Bingo, a live performance from the The Voice finalist Dez Duron, a comic-juggler performance from America’s Got Talent, a chance to play Family Feud, sports games, lunch and more.

3. Celebration of Lights/Lighting of the Library

Get into the holiday spirit with two annual events that bring lots of joy to the Rider community!

On Friday, Nov. 18, the merriment will begin at 6 p.m. in the SRC atrium with the Celebration of Lights, hosted by Rider’s Office of Multicultural Affairs. All cultural clubs at will come together in unison to honor their holiday traditions. A lighting ceremony will take place, along with a performance from the Gospel Choir.

At 7 p.m. the celebration will continue in front of Moore Library. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served during the countdown to the lighting of the entire library. In addition, the Cranberry King & Queen will be announced, crafts will be set up and a very special guest might appear!

This fun annual event gives students a cheery opportunity to get in the spirit of the upcoming holidays.

4. Color Run

Join Rider’s Panhellenic Council in its second annual Color Run. All Rider students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members are invited to participate in the Greek Life 5K Color Run/Walk on Saturday, Nov. 19.

The Color Run/Walk is one of Rider's happiest and most fun events. Participates are doused from head to toe in different colors as they pass every kilometer. All proceeds from the event will benefit Circle of Sisterhood, an organization whose mission is to remove educational barriers for girls and women facing poverty and oppression.

The run/walk will take place on the 400-meter track (located in the fields west of the main campus area in Lawrenceville). Registration begins promptly at 9 a.m. with the race beginning at 10 a.m.

Registration is $26.50 per person online. Onsite, day of race registration is available at a higher  price. Included in the race participation fee are a shirt, runner number bib and participant goodie-bag. To sign-up and for more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rider-panhellenic-council-2nd-annual-color-run-tickets-28457040775.

5. Thanksgiving Gathering

Every year the Rider community gathers in the Cavalla Room for good friends and cheer and a chance to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for. Athletes and administrative staff, including President Gregory G. Dell’Omo, will serve the feast, which includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and more.

Tickets for the Thanksgiving Gathering, which takes place Nov. 17, are available on the Lawrenceville campus at the Bart Luedeke Center Box office from 1 to 4 p.m. and on the Princeton campus in the Associate Dean of Students office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Faculty and staff are asked to bring a $5 donation when they pick up their ticket and students are asked to bring a canned good to the event to gain entrance to event.

In addition to a fancy feast, the luncheon will feature speakers from around the University who will speak about what they have to be thankful for during this season.

What else is going on this month?

• Judith Brodsky, who received an honorary doctorate from Rider last year, will give on Nov. 3 an artist’s talk about her new exhibition of prints and drawings on display in the Rider University Art Gallery.

• Rider will honor those who serve and have served during several events for Veterans Day. These include the annual flag planting on the Campus Mall on Nov. 9-10, a ceremony on Nov. 11 and special performances of Memorial Day, a play by alumnus Brian Delate ’75, combat veteran of the Vietnam War, on Nov. 11-12.

• David L. Cohen, Comcast’s senior executive vice president, will be the featured speaker during a special event on Nov. 14. He will give an insider’s view from a media and technology company on “The Business and Politics of Media.”

• Beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 16, Rider’s Musical Theatre's performances of White Christmas will debut. Based on the beloved, timeless film, this heartwarming musical adaptation tells the story of veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II.

Come support your Rider musical theatre students and perhaps see some familiar faces! Directed and choreographed by Rider's very own Robin Lewis, this group has been diligently working since October to present a loveable classic to the community.