Annual events
college of the atlantic
Yearly traditions and celebrations
From braving the chilly Atlantic to celebrating a well-earned diploma, College of the Atlantic’s traditions bring our community together in unforgettable ways. Every season offers opportunities to connect, reflect, and celebrate—both on campus and around Mount Desert Island.
Fall traditions
Convocation and Bar Island Swim
We open the year with convocation: a community gathering with inspiring speeches from COA leadership and alumni. Afterward, brave students, faculty, and staff plunge into Frenchman Bay for the Bar Island Swim—an optional but exhilarating tradition.
Family Weekend and Community Show
Every October, families are invited to campus during Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend. Activities include class visits, a presidential welcome, trips aboard R/V Osprey, and the lively Community Show where students display their many talents.
Winter traditions
Fireside Fridays
Each week in Deering Common, cozy up by the fire with knitting, reading, cookies, and coffee. A perfect way to unwind with friends.
Aurora Ballealis
COA’s creative twist on the classic winter formal. Students don imaginative outfits and dance the night away to live music under sparkling lights.
Spring traditions
Springtime Teatime
When the weather warms, Fireside Fridays move outside! Join us on the lawn for tea, cookies, crafts, and conversation.
Earth Day
Led by students, Earth Day at COA features speakers, workshops, local food, and music. It’s a vibrant celebration of sustainability and action.
Family Weekend and Community Show
Every October, families are invited to campus during Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend. Activities include class visits, a presidential welcome, trips aboard R/V Osprey, and the lively COA Community Show where students display their many talents.
Summer traditions
Commencement
Graduates, families, and the entire COA community gather under the tent on the North Lawn to celebrate the culmination of years of hard work. Always the first Saturday in June.
Special events during Commencement Week include a senior project presentation, community ice cream social, and the President’s Reception for graduates and their families.
Alumni Weekend
Each summer, COA welcomes alumni back for a weekend of reconnection, reflection, and celebrations spanning five decades of COA history.
Spotlight: Family Weekend
October 9–10, 2026
Fall is the perfect time to visit Mount Desert Island: the foliage is stunning, campus life is in full swing, and the pace of Bar Harbor slows just enough to savor.
Activities include:
- Sitting in on open classes
- Meeting the president at the welcome reception
- Dinner at Blair Dining Hall
- Boat trips on R/V Osprey
- Tours of COA farms
- Hiking in Acadia National Park
Spotlight: 53rd Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, June 6, 2026 | 2 p.m. | North Lawn
A celebration of student journeys, challenges overcome, and futures launched.
- Keynote speaker: Bayo Akomolafe, posthumanist philosopher, poetic thinker, and visionary cultural critic.
- President’s Reception: Friday, June 5, 2025
- Senior project presentations: Friday, June 5, 2025
- Ice cream social: Wednesday, June 3, 2025
Commencement FAQs
Yes! Invitations will be mailed to families during the spring term. Keep your mailing address updated with the Advancement Office.
Yes. Reserved seating is available by request for accessibility needs and memorial dedications. Complete the ADA/memorial seat form here.
Deadlines for regalia, senior projects, and academic requirements are posted on the Registrar’s page and senior resources portal.
Besides the ceremony, seniors and families can join the President’s Reception, ice cream social, and senior project presentation for more moments of celebration and connection.
Campus parking is limited—students and families are encouraged to bike, walk, or rideshare when attending events.
Stories from the Field
Bayo Akomolafe to deliver keynote address at COA’s 53rd Commencement
Posthumanist philosopher and poetic cultural theorist Dr. Bayo Akomolafe will present the keynote address at College of the Atlantic’s 53rd Commencement on Saturday, June 6, at 2 p.m. The event is open to members of the COA community, friends, family, and supporters. A widely celebrated international speaker, poet, teacher, self-styled… Read More
A life of meaning: COA grads encouraged to serve something greater
A call to embrace a life of purpose and contribute to something greater than oneself was at the heart of former Syrian political prisoner Omar Alshogre’s keynote address at College of the Atlantic’s 52nd commencement. Read More
Human rights advocate is 52nd Commencement speaker
Syrian political prisoner Omar Alshogre champions truth, reconciliation, and a future built on justice and dignity. Read More