As students trickle back onto campus, the days between moving in and the start of classes are great opportunities to explore events and activities on campus and in the surrounding area. 

While some events like the various concerts during Welcome Week are highly anticipated each year, other activities, such as the many nearby museums, might be lesser known to students. 

Here are some fun things to do before the start of the semester to truly embrace the Trojan experience:

USC Surplus Sales Pop-Up Shop

The USC Surplus Store might be one of USC’s best hidden gems. The online storefront allows those with a University email address to shop furniture and other household items donated by fellow students and faculty.

The store is hosting three pop-up events where students can shop discounted secondhand items and find that missing piece for their dorms or apartments. Selections of decor, office supplies, electronics and more will be refreshed for each event, according to the store’s website. 

Find the pop-up on Aug. 19 and 21 at the Hancock Foundation Building Lawn, near the Traveler statue, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Aug. 20, head to McClintock Lawn at USC Village from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to catch the pop-up. 

Campus music events

The Trojan Welcome Experience brings events like the Welcome Back Concert, New Student Convocation and other new student events to campus each year. As part of that programming, three big music-related events are happening ahead of classes this month. All event registration is open on EngageSC.

For USC Housing residents, Light Up the Night brings a DJ dance party, food trucks, photo-ops and other interactive experiences to a few locations around campus. From 8 to 11 p.m. on Aug. 19, head to Founders Park, Queen’s Courtyard, Trousdale Parkway and Dr. Medicine Crow Center Courtyard to partake in the festivities. 

SPARK!, the University’s annual Arts Kickoff and Festival hosted by USC Visions and Voices, is celebrating its 21st year with 11 student and alumni performances, arts and crafts, sweet treats, and more. The festival is set to take place Aug. 20 from 8 to 11 p.m. at McCarthy Quad, and admission is free for current students, faculty and staff. 

Catch performances by student bands and Grammy-nominated rapper Aminé at the Welcome Back Concert. Tickets are free for the Aug. 21 concert, which will run from 5 to 10 p.m. at McCarthy Quad. 

Free movie screenings

For movie buffs, Alessandro Ago, assistant dean of programming and special events for the School of Cinematic Arts, sends information on free movie screenings at USC and various SCA-related opportunities to the mailing list. To sign up, all students have to do is email “subscribe” to [email protected]. 

Usually, screenings take place at the Ray Stark Family Theater, but on Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. a special advance screening of “Hot Spot” will be held at AMC The Grove 14. The science fiction film follows a murder investigation set in a society run by sentient artificial intelligence. Tickets are free and open to the public, but advance registration is required on SCA’s website.

Museums

There are a few museums around University Park Campus. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the California Science Center and the California African American Museum can all be found in Exposition Park, across the street from campus. All three provide USC students free entry.

Museum-goers can also visit on-campus archives like the Fisher Museum of Art, which reopened from its summer closure on Aug. 18. From Aug. 18 to March 13, 2027, the museum will have an exhibit on the contributions of architect Paul R. Williams, who designed over 2,000 homes in L.A. and was the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects. Museum admission is free and no tickets are needed.