EAST SIDE FESTIVAL 2026
Join us for a celebration of the history and culture of the East Side! There will be food, art, building tours, a fire spinning show , and many other fun & family-friendly activities for cruft and current students alike!
RSVP
With our RSVP form:
👉 👉 👉 https://forms.gle/Ngr1jTnYPCkAaYrc9 👈 👈 👈
Make sure you bring your MIT ID or government ID to check-in at the entrance.
Current MIT Undergrads do not need to RSVP.
Dates & Locations
ESF 2026 will be held on Friday, 1 May 2026 and Saturday, 2 May 2026.
It will be located almost entirely in the EAST CAMPUS COURTYARD (3 ames st) and in the building itself. Rain location tentatively in building 66.
Event Schedule
Heads up: Steer Roast
Both Friday and Saturday night, the Senior House Alumni Corporation is hosting Steer Roast. Check their website for schedules and info!
FAQs
Is ESF the same as Steer Roast? If I register for one, do I still need to register for the other?
While happening in coordination, ESF and Steer Roast (link to Steer Roast’s webpage) are different events. Should you plan on attending both, you should register for them separately.
What if I missed the RSVP window, can I show up day-of?
While you can still show up day of, please RSVP (even if its just a day in advance!).
What has been happening to East Campus??!
East Campus closed for renovations at the end of Spring 2023 and reopened in Fall 2025. For an introduction to the renovations, please check out https://ec.mit.edu/renfaq. You can also check out the official MIT page on the EC renovation at https://studentlife.mit.edu/about-dsl/strategic-priorities/key-initiatives-student-life-renewal-amp-renovations/east-campus-renovation/.
Can I still tour EC/visit the courtyard/walk the halls?
YES!! That is one of our goals of this event, for the alumni to go back to their old halls and see what’s up and what has changed! You will be able to go on tours and see what life is like at East Campus now.
I still have so many questions!
That’s great! We are so happy to hear that alumni are invested in the current status of the East Side. East Side Festival is a great time to talk to undergrads and hear more about the current state of things. Reach out to esf-chairs-2026@mit.edu with your questions!
Giving to East Campus
As you know East Campus does a lot of things, including hosting the annual East Side Festival! ESF is always free to all attendees, and all costs are paid by East Campus. If you want to help us continue holding this event, please consider making a gift to East Campus on Giving to MIT. Even though it's through the MIT giving website, all donations go directly to East Campus For other ways to donate, please reach out to ec-treasurer@mit.edu.
There will also be opportunities to buy merch or donate at ESF itself. Of course, gifts are not required, and you attendance at ESF is plenty of a gift by itself <3
Contact Us
If you have questions about event logistics or anything else you need answered, reach us at esf-chairs-2026@mit.edu