36th Annual Pembroke Day brings UNCP and community together

For more than 30 years, Pembroke Day has brought UNC Pembroke and the Town of Pembroke together for an afternoon of connection, discovery and celebration.

The 36th annual Pembroke Day will be held Thursday, Oct. 8, from 3-7 p.m. on the Quad at the Lowry Bell Tower. The event is free and open to the campus and local community. In case of inclement weather, the rain date is Thursday, Oct. 15.

Pembroke Day is one of the university’s longest-running traditions. Established in 1990, the event was created as a collaborative effort between the university and the Town of Pembroke and continues to strengthen connections between the campus and the community.

Over the years, the event has become an opportunity for students to discover the people, organizations and resources that make up the community surrounding campus. At the same time, local businesses, nonprofits, healthcare organizations and other community partners have an opportunity to connect directly with the university’s students, faculty and staff.

“Pembroke Day represents the connection between UNCP and the community we call home,” said Paul Jolicoeur, executive director for External Affairs. “It gives our students an opportunity to discover what is available to them both on campus and throughout the town, while giving our community partners an opportunity to engage with the university. After 36 years, that connection remains at the heart of the event.”

This year, there will be more than 100 vendors, including local businesses, nonprofits, healthcare agencies and student organizations. Attendees can visit informational booths, learn about campus organizations and community resources, connect with local businesses and organizations, and enjoy food trucks, health screenings and other activities throughout the afternoon.

Entertainment will be provided by the Pembroke Singers, UNCP Concert Band and the Spirit of the Carolinas marching band.

Health programming has been a recurring component of Pembroke Day, and Student Health Services will coordinate this year’s health fair.

“Whether someone is looking for a student organization to join, a local business to support, a community organization to volunteer with or simply a place to meet their neighbors, Pembroke Day is about making those connections,” Jolicoeur said.