New activities, events to ring in the Memorial Union Terrace summer season

Earlier this semester, the first floor of Memorial Union reopened after four years of remodel construction with added open space and several new restaurants. In the next month, the Memorial Union Terrace will open for the summer season with some changes as well, including new events and additional services.

The Terrace summer schedule will feature new daytime entertainment, including many events centered around the arts, according to a Wisconsin Union press release. These will consist of a classical music series which will take place on select Sunday afternoon, as well as crafting activities such as “Paintaculars” at which attendees create paintings while being lead by an instructor.

The new artistic activities will occur along with returning entertainment, specifically the Terrace After Dark series. These events, which take place throughout the summer, will include outdoor film screenings on Mondays, as well as five additional films to be shown Sunday evenings, as part of the Lakeside Cinema series.

Musical performances will also be held on the Terrace stage as they have in past seasons—Wednesday will encourage audience participation during open mic night, bluegrass and Americana artists will take the stage Thursdays and jazz nights will be held Fridays. There will also be a tribute to drummer Clyde Stubblefield, according to Wisconsin Union President Deshawn McKinney.

McKinney said he hopes the new features will impact both members that traditionally visit as well as people that have not experienced the Terrace before.

“We also hope that the theme of newness can continue to spread into teh [sic] realm of ideas and creations that can help the Union do,” McKinney said in an email.

Additional outdoor recreational activities will also be available this summer. Outdoor UW will offer more water equipment for large groups to use. Hoofer Sailing Club members will have access to sailboats and sailing lessons. Activities such as Terrace Yoga will be held as they have in the past.

The Terrace does not have an official opening date yet, but it will most like be accessible mid-to late April depending on weather conditions, according to the release.

McKinney said even though he will not be around to enjoy the Terrace this summer, he looks forward to seeing how new and old features “flow.”

“I'm excited for the terrace to be bustling with life again, and to see all of those people having fun and filling themselves and the space with joy, especially with the improvements to the first floor of MU that'll allow for a seamless transition from indoor to outdoor spaces,” McKinney said.

UPDATE March 27, 5:21 p.m.: This story was updated to specify that only Hoofer Sailing Club members have access to sailboats, and the classical music series will take place on select Sundays as opposed to every Sunday.