Sports and Outdoor Activities

The Little Bob Gym: Free for students (who pay the graduate recreation fee), the UD gym contains the space and equipment for almost any of your needs:

• • • Cardio and strength equipment
    • Basketball, racquetball, squash, volleyball, and badminton courts
    • Olympic size swimming pool
    • Rock climbing wall
    • Group fitness and crossfit classes (for a fee)
    • Personal training (for a fee)
    • Swim classes (for a fee)

Outdoor Pool: Pool for public and UD student/staff use. $15/day to use.

Ice Skating at Fred Rust Ice Arena: On winter weekends, the main ice arena opens for public ice skating sessions. Entrance is free for UD students, and skate rentals are $5. Learn to skate classes are available as well.

Intramural Sports Teams: UD offers a variety of sports leagues and tournaments for students that give an opportunity for all skill levels to participate in friendly competition. The sports include volleyball, basketball, dodgeball, soccer, badminton and many more. The cost is a one time per year $25, which allows participation in as many teams and tournaments as you wish. Seasons generally last 4-5 weeks and then a week of playoffs. Some sports have graduate only leagues. Check for communications from MEGA about department teams.

Sporting Events: The University of Delaware Fighting Blue Hens Division 1 sports teams play all throughout the year and all events are free for students. Bring your UD ID card to watch any sporting event, which includes football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, soccer, field hockey, and many more.

Arts and Theater

Music Performances: The University of Delaware Department of Music has multiple concerts every week with a variety of bands, orchestras, small ensembles, and outside guests. Performances may be ticketed, but they are fantastic. Check out their list of upcoming events.

Resident Ensemble Players: the University’s resident professional acting company, has captivated audiences with a wide variety of classic, modern and contemporary productions​ for nearly 15 years. From intimate three-person modern comedies to large-cast Shakespearean dramas, the REP presents the plays of master storytellers from our dramatic heritage that entertain, educate, challenge and inspire.

Student Theater and Dance: Student led theater, musical, and dance performances including E-52 Student Theatre and Harrington Theatre Arts company.

Keep an eye out for other programs put on by student clubs, including drag shows hosted by the Lavendar Programming Board, UDFSA’s Annual Culture Night, and the Annual Spring Concert which has brought in artists including Chance The Rapper and Tinashe. Parent’s Weekend (usually each October) typically includes a comedy show open to all students and families, which recently have included John Mulaney and the cast of Whose Line Is It Anyway.

Public Parks

Newark Parks: Local city parks with greenspace, playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, soccer and baseball fields, running and biking trails, and pavillions for rent. Pomeroy trail connects Newark to White Clay Creek State Park.

Glasgow Regional Park: A great park for to relax and enjoy the outdoors. There are walking/running trails, a dog park and skate park, basketball courts, tennis courts, and pavilions to rent out for event space.

White Clay Creek State Park: Lots of trails for hiking, running, and mountain biking, and great scenery close to campus. Most Delaware state parks charge a parking fee.

Fair Hill: Located just over the Maryland border, this MD state park is only 10-15 minutes from Newark, and features many trails for hiking, running, and mountain biking. Fair Hill has a strong equestrian tradition, featuring one of the premier equestrian events in the world, and a horse-back riding center for the public to book trail rides. Check out the nature center, open on weekends Spring-Fall.

Brandywine Creek and Lums Pond State Parks: Delaware state parks with hiking, running, and equestrian trails, as well as fishing and rentable event space.

Gardens

Longwood Gardens, Wintherthur Estate, and the Nemours Estate are all former DuPont family properties that have been repurposed into public gardens, houses, and museums and are very popular tourist spots in the area, as well as nice places to spend a day. Longwood Gardens is a 1077 acre botanical garden in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and is one of the premier botanical gardens in the US (voted best garden in the country in 2025). This is a must visit during the holidays, and check out their list of events and performances, including the ever popular fountain shows!

Nightlife

Newark has an active nightlife, although during the semester you will be sharing the space with many undergrads. Popular bars include Grottos, and upstairs at Kate’s and Deerpark Tavern. Many bars and restaurants in town host weekly trivia nights, check out their facebook or websites for more details. 

Perkins Live and Trabant Now: University run Friday and Saturday night programs for all UD students that take place at the student centers. Events include comedians, musicians, game nights and much more. Perkins and Trabant student centers are also host to a movie theater, Esports arena, Hen Zone game room, and a graduate student lounge.

Days of Knights: Are you into Magic the Gathering, YuGiOh, or just board games in general? The Days of Knights on Main Street hosts game nights that include Magic the Gathering, Star Wars, board games, and many other special events.

Trolley Square: If you are looking for spaces without undergrads during the year, your closest option would be the Trolley Square neighborhood in Wilmington. The neighborhood is home to a lively pub and nightlife scene, and is popular among those in their mid-20s.

Main Street Movies 5: The newly renovated local movie theater on Main Street in the Newark Shopping Center has 5 movie theaters with reclining seats and special deals throughout the week. It is a family owned and operated theater, and all movies on Tuesday are $6. Prices for movies range from $8-$12, depending on the time and type of movie.

Other Popular Destinations and Activities

Delaware Beaches: Southern Delaware’s coastline is along the Atlantic Ocean, and is dotted with bustling beach towns and more secluded park beaches. For a family friendly atmosphere check out Rehoboth or Bethany Beach. If an active nightlife is more your speed, consider Dewey beach. Close by is Cape Henlopen State Park, filled with pristine beaches and WWII history. Check out UD’s Lewes campus, and take the Cape May-Lewes ferry for a day trip to New Jersey. Buses run from northern Delaware to the beaches daily during the season (Memorial Day to Labor Day).

Christiana Mall: Delaware is the home of tax free shopping! Christiana mall is the largest mall in Delaware, and one of the most popular malls in the surrounding states. Filled with popular stores and good restaurants, the mall is a popular spot to pass a day. Next to the mall is an AMC movie theater, Costco, and more outdoor stores.

Lums Pond Go Ape: Navigate exhilarating suspended obstacles, epic zip lines, and take in amazing views at this Treetop Adventure in Bear, only 20-25 minutes outside of Newark. This 2-3 hour adventure lets you get outdoors in a really interesting way by using a variety of skills. It can be a bit pricey ($40-60 depending on the course), but is very fun.

Milburn Orchards: A great place to go during the fall to go apple and pumpkin picking, as well as to get apple cider, donuts, ice cream, pumpkins, grapes, blueberries, and other fruit. Check what apples are in season and what other events are being offered throughout the spring, summer, and fall.