Experience Mason Day 2026
Join us for George Mason's largest and longest-standing tradition! Mason Day is our end-of-year Spring Carnival that combines amusements, rides, games, food, music, and more! The 2026 Mason Day concert headliner is Waka Flocka Flame.
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This year's headliner is award-winning hip-hop artist Waka Flocka Flame.
He will be joined by indie pop band The Aces. Grab your pals and come out to catch them live on April 24 at Mason Day!
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Don't miss the biggest event of the year!
Featuring a HUGE carnival with rides, games, delicious treats, food trucks, inflatables, novelties, student performances all day, of course, our lovely Mason Day T-shirts and goodies (while supplies last)! All events are FREE* to Mason faculty, staff, and students.
*food trucks are not included in free activities
Experience Mason Day
shopMason Guide to Mason DayAll Day Fun & Games!
Ready for a day of fun? Check out all the available rides and amusement games we will have at Mason Day!
Rides
Height restrictions apply. See colerides.com for details. Not recommended for children under 36" tall.
Read more about what's in store at Mason Day 2026!
Activities + DIYs
- DIY Ring & Friendship Bracelet Stamping
- Tactile Make & Takes
- Ooblek, kinetic sand, and slime
- Gem Mining
- Pucker Powder
- Aromatherapy Inhalers
- Trick Your Tee
- Laser Tag
Midway Mania:
- Games:
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- 9-hole Mini Golf
- Bust One case game
- Candy Wheel case game
- Coin Toss case game
- Fish Bowl case game
- Hit the Bucket case game
- Slam Dunk case game
- Bingo Ball case game
- Chicken Flight School
- Duck Pond
- Ring the Bottle case game
- Giant Jenga
- Giant Connect 4
- PhotoBoxx Photo Booth
Low Sensory Zone:
- Activities:
- Coloring sheets
- Cyanotype (UV reactive “shadow” paper)
- Card games
- & More
Artist Alley: 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Balloon Twisters
- Face Painting
- Airbrush Tattoos
- Speed Sketcher Caricature Artists
Novelty Nook: Timed Release Schedule (while supplies last)
3:30 pm – 4:45 pm
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- Stuff-a-Plush Round 1: Black Bear & Squirrel Skins
- DIY License Plates with 3 session exclusive sticker choices
- 5:00 pm – 6:15 pm
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- Stuff-a-Plush Round 2: Axolotl & Stingray Skins
- DIY License Plates with 3 session exclusive sticker choices
- 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm
- DIY License Plates with 3 session exclusive sticker choices
- Stuff-a-Plush Round 3: Sasquatch & Alien Skins
CARNIVAL FOOD TRAILERS:
- Popcorn, cotton candy, candy and caramel apples, snow cones, caramel corn, and sodas
- Lemonade, frozen lemonade, corn dogs
- Funnel cake, elephant ears, fried Oreos, soda
Savory
- Yummie Thai Kitchen – https://www.instagram.com/yummietk/
- Fosters Grille of Vienna – https://www.fostersgrille.com/
- Fireside Kabobs on Wheels – https://www.instagram.com/firesidekabobonwheels/
- Mission BBQ – https://mission-bbq.com/
- Good Day Crepe – https://www.gooddaycrepe.com/
- Roaming Coyote – https://theroamingcoyote.com/
Sweet
- King of Pops – https://www.instagram.com/kop_chantilly/
- Rita’s Italian Ice – https://www.instagram.com/ritasoffairfax
- Vivi Bubble Tea – https://www.vivibubbleteava.com/
- My Alfajor – https://myalfajor.com/
- Ben & Jerry’s – https://www.benjerry.com/nova-catering
- Nothing Bundt Cakes – https://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/find-a-bakery/va/fairfax/bakery-305.html
Ticketing & Admission
- Students, Faculty, Staff and can attend Mason Day!
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- Entry is free for Mason students, faculty, and staff (all Mason IDs must be active and valid.)
- Each Mason ID holder may bring one guest, who must purchase a guest ticket.
• Visit https://masoncard.gmu.edu/ for more information about ID cards.
Each Mason ID holder may bring (1) guest, who must purchase a guest ticket.
- Pricing: Guest tickets for Mason Day are $45, and must be purchased in person at the EagleBank Arena Box Office.
- Each Mason ID holder may bring (1) non-student guest. Guests must enter with their host.
- Ticket sales window: Wednesday, April 8 at 12 p.m. through Friday, April 24 at 9:30 p.m.
- Ride & Entry Height Notes: Guests over 36″ require a paid ticket; those under 36″ are free, but cannot ride carnival rides.
- Rain notice: Mason is a rain or shine event, and we do not offer refunds for guest tickets.
- Free admission includes: unlimited rides on carnival attractions, games, activities, novelties, all performances and headliner concert.
- Not included in admission: Food trucks, carnival food, and vendors are not included in admission.
- Ride & Entry Height Notes: Guests over 36″ require a paid ticket; those under 36″ are free, but cannot ride carnival rides.
- The Eagle Bank Arena box office accepts all major credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, and Discover) and contactless payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Tap-to-Pay).
For more information, visit the EagleBank Arena Box Office.
Frequently asked questions
Mason Day takes place rain or shine. That being said, we may choose to shut down or delay Mason Day in the case of lightning, major national weather warnings, or natural disasters. Please follow @masonpatriots to get updates and information about Mason Day.
Here is a link to Mason’s policies regarding pets on campus: https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/animal-control/
Mason Day, like most other events produced by Student Involvement, is intended for an audience that is 18 or over. Minors must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This is an event intended for college-aged students and above and may not be suitable for young children.
Bag Policy
- Bags must be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC with no obscured inside pockets.
- Bag must not exceed 12"x12"x5".
Non-Clear clutch style bag or purse
- Must not exceed 5"x7"
Bottle Policy
- Water bottles will not be allowed inside Mason Day, reusable or single use.
- We will have multiple complimentary water stations around the event.
- Any type of self propelled or motorized vehicle, including but not limited to:
- Skateboards, OneWheels, Hoverboard, etc.
- Bicycles & mini bikes
- Scooters
- Unicycles
- Rollerblades/ Skates
- Any outside drink containers, single use or reusable.
- Bags noncompliant to our 2026 Bag & Bottle policy. (See FAQ above for more.)
