Held each February in the Memorial Union Ballroom, the event brings together on- and off-campus resources to promote health and wellness for URI students

KINGSTON, R.I. – Feb. 2, 2026 – The spring semester at the University of Rhode Island marks the return of the annual Winter Wellness Fair, an event that has become increasingly popular on campus as colleges and universities nationwide continue to prioritize their students’ mental health.

Launched in 2022 by assistant director of health promotion and wellness Jessica Greene and health unit clerk Christine Hultquist, this year’s Winter Wellness Fair is Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom with campus departments and local vendors and organizations offering best practices, merchandise samples, and giveaways to promote health and wellness. The annual event is sponsored by URI Health Services’ Health Promotion department and is open to the public, including faculty, staff, and students.

Students can enjoy free hot chocolate and coloring at the “relaxation station,” participate in acupuncture therapy with substances prevention services specialist Arielle Sherman, or sample healthy snacks prepared by Dining Services chef manager Benjamin Blodgett. There’ll also be free popcorn courtesy of URI Police. Local vendors, including Kingston Cottage Candle Co., Ivy & Kay Collection, Ocean State Juice, and others, will provide retail options for attendees.

Students can also enter to win a wellness basket with various URI swag items by visiting each booth and having their “passport” stamped in addition to entering drawings for gift cards to local stores and restaurants.

As a bonus, this year’s fair will feature a gem and jewelry pop-up shop with gently used, donated jewelry for sale. Each item is priced between $1 and $8 with all proceeds benefitting the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County, which will also be in attendance sharing resources.

“It’s nice to have an event at this time of year as students are returning to class for the semester and getting back to their routines,” Hultquist said.

There will be approximately 40 groups tabling at the wellness fair, according to Hultquist, giving students the opportunity to connect with on-campus departments or “see what other options are out there in the local community.”

URI periodically held smaller wellness events prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but nothing on the scale of the Winter Wellness Fair. When Greene came on board in summer 2022, she wanted to create something broader that also drew in community resources. She teamed with Hultquist, who had organized the annual holiday mini-mall on campus through the Office of Student Involvement, to launch the first Winter Wellness Fair the following semester.

“Everything post-COVID was very much focused on mental health, so that was our priority,” Hultquist said.

“The idea for the fair came from the desire to engage with students in a fun and festive atmosphere and share wellness resources through interactive demonstrations and booths,” Greene said. “Students will learn about on and off campus resources, have the opportunity to learn about their blood pressure, skin cancer screenings, try auricular acupuncture, get free samples and speak with health professionals.”

The event, Hultquist said, is also an opportunity for on-campus resources like the Counseling Center, Health Services, and the Psychological Consultation Center to showcase their services and build more familiarity with students who may need assistance but don’t know where to look for help. Nutrition specialist Kelli Kidd, health and wellness specialist Rachael Musch, and violence prevention and advocacy services coordinator Kelley Ryan will be in attendance as part of the Health Promotion department team.

“You can never remind them enough,” Hultquist said. “It also helps to put a face to the department or resources and make students understand that these people are approachable and really want to help you.”

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Michael Parente, director of communications and marketing in the URI Division of Student Affairs, wrote this news release.