Rain is on the way this weekend. What does that mean for Cal Poly’s Open House?

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo invited prospective students, their families and the public to a variety of events during its 31st Open House this week — but a brief rain storm could put a damper on some of the festivities.

San Luis Obispo could be showered with more than an inch of rain this weekend, with most of the rain forecast for Friday night and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Cal Poly canceled Saturday’s Poly Royal Parade, and moved some Open House events indoors to avoid the rain, according to university spokesperson Keegan Koberl.

Regardless of the weather, there will still be plenty of activities to enjoy at Cal Poly’s Open House — a longstanding university tradition that’s been in place since 1994.

“Open House gives prospective students a chance to experience Cal Poly’s unique Learn by Doing philosophy through events hosted by their colleges as well as other events and experiences,” Koberl said.

Events planned for Cal Poly Open House

Cal Poly will kick off the festivities with Campus Preview Night at the downtown San Luis Obispo Farmers Market from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday. There, Cal Poly organizations and student clubs will set up booths to talk with prospective students.

On Friday, Cal Poly will start Admitted Students Discovery Day at 9 a.m. with a speech from university President Jeffrey Armstrong and other administrators to welcome admitted students to the school, the Open House website said. The event will be located at the Recreation Center’s main gym.

Meanwhile, from 8 to 11 a.m., Cal Poly will host a resource fair in the University Union Plaza where campus representatives can answer student questions.

The university will also hold transfer student information sessions between 1:45 and 5:15 p.m. with representatives from New Student and Transition Programs, the Admissions Office, the Transfer Center and Financial Aid, the website said.

From 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., potential students were invited to attend the Friday Nite Invite at the University Union Plaza, which will offer pizza, salad, candy, games, bowling, crafts and dancing.

The event “invites prospective students to meet each other, unwind and make connections in an environment that simulates college life on a Friday night,” the website said.

During the event, parents and supporters can drop by the Chumash Auditorium for coffee and to meet current students from each of Cal Poly’s six colleges.

Friday activities require an RSVP from admitted students and their families, the website said.

On Saturday, admitted students and members of the public can enjoy a variety of events on campus — and only a handful were impacted by the rain.

The Poly Royal Parade was supposed to start at 10 a.m., but the university canceled it due to the weather, Koberl said Wednesday.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., prospective students can still attend the Cal Poly Campus Showcase, where more than 150 student clubs and organizations will have booths to share their activities with visitors, according to Koberl.

The showcase was originally supposed to be located on Dexter Lawn, but the university moved the event to the Cal Poly Recreation Center to avoid the rain, he said.

“Also due to the rain, ceremonies and performances, food sales and the Kids Zone that were scheduled to take place on Dexter Lawn will now be held at the Multi-Activity Center,” Koberl wrote in an email to The Tribune.

The Cal Poly Juggling Club, the Ballroom Dancing Club and That’s the Key acapella group will be among the performances.

At 1 p.m., folks can attend the Poly Royal Tractor Pull in the field across from the crops unit off of Mount Bishop Road. The Cal Poly Tractor Pull Team will make a decision on whether or not to postpone the event on Friday afternoon, according to Koberl.

“It is one of the largest events at Open House, drawing nearly 4,000 spectators and over 50 competitors from the Western United States,” the website said.

The sold-out Poly Royal Rodeo starts at 5 p.m. at the Rodeo Center on Saturday. As of Wednesday, the rodeo was still scheduled to proceed, but there could be some changes made to daytime competitions during the majority of the rain, Koberl said.

For more information about Open House, download the New Mustang Guide online at bit.ly/3PVXYRe.

What to expect from weekend weather

The National Weather Service predicted that San Luis Obispo will enjoy sunny skies on Thursday, with the potential for rain showers over the weekend.

On Thursday, the high will reach 80 degrees during the day, with patchy fog and cooler temperatures rolling in during the evening, the Weather Service said.

Friday will be cooler, with a high of 64 degrees. Patchy fog in the morning will lift around 11 a.m.

Showers will start on Friday night, when the National Weather Service predicted a 70% chance of rain after 11 p.m.

The storm will intensify on Saturday, with a warning of heavy rain during the day.

On Sunday, the Weather Service predicted a chance of showers after 11 a.m., though the bulk is expected to fall between Friday and Saturday.