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The much-anticipated springtime appearance of the wily fox happened in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 6, on Tars Plaza, signaling that one day of the year when we close up shop and get outside for a day-long dose of vitamin D. From pool time at Lakeside Neighborhood to paddleboarding on Lake Virginia, here are a few of our favorite moments in the sun.

It all started when President Grant Cornwell rolled out the beloved fox statue onto Tars Plaza at daybreak on Thursday, April 6, letting everyone know it was just too pretty outside for business as usual.

In search of a little morning fuel, the Fox joined students for breakfast in Skillman Dining Hall before kicking off the Fox Day festivities.

From jumping for joy to posing with the sly fox, everyone has their own way of celebrating their excitement for Rollins’ favorite tradition.

Thanks to Rollins’ prime location on Lake Virginia, getting out on the water with friends (furry ones too!) is as easy as grabbing a paddleboard, canoe, or kayak to launch right from the campus dock.

Outdoor games of all sorts sprung up on Mills Lawn throughout the day as Tars across campus enjoyed their day of fun and frolic.

The epic pool and wraparound deck in Lakeside Neighborhood offer up more than 12,000 square feet of recreation and relaxation space. Sure, it’s a great study spot too, but on Fox Day, it’s all about working on your tan and catching up with friends on America’s most beautiful campus.

This year, a few more campus activities were added to the mix—from jewelry-making and body-painting to building your own fox and crafting anchor door tags by the lake.

To catch some rays and hopefully a few waves, a handful of Tars headed to the beach, just an hour from campus.

Nothing caps off a day spent soaking up the sun quite like a picnic. The annual Fox Day feast on Mills Lawn was full of fresh watermelon and favorite comfort foods like burgers, barbecue chicken, smoked sausages, and mac-and-cheese.

Fox Day 2023 now takes its place in the Rollins history books, becoming part of the legendary memories of Fox Days past. Now just 360-ish more days to go until that sneaky fox declares it’s ditch day once again.

• Fox Day