Activities such as Meijer's Midnight Madness shopping spree, the Spartan Spirit pep rally and U-Fest pushed students out of their rooms and into the community during Welcome Week.

Last week, MSU and local businesses united to help students become acquainted with campus and its surrounding area.

"It's good getting out and having something to do," elementary education freshman Jenny Hurst said.

At Spartan Stadium on Thursday, the Spartan Spirit pep rally worked to rev up the crowd.

Bonds formed between businesses, freshmen, alumni and athletes, said Keith Williams, executive director of the MSU Alumni Association and creator of the Spartan Spirit pep rally.

"It's a traditional, shared experience that all students can look back on," Williams said. "We're very pleased with how it's developed - the numbers we get and the generosity of businesses in East Lansing that supply us with lots of prizes."

Last year, the rally was canceled because of hail. It prevented the Student Alumni Foundation and the Alumni Association from raffling off gift certificates and textbooks.

Education sophomore Lisa DeMichael and other Mason Hall mentors said after seeing only Sparty and the inside of the stadium last year, they were happy to have a chance at this year's raffle prizes, such as a trip for two to Europe.

"We wanted to see the end (of the rally) this year," DeMichael said.

Snyder Hall mentor Matt Dailey remembered rushing to buy football tickets after the pep rally his freshman year.

"It's a good way to get everyone out to see the stadium, especially for freshmen who don't have football tickets yet," Dailey said.

About 12,000 people sat in bleachers - 2,000 more than expected, Williams said.

Events continued Thursday night when old roommates, friends and neighbors headed to two Meijer stores for the annual Midnight Madness shopping spree - a three-hour event with deals, giveaways and raffles.

Meijer stores in Okemos and Lansing prepared for the crowd with about 40 extra employees as well as posted flyers touting special sales, free food and live entertainment.

"This is our way of welcoming back the students and introducing new people to Meijer," Okemos store Director Jackie Fitzpatrick said.

Kinesiology junior Laura Schmidt was one of about 6,000 students to stop and pick up last-minute items for her dorm room.

"I didn't even know about this," said Schmidt, who snatched up a microwave and school supplies. "I just came for one thing, but the prices are so reasonable. I got caught up - now I have a full cart."

CATA provided students on campus with free rides to and from the stores.

Students can look forward to similar events when the Meijer stores host pep rallies during the football season, Fitzpatrick said.

The University Activities Board welcomed more than 6,000 students to the Union Friday with live music, a make-your-own-music-video computer program, inflatable games and local venders for the U-Fest.

"It seems more packed than when I came last year, and it seems like there is more stuff to do," said Jeff Beachnau, an English and film studies sophomore who supervised the mini-golf room. "This is a nice place for people to hang out and party."

Thirty-seven prize packages, totaling almost $100,000, were given away. Students completed a routing card to enter, which they had to get filled out at various vendors and locations throughout the Union. UAB Assistant Manager Cathy Carson said the cards were a good way for the UAB to show students the various services and locations in the Union.

"We heard people at the end of the night saying, 'I don't want it to be over yet,'" Carson said.

The UAB strives to provide students with free or low-cost entertainment. During Welcome Week, it also held Spartan All-Stars on Saturday night in the International Center, which featured music and comedy groups made up of MSU students, including Ladies First, Acafellas, Hot Flashez and Sketchy People.

This semester, the UAB is planning "Super Saturday Night" for Sept. 11, which Carson said is similar to U-Fest with live music and games. There is a full Homecoming weekend planned, with many free activities to entertain Spartans. There also will be comedy shows and more live music, including Spartan Idol in November.

Staff writer RoNeisha Mullen contributed to this story.