During the 1950s to 1970s, Joe College was held as an annual spring tradition. The weekend festivities often featured a float parade sponsored by Duke fraternities and sororities, boxed lunches on the West Quad, and a coinciding Hoof ‘n’ Horn production.

On October 21, 2007, after thirty years of absence, Joe College Day was revived as a one day festival. The past few years have seen acts like Shwazye, Cage the Elephant, and Pretty Lights. This year Joe College Day will be held October 2, and will be filled with food, arts and crafts, tie-dying, and, of course, music.