NEW BRUNSWICK -- Rutgers University was founded without much fanfare.

William Franklin, the Colonial governor of New Jersey and son of Ben Franklin, signed a charter on Nov. 10, 1766, establishing Queens College, which held its first classes in a local tavern. The modest school eventually enrolled a handful of students in New Brunswick and struggled to stay afloat.

Two hundred and fifty years later, Rutgers has grown into one of the largest universities in the nation. It is celebrating its sestercentennial on Thursday with plenty of fanfare.

After a year-long celebration of its 250th anniversary, Rutgers will mark the actual date of its founding with a birthday blowout spanning the state.

"There is a great sense of pride that comes with recognizing that your institution is one of the oldest in the country and one of only a handful that predate our nation," Rutgers President Robert Barchi said.

Here are some of the highlights of Thursday's celebration that are open to the public:

"A Day of Revolutionary Thinking"

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The "Rutgers 250 Fellows" - more than 80 notable graduates from various fields - will return to the New Brunswick, Newark and Camden campuses for lectures, speeches and panels. The "Day of Revolutionary Thinking" events include speeches and panels with motivational speaker Eric LeGrand, musician Lenny Kaye and political consultant Michael DuHaime.

Rutgers cupcake distribution

12 p.m. to 3 p.m. More than 25,000 free cupcakes will be distributed in various Rutgers locations in New Brunswick, Piscataway, Newark, Scotch Plains and Stratford. The sites include:

Rutgers-Newark: 1 Washington Street, Paul Robeson Campus Center and Stonsby Commons.

Rutgers University-New Brunswick locations include all dining facilities and student centers in New Brunswick and Piscataway.

Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences locations include Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Teaching Labs in Piscataway, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick, New Jersey Medical School and Stanley Bergen buildings in Newark and School of Health Professions facilities in Scotch Plains and Stratford.

Camden Charter Day celebration

12:45 p.m. Rutgers-Camden Chancellor Phoebe Haddon will lead a celebration with birthday cake and refreshments during annual Charter Day festivities in the Camden Campus Center's Main Lounge. The celebration will continue until 8 p.m.

Birthday celebration at Old Queens

2:50 p.m. President Robert Barchi and other Rutgers officials and students will ring the Old Queens Bell on the College Avenue campus for 250 seconds.

3:10 p.m.

Rutgers ROTC cadets will raise a commemorative American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol and was given to Rutgers by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen.

Firing of the Rutgers cannon.

President Barchi will deliver brief remarks.

3:25 p.m.

Planting of Rutgers 250 All-Star Variety Dogwood tree on the Old Queens lawn and plaque presentation.

Robert M. Goodman, executive dean of agriculture and natural resources, at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, will deliver brief remarks while presenting the new tree to Old Queens.

Evening birthday celebrations

4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Music, entertainment, food and giveaways in Deiner Park in New Brunswick. Guests will be invited to sign commemorative mural.

Sunset Key Rutgers buildings will be lit in scarlet, including Old Queens in New Brunswick, Kirkpatrick Chapel Charter Window, Wellness Plaza, the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center in Piscataway, Rutgers Business School (Livingston Campus), Douglass Student Center and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Camden.

5 p.m. Rutgers-Newark holds a birthday celebrations at the Golden Dome Athletic Center and tennis courts in Newark, with music, refreshments, and giveaways.

6 p.m. Fireworks

Best viewing locations:

Camden: Gateway and quad across from 330 Cooper Street

Newark:

New Brunswick:

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.