Penn State Gems & Traditions

Things to do:

Football Games: Everyone at Penn State loves the football games.  Whether it’s the tailgating before (Sports Illustrated voted PSU as the number one tailgating location across the country) or the infamous student section, the football games are what students crave all semester long.  Make sure you buy tickets early because students sell them for a lot more during a game week.

IM Sports: Penn State is known for having a great intramural sports program.  There is an opportunity to play practically any sport you desire, including those you enjoy but didn’t have time to play in high school.  The skill level doesn’t really matter, just find a group of people and have some fun.

Lion Shrine: Before long you will have to take the infamous picture in front of the Lion Shrine.  Whether it’s with your family or your friends, it’s almost an obligation to snap off a sure memory at Penn State.

New York City – Although to some extent it seems superfluous to even mention the Big Apple, (of course it will be high on your hit list, as it’s a convenient bus ride) it’s worth including because of it’s immense cultural opportunities. Even so near by, it’s easy to get trapped on a rural campus and forget that a whole wide world of fun exists beyond playing Ultimate on the Quad. Hop on the Greyhound after class one Thursday and take advantage of the masses of discounts available for college students in NYC. Even if you aren’t a city person, you’ll get a sense of superiority seeing how cheaply you’re living compared to your metropolitan contemporaries!

Happy Valley Film Fest – A total must for movie geeks and fans alike, this non-profit event is an opportunity for both professional and amateur film-makers to showcase their work. Unlike the more hoity toity film festivals out there, this one is specifically aimed at providing anyone with a camera and a concept the chance to be heard.

DelGrosso’s Amusement Park – Yes, there is funnel cake. Yes, there are bumper cars. And yes, there is a mega-cool waterslide. Do you really need to hear more? Open through September, this is an ideal escape from that second week slump you are sure to experience after the professors start giving real assignments.

The People’s Choice Festival --The “People’s Choice Awards,” may merely bring to mind the image of Harrison Ford in a tuxedo, but Central Pennsylvania has proven it to be so much more. Just three miles from campus, the festival is a showcase for local artisans, food vendors and performers, and can easily offer a solid day’s worth of free entertainment. The Festival takes place in July, which may make it a moot point for anyone but the summer-class taking populace, but the list of vendors and performers will give you a good idea of the attractions you just can’t miss during your time at school- it’s a popularity-based festival, after all.

Northland Bowl and Recreation Center --You can’t really beat good old fashioned bowling as far as stereotypical college entertainment is concerned, and the Northland Lanes have all of the best for you, even those oh-so zany alliteration specials- “Wacky Wednesdays,”Smoke-Free Saturdays”... the list goes on! Bring your college ID and get free shoe rentals on Tuesday nights. Make a day of it and watch The Big Lebowski first, than head on down to the lanes and form a spur of the moment bowling league called “The Dudes.”

PSU Traditions

Ice Cream:  Uhhhh Ice cream?  Who doesn’t like ice cream and how can it be a tradition?  Well it is a bit different at Penn State.  Getting ice cream at the Creamery during the weekend football games has been a PSU tradition since 1896.  And this isn’t the standard Cold Stone or Ben & Jerry’s, this ice cream is so fresh that on average, only four days pass from milking the cow to getting your delicious cone.  This is one cold treat you must get your hands on.

White Out: Keep your eyes open for the white out football game this year. Penn State created the “white out” (although other schools are now copying) and it is an event that draws national news.  So what is a white out?  During a primetime football game all the students in the crowd where a white shirt.  It’s amazing to see the pictures from these games and Penn State hasn’t lost a whiteout game yet!

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