THON Weekend 2023 has arrived, the culmination of year-round efforts to raise funds and provide emotional support for pediatric cancer patients and their families.
Now in its 51st year, the Penn State student-run philanthropy has raised more than $203 million for the Four Diamonds at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. In 2022, THON raised a single-year record $13.7 million.
Starting at 6 p.m. Friday and continuing until 4 p.m. on Sunday, 707 official dancers will be on their feet in the Bryce Jordan Center for the annual 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon. They’ll be surrounded by thousands more THON volunteers, supporters and Four Diamonds families.
How to Donate
Visit THON.org to make a donation. To count toward THON’s 2023 total reveal, donations should be made before noon on Sunday.
If You Go
THON begins at 6 p.m. on Friday and ends at 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Bryce Jordan Center. Admission is free and members of the general public can enter through the spectator line outside Gate A. Attendees will be required to obtain a wristband from the will call office between gates A and B. During peak times when the building reaches capacity, entry may be paused, and spectators can go to the ticketing/will call office for further instruction.
Parking for the general public is free and available in Stadium West, Jordan East, Porter South and Porter North lots. See the map here. Stadium West will be closed to entry Friday from noon to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4:30 p.m.
The Orange L lot and a small section of Jordan East will be reserved for Four Diamond family parking. ADA parking will be available at the section of Jordan East across from the All-Sports Museum.
COVID-19 Protocols
To protect the health of Four Diamonds families and prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses, THON urges anyone with flu-like symptoms not to attend.
THON also “highly encourages” all attendees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza. “These immunizations are another way for us to protect the health and wellbeing of the children, teens, and families who remain at the center of THON’s mission,” a statement from the organization said.
How to Watch and Follow Along
If you can’t be there in person, there are still a number of ways to experience THON Weekend 2023.
The THON livestream produced by 46 Live, a student-run organization in Penn State’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, will provide coverage from start to finish with live events, prerecorded features and looks behind the scenes.
At 7 p.m. on Saturday, “Dancing For a Cure — Live From THON” will air live on 6ABC Philadelphia, ABC 7 New York, ABC 27 Harrisburg, ABC 23 State College and ABC 4 Pittsburgh. It also will be streamed online at 6abc.com and abc7ny.com.
The Penn State student-run CommRadio will report live from the final four hours of THON. Listen at commmedia.psu.edu/commradio.
Check in with OnwardState.com and StateCollege.com for coverage throughout the weekend, and follow Onward State’s THON-specific Twitter account, @THONwardState, for non-stop updates.
Parking and Traffic Impacts
In State College Borough, the Parking Department will not be enforcing the “No Parking 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.” and the one- and two-hour restrictions beginning at noon on Friday. Restrictions will go back into place at 2 a.m. on Monday.
With THON and other events taking place on the east side of campus this weekend, heavy traffic and delays are expected. Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area, if possible, and those attending THON are encouraged to walk, bike or use transit.
The following roads will be temporarily closed on Friday for dancer arrival:
- Curtin Road from University Drive to the entrance of Jordan East will be closed from 3 p.m. to approximately 7 p.m.
- University Drive from Hastings Road to Curtin Road will be closed from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
- Dauer Drive from Commuter Drive to University Drive will be closed from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Dauer Drive from Commuter Drive to University Drive will be closed from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday for THON departure.
CATA will operate on its normal weekend schedule during THON weekend, but delays are possible due to road closures.
