Held as part of Penn State’s Welcome Week, LION Bash has long been new students’ first introduction to the broader State College community, beyond Penn State’s University Park campus. However, while, yes, the event’s name may be a nod to the Penn State Nittany Lions, and, yes, it does take place right around the time Penn State students descend upon downtown State College by the thousands, LION Bash, now in its tenth year, is about far more than just the student population.
Part of the State College Borough’s overarching LION initiative, which stands for “Living in One Neighborhood,” LION Bash highlights Penn State resources, local nonprofits, businesses, and more to help residents—no matter how long they’ve lived in Happy Valley—better entrench themselves within the community.
“It’s a community resource fair and block party, and it continues to grow every year,” says Kayla Lafferty, communications specialist at the Borough of State College. Lafferty is part of the LION Bash planning committee, which includes other members of the borough staff, community leaders, and Penn State staff. “Last year, I think we had a little over 150 engagement stations, plus food vendors and local, live entertainment. It’s really turned into this big party for the community, but it’s also educational and supports local food and music talent.”
The event’s 150-plus engagement stations (Lafferty says she expects to have at least the same amount at the 2024 event) are staffed by a range of organizations, from Penn State offices to student clubs, and from businesses to nonprofits. However, no matter who’s hosting, each engagement station must do exactly that—engage the community—in order to be a part of the event. This might mean offering a game, like cornhole, at the organization’s station, holding a giveaway, or providing some other activity for attendees to enjoy.
One thing that station hosts cannot do, though, is actively sell a product or service. Still, that doesn’t mean that hosts don’t benefit from participating, and Lafferty says she starts getting new and returning host inquiries months in advance of the August event. Some simply appreciate the opportunity to forge connections with new community members, while others are looking to recruit employees from among the newly arrived student population. As of mid-June, Lafferty had registered approximately seventy engagement station hosts, as well as eight food vendors, for the event—signs that she says point to the 2024 event being a continuation of previous success.
“People want to volunteer their time to come to this event,” she says. “If we don’t open up [engagement station] registration by the beginning of May, they’re asking about it. That’s awesome. That’s a success. People really want to come back to it every year. Also … already, we’ve had six or seven engagement stations that have signed up that are brand-new. They’ve never participated … before. That’s another success—we’re getting new organizations to come out and be involved and share with the community what their organization, group, or business [has] to offer to the town.” The event’s continual large attendance, by both engagement station hosts and community members, including students, is also evidence of the successful town and gown relationship between the borough and Penn State, says Lafferty.
Community members who have attended the event in the past can expect more or less the same experience this year, though it’s expected that this year’s LION Bash will not take place in concurrence with the LION Dash 5K, which has historically supported a local nonprofit, due to staff changes. LION Bash will stretch over the 100, 200, and 300 blocks of South Allen Street, and parking will be available in downtown’s parking garages, in addition to metered parking. However, for those who live downtown, Lafferty recommends walking or biking to the event.
For those thinking of attending, Lafferty again stresses that LION Bash is truly for everyone. She says, “It’s about bringing [together] the long-term residents, the short-term residents, the family down the street that just moved here with their two kids. It’s a family-friendly event for everyone. Really, if you live in State College, you’re the target audience that we’re trying to get to come to the event.”
LION Bash takes place Thursday, August 29, from 5 to 8 p.m., and businesses and organizations can register to host an engagement station as late as August 22. T&G
Holly Riddle is a freelance writer for Town&Gown.
