LION Bash Brings Together Campus, Local Community

Students, families and longtime State College residents filled South Allen Street Thursday evening, stopping for games, conversations and community resources at the annual LION Bash.

The event, originally scheduled for Sept. 3, was postponed to its Sept. 10 rain date. LION Bash is a free community resource fair and block party meant to bring short-term and long-term community members together.

The event stretched across the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of South Allen Street, where booths from Penn State and community organizations filled the street.

“LION Bash stands for ‘Living in One Neighborhood,’” said Lee Anne Jeffries, executive director of the Downtown State College Improvement District. “It welcomes new students who may not know much about the town where they’re going to live for the next four years.”

“The event is not only for students. It’s also for full-time residents because organizers want everyone to feel as though they’re living in one neighborhood together,” Jeffries said.

Organized through a partnership between the Borough of State College and Penn State, LION Bash brought together organizations including Centre LGBT+, Centre Safe, CentreBike, the Make Space, Pan APIDA Circle, Penn State Students United Against Poverty, Appalachian Outdoors and many more.

Penn State departments and administrators, along with organizations throughout the borough, also provided information on fire safety and resources available to students and residents.

“It allows students to learn about the businesses, nonprofits and other resources that are available to them,” Jeffries said.

Attendees could also stop for face painting and caricatures, with live music and dancing throughout the evening. A costumed Chewbacca walked South Allen Street as part of Happy Valley Comic & Collectible Convention’s booth promoting its event.

At the Improvement District’s engagement station, Jeffries and JQ Quinn shared downtown maps and guides, information about the Downtown Art Walk and details about new public art installations added this summer for America250. A blue rotary phone was also set up as part of a “Truth Booth,” inviting visitors to pick up the receiver and respond to prompts about their favorite downtown places and memories.

The Improvement District also shared information about two upcoming downtown events. Fall Fest is scheduled for Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the 200 block of South Allen Street, followed by Light Up Night from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 19 on the 100 block of South Allen Street and at MLK Plaza.

Across from the Improvement District’s station, Steve Seltzer, Rotary District 7360 Area 10 governor, agreed with Jeffries that LION Bash gives both students and longtime residents an opportunity to learn about organizations serving the community.

Seltzer, a Rotarian for 48 years who moved to State College four years ago, said this was his third time attending LION Bash. It was also at the event that he first met Penn State student Noah Morris.

Morris helped revive Penn State’s Rotaract Club after it became inactive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now a fourth-year mechanical engineering student and former president of the club, Morris said events like LION Bash make it easier for students to find out what is happening beyond campus.

“A lot of students, including myself sometimes, aren’t really informed about events that are going on,” Morris said. “The fact that we can physically have a way for people to see this as they walk to class, people can see this as they walk to the town, people can see this as they walk by, I think that draws people in.”

Penn State fourth-year mechanical engineering student Natalie Monahan was among those raising money at LION Bash, where attendees could donate for the chance to throw a pie in the face of a member of the Alpine Ski Club’s THON organization.

Monahan, primary chair of the Alpine Ski Club’s THON organization, said the pie fundraiser has been a tradition at LION Bash for about 10 years and typically raises at least $200 each year.

She said LION Bash organizers have continued to invite the group back each year.

“I don’t know who originally came up with the idea, but it turned out to be a great hit,” Monahan said. “This is one of our biggest fundraisers that we do every year.”

Asked what it feels like to spend the evening getting hit with pies, Monahan had a simpler answer.

“Very sticky,” she said.