Penn State students anticipate ‘second biggest weekend of the year’ ahead of State Patty’s
From the “We Are” chant, to White Out games, to Meatball Monday to losing to Ohio State, there are a handful of traditions that unify all Penn State students. Perhaps the most notable of these customs is the celebration of State Patty’s day.
The annual faux holiday — which takes place the weekend after Penn State’s IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon each year — is a boozy celebration in place of Saint Patrick’s day due to the holiday occurring during the university’s spring break.
Although students generally spend the weekend partying, (and the event attracts more tourism to State College, Pennsylvania, than Saint Patrick’s day itself), it is often a day filled with hospital visits and crimes.
Mitch Caffyn, manager and bartender of the Shandygaff Saloon, said he believes the local bars can serve as a mechanism for keeping young drinkers safe amid the festivities.
Without the bars, Caffyn said there would be “a ton of kids, and a ton of underage kids [getting] blacked out at house parties” where there’s “nobody taking care of them.”
“Letting people go to bars under supervised conditions — as long as the bars are doing their job right, and having people there to watch over the customers,” Caffyn said, “is much safer.”
In the past, State College Borough and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board have pressured bars to close during the fabricated holiday by threatening them with fines.
Caffyn said the Gaff used to close on State Patty’s day when he started working there 9 years ago. Though since then, he said the weekend attracts so many customers it is “similar to a football weekend.”
Throughout the weekend, many Penn Staters intend to partake in bibulous pursuits.
Penn State student Michael Luksic said he is “looking forward to an eventful weekend,” and is excited to experience the tradition for the first time.
After transferring from University of Delaware, Luksic (junior-economics) is experiencing his foremost State Patty’s. He said he is planning to meet up with friends who have been in State College during the event before, and they will “show [him] the ropes.”
He said he would like to “hit the bars” if possible, but anticipates they will be “absolutely packed,” so he is just “hoping to have a good time” and “stay within his limits.”
Luksic said he is also looking forward to seeing how the party scene in State College compares to that of the University of Delaware.
“Delaware is more house party and bar oriented, whereas the frats are a big thing here,” Luksic said.
Conversely, Anya Watts, who serves as Secretary of the Sigma Alpha sorority at Penn State, said she plans to attend her friends theatre production on Saturday night instead of partying.
Her friend is involved in the No Refund Theatre, and the group is performing “5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche” Saturday evening.
Though she wasn’t able to go out her first State Patty’s weekend due to joining Sigma Alpha, Watts said she will try to enjoy some of the festivities on Friday evening. She even purchased some green State Patty-themed merchandise from McLanahan’s Downtown Market.
Mateo Lupinetti said he plans to party on State Patty’s day, but is “playing it by ear” for now because his friends aren’t 21 years old yet.
Lupinetti (junior-mechanical engineering) said he is looking forward to what he calls the “second biggest weekend of the year,” after the weekend of the White Out game.
The Gaff is anticipating the weekend to be “busier than normal” this year due to last year’s coronavirus restrictions, according to Caffyn.
“Overall it brings a lot of extra business in what would otherwise be a slow part of the year.”
