Hip to be Square

8th Annual Downtown Collegetown Party on the Square, Wed., Sept. 21, 5-9 p.m., Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. Find Downtown Collegetown Party on the Square on Facebook.

Every fall, students return to campus with the same vigor and expectations as those who went before them. Along with all the stress about lab assignments and irritating roommates, the start of a new school year brings with it the promise of what has become a tradition in downtown Wilkes-Barre: Downtown Collegetown Party on the Square.

This year’s 8th annual event will be held Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 5-9 p.m. on Public Square. The event invites students from King’s College, Luzerne County Community College, Misericordia University, Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Wilkes University to get to know the businesses and organizations that are a part of their new surroundings.

“The mission is just to welcome the students to Wilkes-Barre and let them know that the community likes them here,” said Karen Gallia, economic development assistant, Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, and a member of Diamond City Partnership, the organizer of the event. “We want to celebrate that, to bring them downtown to show them the downtown and let them know what they have to offer.”

Party on the Square will feature mechanical bull riding, a Domino’s pizza-eating contest and a school-spirit poster contest, in addition to vendors who will be offering giveaways at their respective booths.

“All the vendors, every year, give out more and more items, have contests, and (attendees) get the student discount card, which all the students look forward to,” Gallia said.

This year’s event will feature local bands Nowhere Slow and Stealing Neil, a departure from previous years, where national acts were often the main attraction. Otherwise, however, the organizers felt there was no need to throw a wrench into the works when it came to the main content of the event, especially since more than 1,500 students showed up in 2010.

“Everything’s pretty much going to stay the same as it was last year because it worked so well,” Gallia said.

In order to get the free giveaway item and the coveted student discount card, which features deals from more than 17 area business, students must bring a valid college ID from a participating school to register. Gallia added that students should check out the event’s Facebook page.