With the sixth annual Downtown Collegetown Party on the Square quickly approaching, there is only one question on everyone’s minds: Who will take home the Collegetown Cup?
On Wednesday, Sept. 16, minds will be put at ease when the competition alongside other activities takes place at the downtown event.
Bridget Giunta, the event coordinator for the City of Wilkes-Barre, has been working hard on the event but describes it as a “very worthwhile undertaking.”
“We work to plan an event that is appealing to students and beneficial to the business community,” says Giunta. “We also have a fabulous group of business partners who create creative, interactive displays at the event, as well as students on each campus who enthusiastically promote the event to their classmates.”
Everything is handled by the City of Wilkes-Barre, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber and Diamond City Partnership, from logistics to campus outreach and entertainment. The surrounding colleges and students handle further promotion. (The Weekender is an event sponsor.)
The Collegetown Party on the Square theme will be conjoined with the marketing campaign pitched by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce: “My Downtown Wilkes-Barre — Make it Yours!”
“To illustrate this theme, we’ve incorporated the ‘My Downtown’ logo with the Party on the Square logo and featured actual students from the five participating colleges and universities on our marketing materials,” says Giunta. “Since Party on the Square presents the best that downtown Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding area has to offer to college students, this theme makes perfect sense.”
While the theme is different, all of the activities that keep students and community members coming back are not. The annual Domino’s pizza-eating contest will take place at 6:30 p.m., and the mechanical bull will be featured all night.
“Riding the bull was my favorite part,” says Danielle Sanko, a sophomore at Wilkes University. “It was a new and exciting experience, and it was also fun to watch others and try and stay on.”
The live entertainment this year, presented by Choice One Community Credit Union, includes the BeatTeks and Faded Fortune. The BeatTeks feature DJs King B, Gaje and Hersh while Faded Fortune plays a variety of music from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Giunta is particularly excited about the third guest, Elevation, a band making its way from Atlanta. Its sound is influenced by classic rock but shifts to an indie or ambient sound, according to the band’s MySpace page (myspace.com/elevation).
“Students can also win points for their school in the Collegetown Cup Competition, which include the following contests: pizza eating, mechanical bull riding, overall attendance and creative banner-making,” says Giunta.
King’s College was the 2008 champion. Will Wilkes University, Misericordia University, Luzerne County Community College or Penn State Wilkes-Barre have what it takes to be victorious?
“I don’t think so, but the school spirit will definitely be there,” says Sanko, speaking on behalf of Wilkes.
In 2004, Party on the Square attendance was under 100 students and last year, it was approximately 1,400. This year organizers are expecting around 1,500 to join in the party. John Sanchez, a sophomore at King’s College, attended the event last year and, just like Sanko, had a great time.
“It was great! I had lots of fun hanging out with friends the whole day, seeing old high school friends that go to Wilkes, LCCC, and Misericordia.”
Sanchez had difficulty picking his favorite activity but eventually decided on Wii Bowling.
“It’s because I love Wii Bowling, and I’m pretty good at it!”
Party on the Square is alcohol free and free to students with a valid ID. More than 60 businesses will be present, promoting themselves as well as prizes and discounts available for students to take advantage of. Students will have a chance to win promotional items and coupons for downtown vendors. Sanko and Sanchez are both anticipating the coupons this year.
Every student that registers at the event will receive a free student discount card. They’ll also receive a ticket for free samples of Domino’s Pizza, wings from Bart & Urby’s, root beer from the Lion Brewery, ice cream from Hillside Farms and water ice from Rita’s. They will also get a shatterproof event water bottle.
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Downtown Collegetown Party
on the Square, Wed. Sept. 16, 5-9 p.m., Public Square,
Wilkes-Barre.
Free with student ID.
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