Greet the Team Coming off the Blue Buses
Fans gather on Porter Road prior to each home game to greet the team as they arrive at Beaver Stadium approximately 90 minutes prior to kickoff. You can feel the excitement build as the line of old-school light blue buses comes down the street, with the starting quarterback leading the team off the bus to the cheers of the Nittany Lion faithful.
Take Your Photo with the Lion Shrine
Fans line up to get a quick photo at the iconic Nittany Lion shrine, located right
off the Curtain Road entrance to campus. While there is usually a line for photos on gamedays, it does move fairly quickly and the keepsake will be worth the wait.
Enjoy Possibly the Best Ice Cream You’ve Ever Tasted
The ice cream at the Penn State Berkey Creamery is world-famous for a reason. Make sure to get there early before kickoff, as lines can stretch one for one or two hours regardless of the weather. If you want to skip the lines for the hand-dipped ice cream, you can purchase individual pre-packaged portions of their ice cream. Still outstanding, jut not as fresh as the hand-dipped variety.
Start a “WE ARE” Chant
You can do this pretty much anywhere you find Nittany Lion fans. Simply shout “WE ARE” and all those around will reply with a hearty “PENN STATE!” in unison. After a few “WE AREs,” end the chant with a “THANK YOU” and you will get a “YOU’RE WELCOME” in reply.
Take in the Tailgating Scene
It’s hard to find another campus that takes tailgating quite as serious as Penn State. Tailgate parties surround Beaver Stadium in all directions from early morning until late into the evening each gameday. It’s an overall fun atmosphere, and you will see some vehicles and tents so well-decorated they basically serve as mini-museums for Penn State football. Just keep your head on a swivel for all the footballs flying through the air being tossed by future Nittany Lions.
Go for a Hike
There are plenty of beautiful parks and hiking trails throughout State College to enjoy. What better way to offset one of the loudest venues in sports surrounded by 110,000 people than a peaceful, scenic hike during the weekend? Check out Mount Nittany Trailhead, The Arboretum at Penn State, Rothrock State Forest among many other options to enjoy.
