Food, fun, friends
Central Penn’s Party on the Patio is back
By Rosanna Wakley
Knightly News Reporter
Party on the Patio, Central Penn College’s Wednesday night food-and-fun offering, is back on campus, 600 Valley Road, Enola, through Aug. 20.
The annual outdoor-gathering series, held on the patio of the conference center and the building-end of the conference center parking lot, transforms that section of the campus into a vibrant weekly festival of food, music and community spirit.
Running from 4 to 6 p.m. each week, the event is open to students, faculty, alumni and local residents, and offers a rotating lineup of local food trucks, musical guests and pop-up vendors that celebrate the heart of South Central Pennsylvania’s small business culture.
A fresh lineup each week
Each Wednesday’s culinary offerings spotlight a different mix of vendors, from handheld empanadas to ice cream nachos, and from pretzel sandwiches to smoked mac bowls. Guests can savor Latin fusion street food, smash burgers, fried Oreos or browse a walk-through candy truck offering more than 300 varieties.
It began July 9, with the kickoff featuring The Pretzel Spot Café, and Pip and Lily’s Loaded Tots, offering crowd-pleasers like buffalo chicken tots and chicken-bacon-ranch-stuffed pretzels. Caitlin Shorey set the tone with live acoustic music.
Upcoming patio parties will feature:
- Soul Lotta Empanadas with catfish tacos and dessert empanadas (July 23).
- Rascal Revival, bringing a full band to the stage (July 30).
- Stoney’s Burgers and Fries, and DJs from men’s soccer (Aug. 6).
- Tomasic’s Sausage & More, with breakfast sandwiches and burgers (Aug. 13).
- A grand finale on Aug. 20, with East Coast Mini Donuts, funnel cakes, boba lemonades and guest DJs from women’s basketball.
More than a meal
In addition to satisfying people’s cravings, Party on the Patio creates a platform for student-athletes, campus organizations and local entrepreneurs to engage with attendees. Many musical performances come from student DJ teams, giving players from Central Penn’s soccer, basketball and baseball teams a chance to entertain off the field.
Live music, food exploration and casual networking combine to offer more than just a campus event—it’s a weekly highlight that helps build a vibrant and inclusive college culture.
Open to all
The event is free, and open to the public, with food available for purchase. Whether you’re a student craving a post-class snack or a community resident looking for a midweek outing, Central Penn’s patio is a great place to be on Wednesdays this summer.
Comment or story idea? Contact [email protected].
Edited by media-club co-adviser and this blog’s editor, Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.
