Blue-White Weekend Schedule of Events
University Park, Pa. — Three returning high school bands will be joined by a newcomer in participating in activities at the Blue-White Game presented by AAA on April 16.
The Marching Barons of Manheim Central Senior High School are among three Pennsylvania high school bands that will participate and the lone newcomer to the parade through East campus to Beaver Stadium the morning of the Blue-White Game.
Also returning for the parade and the game are Gettysburg and Philipsburg Osceola High School Bands and the Majestic Marching Knights from Ballou High School in Washington, D.C. Ballou has been the subject of a documentary and has performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City in recent years.
The bands will be seated in the north end zone and will entertain fans pre-game, halftime and in-game along with the Penn State Blue Band.
In its second year, the Blue-White parade is scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. on April 16. Beaver Stadium gates will open at 12:00 p.m., the autograph session with squad members begins at 12:30 p.m. and kickoff is at 2 p.m. As in previous years, there will be no admission or parking fee for the Blue-White Game.
New attractions for Blue-White Weekend presented by AAA include fireworks on Friday (9:15 p.m.) and Saturday (8:30 p.m.). Also, for the first time, the carnival adjacent to Beaver Stadium will extend into Sunday, operating from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on April 17. The carnival and food vendors will be open on Friday from 6-10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Another recent addition to the Blue-White Weekend schedule will be held the day after the football game. The Second Beaver Stadium 5K Run/Family Fun Walk to benefit Special Olympics Pennsylvania will begin at 10 a.m. Last year’s event raised more than $35,000. For more information on the Beaver Stadium 5K Run/Family Fun Walk go to: www.stadiumrun.org
Penn State’s annual spring football game was expanded several years ago into Blue-White Weekend by adding a two-day carnival and a festival area with food, entertainment, interactive games, and a wing fest. Fans park and enjoy the game free of charge and partake in activities, including fireworks, that surround the stadium for the weekend, starting at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 15.
The Blue-White Game has become the university’s unofficial annual reunion and has attracted record-breaking crowds in excess of 70,000 in three of the past four years, topped by 76,500 at the 2009 contest.
The Penn State baseball, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse and women’s tennis teams also will be competing at home during Blue-White Weekend presented by AAA. The baseball team hosts Purdue on Friday (6:35 p.m.), Saturday (5:00 p.m., Big Ten Network) and Sunday (1:05 p.m.) at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, across the street from Beaver Stadium. For a complete schedule of Penn State athletic events during Blue-White Weekend, go to: www.GoPSUsports.com
The 2011 Blue-White Game will air live on the Penn State Sports Network and www.gopsusports.com
The Nittany Lions return 15 starters for the 2011 season, (7 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist), as well as 17 players that have starting experience. Penn State opens its 125th season Sept. 3 vs. Indiana State in Beaver Stadium and Alabama visits Happy Valley on Sept. 10 for the first time since 1989.