Penn State’s Thon is ready to bust a move. This guide has everything you need to know
The biggest event of Penn State’s spring semester — the largest student-run philanthropy event in the world — is just days away.
Penn State’s IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, perhaps known better simply as “Thon,” will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday and run through 4 p.m. Sunday. The 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping event will keep 707 student dancers and countless volunteers on their feet inside the Bryce Jordan Center all weekend long.
Each year, the event raises millions of dollars “For The Kids” — a rallying cry that signifies the fundraiser’s mission to fight pediatric cancer by supporting the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey. The fund helps fuel cancer research while covering medical bills for those struck by pediatric cancer.
While Thon’s overarching philanthropic mission takes center stage, the event doubles as an opportunity for pediatric cancer patients, their families and survivors to enjoy an arena packed with entertainment and live music. Those who’ve traveled to Bryce Jordan Center for the mid-February staple in the past know it’s not uncommon to see students dancing in tutus, spontaneous water-gun fights or Penn State celebrities on the arena floor.
Whether you’re looking to attend in person, follow along online or donate to the cause, here’s what you should know about Thon 2023.
How to donate to Thon’s mission
While Thon’s annual fundraising total accumulates throughout the year, donations are accepted until just a few hours before dancers sit Sunday afternoon.
Those who are interested can donate through Thon’s official website at donate.thon.org. Payments, accepted through one-time or monthly payments on debit or credit cards, are tax deductible, although a $5 minimum donation is required.
Here’s what donations would cover for pediatric cancer patients, according to Thon’s donations page:
$150 covers prescription drug co-pays for one day
$300 funds pastoral care for one day
$500 funds art therapy for one week
$1,000 funds a dedicated social work team for one day
$2,500 funds a small research experiment
Since Thon’s establishment in 1973, the annual event has raised more than $200 million. Approximately 96 cents from every dollar “directly impacts children and families battling childhood cancer,” according Thon’s website.
How to follow along, watch Thon online
Just about every aspect of Thon’s event weekend will be streamed in real time at thon.org/livestream. The production is supported by 46LIVE, a student-run organization housed within Penn State’s Bellisario College of Communications. Student hosts will provide interviews and behind-the-scenes looks throughout the stream’s duration.
Much of the entertainment is quick and spontaneous, and Twitter is perhaps the best place to catch it. Spectators are encouraged to follow along with the official Thon account (@THON), the Centre Daily Times (@CentreDaily) and student media publications like Onward State (@OnwardState) and the Daily Collegian (@DailyCollegian).
How to attend Thon in person
Unlike Thon 2022, this year’s event doesn’t have many COVID-19-related guidelines that would bar guests from visiting Bryce Jordan Center. However, there are still a few suggestions in play.
While they are heavily encouraged to get their shots, Thon dancers, volunteers and spectators are not required to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination before the event kicks off. Similarly, they are not required to wear face masks, according to this year’s policies.
Student volunteers and dancers are asked but not required to take a COVID-19 rapid test approximately 12 hours before entering Bryce Jordan Center Friday, the organization said. Captains will take tests Thursday, while committee members and dancers will follow with tests Friday morning.
Additionally, Thon is urging individuals to avoid attending in person if they have flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough or a runny nose. The organization said those with “visible symptoms” upon arrival will be denied entry to help protect the health of those in attendance whose immune systems may be at risk, including cancer patients.
Those who are healthy and comfortable attending in person can park for free in the Stadium West, Porter North and Jordan East parking lots. Other lots are reserved for those with disabilities, Four Diamonds families and select volunteers.
While some nearby signs may say parking is prohibited between 2 and 4 a.m., those regulations will not apply during Thon 2023’s duration.
The Centre Area Transportation Authority’s campus loops, the Blue Loop, White Loop and Red Link, will run on their normal schedule during Thon’s duration at no cost. All three routes have stops outside Bryce Jordan Center.
On-site spectator logistics
Once you get to Bryce Jordan Center, you’ll need to head to the arena’s will call office, located between Gate A and Gate B. There, you’ll receive a spectator bracelet that must be worn at all times while inside, Thon said.
Thon volunteers will conduct bag checks at each gate after guests pass through a metal detector.
Spectators are required to follow Bryce Jordan Center’s new bag policy, which limits permissible bags to the following:
- Clear tote bags with dimensions up to 12 inches long, 12 wide and 6 inches tall
- Plastic zip-top bags with dimensions up to 11 inches long and 11 inches wide
- Wallets, clutches and fanny packs with dimensions up to 6.5 inches long and 4.5 inches wide
Any other bags, including traditional backpacks, camera cases, mesh bags, oversize totes and brief cases, are prohibited, although some accommodations may be granted for “medically necessary items” following a routine inspection.
Additionally, the following items are prohibited, according to Thon’s Spectator Resource Packet:
- Food or beverages, although empty reusable bottles are allowed
- Inflatable objects or balloons
- Liquids (excluding sealed bubbles)
- Weapons of any kind
- Large flag poles
- Sports equipment, including balls
- Glitter and silly string
- Animals, including training dogs and emotional support animals, but excluding animals needed for medical reasons
- Items that can’t fit beneath arena seats, including large containers
- Items used for transportation, including skateboards and scooters
- Alcohol, narcotics or inebriated spectators
- Tobacco products, lighters and vape devices
Spectators are welcome to enter and leave freely throughout the weekend, but be warned the arena is known to hit capacity at peak times throughout the event. Closures typically happen Friday night, Saturday night and late Sunday morning to close out the dance marathon.
Once dancers stand Friday, sitting is generally prohibited for spectators in the arena stands. Those who need to sit for medical reasons may request a medical wristband from the EMS Room, located across from Portal 24 on the arena concourse.
Key events to watch for
Although Thon typically avoids publicly publishing an events timeline due to “security reasons,” each three-day event follows a similar schedule chock-full of live entertainment, traditions and a few surprises. Here’s what you can likely expect:
6 p.m. Friday: Thon’s 707 student dancers will stand to officially kick off the event weekend. They’ll quickly learn this year’s line dance — the newly created song and dance number that aims to keep dancers stretched-out and moving while representing “events and significant things that happened” in the past year. Line dances occur just about once an hour throughout the weekend.
Saturday evening: Four Diamonds children will put on a talent show to showcase “raps, songs, dances and everything in between.”
Saturday night: Thon’s pep rally typically features dance routines from Penn State’s sports teams, which compete for bragging rights. Highlights often include football’s freshman players and the high-flying men’s gymnastics team.
Sunday morning: Four Diamonds children will put on a “fashion show” by modeling their favorite outfits for the crowd.
Sunday afternoon: “Family Hour” kicks off Thon’s final four hours by featuring families’ moving stories of their battles with childhood cancer. The final hours always include a celebration of life video that honors the children who lost their battles with cancer.
4 p.m. Sunday: Thon’s 46-hour marathon officially ends when dancers triumphantly sit on the Bryce Jordan Center floor. The event concludes when Thon’s executive committee takes the stage to unveil the year’s fundraising total.
The history of Thon
Thon’s origins date back to 1973, when a group of Penn State students formed a dance marathon to give back to the community. In 1977, Four Diamonds partnered with Thon to become the event’s sole beneficiary, helping it to directly ease the financial burdens of families whose children battle pediatric cancer at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.
The “Thon” name was officially adopted in 1987.
The dance marathon began in HUB-Robeson Center before moving to the White Building gym in 1979. The event would later bounce between Bryce Jordan Center and Rec Hall before settling permanently Penn State’s basketball arena, where is has been since 2007.
Thon’s annual fundraising cracked $1 million for the first time in 1992. Today, each year’s total typically exceeds $10 million. The fundraiser collected a record $13,756,374.50 during Thon 2022’s fundraising cycle.
Charles Millard and his wife, Irma, co-founded Four Diamonds in 1972 following their son’s nearly three-year battle with cancer. The name originated from an essay Millard’s son, Christopher, wrote shortly before his death.
Millard, who died at 93 in November 2021, regularly appeared at Bryce Jordan Center to reaffirm his passion for fighting pediatric cancer. His life was honored at Thon 2022’s Family Hour.
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