State College, Penn State expect quiet State Patty’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is still about three weeks away, but State College residents can expect to see some green in the streets this weekend.

The Saturday after Thon has typically been set aside by Penn State students to celebrate State Patty’s Day — an alternative to St. Patrick’s Day started by the students in 2007. In previous years, the event was known to generate a significant number of police calls, spurring police, Penn State and the State College borough to curb the revelry.

In both 2013 and 2014, tavern owners were offered compensation to close or stop serving drinks. Penn State paid out $170,000 to bars in 2013 and more than $211,000 in 2014.

In 2015, bars stayed open, but a music and film festival, dubbed the Thaw Festival, was launched over the same weekend as State Patty’s Day. Between closed taverns and a concurrent running event, things were looking good.

According to police statistics last year, calls from 2015 and 2014 are down greatly from 2011-2013, when numbers of both reported violations and arrests and citations exceeded 300. Call volume eclipsed 650 in 2011 and fell just short of 600 in 2012. Total calls in 2013 were 534.

This year, bars are open and there is no Thaw, but borough and Penn State officials are not worried.

In terms of arrests, alcohol-related incidents and hospital admissions, the weekend numbers have been moving in a downward trend, borough Manager Tom Fountaine said Wednesday. Police and the borough will continue to monitor the event and a “significant” police presence will be on hand.

State College police refused to comment on the weekend.

The borough has conversed with the Tavern Association of State College and landlords as in previous years, Fountaine said. The Penn State Interfraternity Council has also provided additional restrictions, and the borough is not even expecting the same crowds as a home football game.

A State Patty’s Day-themed Facebook page indicated that about 4,300 individuals were attending the event, while about 1,900 were “interested.”

“What we’ve seen in this event is a reduction in the more egregious parts,” he said. “Hopefully, that trend will continue.”

Penn State Vice President of Student Affairs Damon Sims said Thursday he was hoping State Patty’s Day was minimal this year. According to Sims, the university is taking a five-pronged approach.

The university will see a “very substantial police presence,” he said. Fraternities have also agreed not to host any social events or all-day parties.

Penn State has also approached the Tavern Association, he said, while State College police have approached apartment communities about limiting parties. Also, as in previous years, Saturday doubles as the Council of LionHearts’ State Day of Service.

Attempts to reach out to Tavern Association President Jennifer Zangrilli on Thursday were not answered.

This story was originally published February 25, 2016 at 6:18 PM with the headline "State College, Penn State expect quiet State Patty’s Day."