CampusPhilly Helps Students Kick Off New School Year

By Becca Hyde and Catie Hoops

Students and vendors crowded onto Dilworth Park on Sept. 10 to attend CollegeFest, an annual event that gives students free admission to Philadelphia’s museums and destinations. The festival is hosted by Campus Philly, a nonprofit organization that strives to encourage students to explore and invest in local Philadelphia businesses and attractions.

CollegeFest provides students with an excellent opportunity to immerse themselves in Philadelphia’s culture and history. With most college students on a strict budget, Campus Philly enables them to explore the city’s popular attractions without any financial burden.

When students first entered Dilworth Park, next to City Hall, they were greeted by Campus Philly staff and given an admission band to access museums, transportation, and enter giveaways. Some of the museums taking part were the Franklin Institute, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the National Constitution Center.

Eastern State Penitentiary also gave guided tours to students inside the 19th Century prison located at 22nd and Fairmount Avenue. Students could experience the “terror behind the walls” and learn about some of the more notorious inmates, while also appreciating the prison’s impressive architecture.

Dilworth Park was taken over by tables representing local businesses and sponsors offering free merchandise, giveaways and games. The Phillies table had students spinning a wheel to redeem prizes such as T-shirts, bags, and foam fingers. Also food vendors including ICE Water and Monster Energy made appearances, the later which distributed free beverages that kept students cool in the hot September weather.

There was a lot of energy in the air at this year’s CollegeFest. Nicole Johnson, a volunteer working at the Campus Philly welcome tent, stayed optimistic amidst the crowd of students attending the festival. “It’s super busy but it’s going well,” she said.

CollegeFest is not limited to only Philadelphia colleges and universities. Mike, a junior from Rutgers University in New Jersey, has been coming to CollegeFest for the past two years.

“Even though I go to school in Jersey, it’s cool checking out the museums and hanging out in the city,” Mike said. CollegeFest presents an opportunity for students to scope out the best of what the city has to offer. It gives students a chance to learn and grow, not in the classroom but in their own urban backyard.