THON 2025 is here, folks! Dancers, volunteers, and spectators have all filled the BJC excited for the jam-packed weekend ahead.

While THON is an event that Penn Staters hold close to their hearts, our non-Penn State friends may not be as knowledgeable about THON’s purpose and significance. The countless organizations, complex timeline and confusing lingo can be hard to keep track of for those not residing in State College.

So, we have decided to answer the most frequently asked questions when it comes to THON, to ensure that everyone understands the purpose and gravity of this weekend. Feel free to send this article to a friend back home, or a relative who donated to your Donor Drive, but is still confused about what THON is.

The perfect place to start is a simple, yet important question.

What Is THON?

THON is the largest student-run philanthropy dedicated to raising money for pediatric cancer research. All of the funds raised go directly to the Four Diamonds Fund, which covers families’ medical bills at Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey.

The 46-hour dance marathon of no sleeping, no sitting in Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center is the event that most people think of, but THON is not a one-time event. Participants can raise money throughout the year, with THON Weekend acting as the finale to student’s year-long efforts.

THON Weekend 2025 starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, February 21, and ends at 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 23.

What Is An “Org”?

Org is a short-cut word for student organizations at Penn State. A wide range of organizations are involved with THON such as fraternities, sororities, sports clubs teams, and special interest organizations like PHOTO, which specifically focus on THON throughout the year.

These orgs are easy to spot in the stands during THON Weekend, as each holds giant letters that spell out the name of their fraternity, sorority, or organization name. Each org’s letters are brightly designed and decorated according to a specific theme, and members are assigned to hold up the letters throughout the entirety of THON Weekend. These letters act as a boost of encouragement to the org’s dancers, reminding them that their fellow members are cheering them on all weekend.

What Is A THON Committee?

You may have heard students volunteer on a specific committee instead of standing in the stands with an org. There are 16 different committees apart of THON, from Hospitality to Opperations to Dancer Relations. Each of these committees has a specific job to do throughout the weekend to ensure that THON runs smoothly. They are also easy to spot, as they wear brightly colored “on-shift” shirts with a color that is specific to their committee.

What Is The Agenda For The Weekend?

THON Weekend begins with excitement and cheers from the entire BJC when the dancers stand at 6 p.m. on Friday. Following this, the Dancer Relations captains come to the stage to teach the BJC crowd the Line Dance. The Line Dance is meant to help dancers, volunteers, and spectators stretch and get their blood flowing throughout the weekend, but the dance also acts as a Penn State and pop-culture recap of the past year. The Line Dance is done every hour of THON and acts as the perfect pick-me-up during the weekend.

The major events for the weekend consist of the national act performance on Friday night and the Pep Rally on Saturday night. At the Pep Rally, all the major sports teams at Penn State perform a choreographed dance routine, where one team is crowned the winner of the rally. Finally, the last major event is Final Four on Sunday, which are the final four hours of THON Weekend. These last few hours are full of tears and emotion, as THON Families take the stage to share their stories of battling pediatric cancer. Final Four reminds dancers, volunteers, and spectators alike why they THON.

How Are Dancers Selected?

This a great question, with two main answers. First, students can enter as an IDC pair, or an “Independent Dancer Couple,” where they fundraise money in order to put their name into a dancer lottery. Students can also apply to be picked to dance for their respective orgs, normally after holding a leadership position within that organization.

Do The Dancers Actually Stand For 46 Hours?

Yes, they do! With a lot of mental and physical preparation before THON Weekend, dancers stand for the entire 46 hours with no sitting or sleeping. Thankfully, they are allowed a few visits from friends and family while on the floor and have a Dancer Relations committee member who tends to their needs throughout the weekend.