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By Jaelyn Smith
The night before the Pen Argyl vs Bangor rivalry football game, the Green Knights hosted an annual bonfire and pep rally at Weona Park to get the community ready for the game. This year, the bonfire was held on October 22. Many community members showed up to get fired up for the game, and support the football team.
Before the bonfire began, the Class of 2026 got to go down to the bonfire site and decorate the pallets used in the fire. This is a tradition that the Pen Argyl seniors have done for many years. Senior, Savannah Martin, “I loved decorating for the bonfire with my friends and classmates, it was a great way to get ready for Bangor.”
An hour before the bonfire festivities began, the football team, band, cheerleaders, and students from Pen Argyl High School gathered at the high school in preparation to walk down in a parade to get themselves and the community ready for the big game. As the students walked down the band played, and the senior football players shouted chants to get the crowd pumped up and loud.
Photo Courtesy of Casey Dyer
A statue bearing a Bangor football jersey burns with Green Knight Pride during anual Pen Argyl Bonfire.
As the parade reached Weona Park everyone was cheering and excited for the festivities. Following the parade's path, the parents and community members gathered at the stage in Weona Park to listen to the band, watch the cheerleaders, and hear the speeches from players and coaches. The crowd was very excited listening to the speeches being made. Angela DiPaolo, junior, said, “I really enjoyed the speeches made, and thought everyone was very well spoken. It definitely made me excited and ready to beat Bangor!”
After the speeches were done, the cheerleaders presented the items they got from their football seniors buddies room. This is an annual tradition, where cheerleaders decorate senior football players' houses, and get an item from their rooms to present at the end of the pep rally festivities. After the cheerleaders presented their items, the senior players made speeches, and the pep rally was finalized by the Pen Argyl Alma Mater performed by the band.
After the Alma Mater, everyone went over to the site of the bonfire to watch the senior band and football players light the fire. The fire was huge and many people were very impressed by the flames. Freshman, Bella Decesare, said, “The bonfire was very fun and it was exciting for the game and have fun with their friends.”
The pep rally did prepare the football team and Gang Green for their rivalry game. The fans were loud, and the Green Knights ended up with a win over Bangor 32-21.
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