Let’s be honest; there are only so many times you can sit in your dorm room scrolling TikTok before you start wondering what else there is to do around Elizabethtown. Luckily, you don’t always need money, a car , or a big plan to have your own side quest.
Just for you, dear reader, I’ve compiled a list of fun AND free things to do on and off campus.
Let’s start with on- campus activities.
First, take advantage of the free equipment available through the RecRe boxes on campus. Located behind the Bowers Center and in the Bird Cage of the BSC, the boxes have everything from board games and playing cards to pickleball equipment, Spikeball, frisbees, basketballs and more. You can scan a QR code, check out what you want and return it when you’re done.
Similarly, the on-campus library has dozens of free board games for students to use while taking a break from studying. All you have to do is grab it off the shelf and return it when you’re done.
If sports aren’t really your thing, check out what the Office of Student Activities (OSA) has going on. OSA hosts free events throughout the year, including bingo, movie nights, music performances, speakers, slam poetry and more. If it couldn’t be any easier, they literally slide a monthly calendar under your door.
Once you’ve explored campus, take a walk downtown. Elizabethtown’s Center Square is a pretty easy place to start. Walk around Market and High streets, window shop, and see what local businesses have to offer. If you’re looking for something a little more unusual, check out House of Oddities and Curious Goods. The museum has free admission, although donations are appreciated, and features a collection of unusual curiosities. I’ve never been myself but it’s been on my bucket list since first semester.
Another option is the Elizabethtown Public Library. A library might not sound like the most exciting Friday night activity. But if you need somewhere quiet to read, study, browse books or just get out of your dorm for a little while. It’s right downtown on South Market Street.
They also have their own little coffee shop! And yes, this is a free activities list but their coffee is only two to five dollars each. Each purchase also directly funds the library! Woohoo! Public amenities!
And, of course, don’t forget about Elizabethtown Borough Community Park. The park is just two blocks from Schlosser and has basketball courts, playground equipment, an amphitheater and plenty of open space. My friends and I love going to the park so much that all someone has to say is, “Ppark?” in our group chat and suddenly we’re all there.
At the end of the day, you don’t need to spend $20 at a restaurant or drive to Lancaster to have something to do. Sometimes the best way to get out of a rut is as simple as grabbing a friend and walking somewhere you’ve never been.
