Lehigh’s enduring Spirit Week tradition continues this week as the campus prepares for the 152nd Lehigh-Lafayette Rivalry football game this Saturday at Lafayette.

This year’s Spirit Week began with a unique unofficial kickoff: a visit from Lord Mayor of Westminster Catherine Longworth, who formally invited the Marching 97 to march in the 2018 London New Year’s Day Parade. The celebration officially began on Wednesday evening with Bed Races. Students—and this year, President Simon—formed teams and raced beds down the length of Memorial Walk.

Friday’s popular and time-honored tradition, Eco-flame, will see the Marching 97 marching in and out of classrooms and other campus buildings playing Lehigh fight songs. At 11:00 a.m., the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission will join Lehigh University Athletics to dedicate an official state historical marker commemorating the Lehigh-Lafayette Rivalry, college football’s most-played rivalry, at the site of Taylor Stadium on the south side of Rauch Business Center. Taylor Stadium was the home of Lehigh Football from 1914 to 1988.

Tomorrow evening features the Lehigh After Dark-sponsored “Slow Burn” bonfire at 8:00 p.m. on Goodman Campus. The event will feature a DJ, refreshments, giveaways and a banner contest.

Kickoff for the football game will be at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Fans without tickets to the game are welcome to attend a viewing party at ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem, and Lehigh alumni clubs will host telecast parties across the U.S. for those who are unable to cheer on the Mountain Hawks in person.

Go Lehigh! Beat Lafayette!
 

Photos by Christa Neu