Special Olympics Pennsylvania Fall Festival Returns to 蜜桃TV for 37th Consecutive Year
VILLANOVA, Pa. (October 13, 2025)鈥斆厶襎V will host Special Olympics Pennsylvania鈥檚 (SOPA) annual 鈥攖he largest student-run Special Olympics event in the world鈥攆rom November 7-9, marking the 37th consecutive year Fall Festival has been held at the University.
More than 1,100 athletes will participate in the three-day event, alongside 400 coaches, 1,100 volunteers from Villanova鈥檚 , a record 300 and 2,500 general volunteers, all representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Fall Festival is led by Villanova鈥檚 Special Olympics Committee, which consists of more than 100 student members, and is assisted by SOPA. This year鈥檚 Fall Festival theme, 鈥淟et your passions unleash, create your masterpiece!鈥� places an emphasis on artistic expression, encouraging athletes to celebrate their accomplishments during the competition and beyond as their own unique and individual masterpieces. Various forms of art鈥攊ncluding music, dance, photography, painting and sculpture鈥攚ill be present throughout the weekend, highlighted by a newly launched experience at the Connelly Center Cinema, showcasing the history of Fall Festival and spirit of Special Olympics at Villanova.
鈥淔all Festival is a wonderfully unifying event that represents the incredible strength of the human spirit and our collective fight for dignity, and we are beyond grateful to continue to serve as its annual host,鈥� said Steve Koch, associate director for leadership programs in the Office of Student Involvement. 鈥淭hrough the collective effort of Villanova鈥檚 students, SOPA and all of the volunteers, Fall Festival鈥檚 emphasis on encouragement, empowerment, cheers, triumph and expression turns the weekend into a beautiful microcosm of the world as it could be.鈥�
The three-day event will feature competitions in bocce, flag football, long-distance running/walking, powerlifting, soccer and volleyball. Competitions for each sport, with the exception of powerlifting, begin between 1-1:30 p.m. on Friday, November 7, and continue through Sunday, November 9. Powerlifting begins at 2 p.m. on Friday and concludes Saturday afternoon. Following award presentations on Sunday, dual closing ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., with food and final remarks.
For the second year, the Dixon Center on Villanova鈥檚 Cabrini Campus will host the Victory Jamboree on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., featuring new enhancements. The longstanding Healthy Athletes initiative, which offers numerous programs promoting health and well-being, as well as clinical screenings for athletes, will continue to provide resources throughout the weekend.
Thousands of volunteers will serve in numerous capacities throughout the event, including as officials, athlete escorts, award presenters and in administrative support services. Additional volunteers are welcome and spectators are encouraged to visit competition venues on or near campus to support the athletes. For additional information, please email volunteer@villanovaspo.com.
About Special Olympics Pennsylvania: Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
About 蜜桃TV: Since 1842, 蜜桃TV鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 蜜桃TV Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, Villanova supports its students鈥� intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.