The Patrick Henry College student body enjoys a close-knit, active social life, from formal and informal dances to yearly Homecoming events. As the community continues to mature, traditions develop.
Every year, Patrick Henry College students mark Homecoming Weekend as a chance to enjoy PHC Sentinels soccer games, a traditional alumni/student football match, and various inter-class competitions throughout the week.
In spring 2007, Scott York and David Carver put on the student body's first Harmonicomedy, a talent showcase blending students' musical talent and comedy. Since then, the Harmonicomedy has quickly become a semester-favorite, as students enjoy the relief from studies and a general good time.
The most formal of the PHC dances, the Liberty Ball allows students to celebrate in style. In past years, the dance has featured a live swing band, hors d'ouvres, and plenty of waltz, swing, foxtrot and other classic ballroom music.
Each semester, men from Red Hill and Oak Hill face each other across the field in a grueling game of flag football. Supporters of Oak Hill wear white; supporters of Red Hill wear black. The winning dorm receives bragging rights, along with Hank the Antelope to showcase in their dorm lounge. Recently, the women dorms have also held semesterly PowderPuff matches, dividing into a white team and a black team.
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To welcome new students to campus, the sophomore class plans and hosts a fun, casual dance. Admission is always free for freshmen, but all classes are welcome at this fun, casual tradition!
As the season of Advent begins, the PHC Chorale welcomes the community for a contemplative candlelight service filled with reflection on the hope of the Messiah's birth. This traditional service of carols and readings begins with the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden, then describes God’s promise to Abraham, recounts the prophecies about Christ as told in Isaiah, details the story of Christ’s birth as recalled in the Book of Luke, and, finally, ends with the mystery of the “word made flesh” as explained in John 1. This service is live-streamed in the first week of December here.
Every October, PHC students break out their plaid shirts and cowboy/cowgirl boots for an old-fashioned hoedown. Hosted in a local barn, students dance the Virginia Reel and the Cotton-Eyed Joe, eat lots of home-baked pie, and drink plenty of hot apple cider in this annual tradition.
The men of Oak Hill Dorm—known on-campus as D4—are fond of sports, music, and good grilling. Since 2006, they have hosted the D4 Block Party, a one-day festival of burgers, hot dogs, live music talent, a dunk tank, and a dodgeball team tournament.
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As the first formal dance of the year, the Christmas Ball allows students to swing in the season. There's always plenty of food, swing, and a "snowball" dance or two, where students switch partners in a fast-paced swing dance.
