Penn State students have an infamous reputation.

They love to party.

Regardless of personal social habits that confirm or destroy this standing, students who attend this university have been placed in the coveted books of Bacardi, The Princeton Review and Playboy, just to name a few, as people who know how to have a good time.

So naturally, living in a town that can make a party out of anything, students in State College tend to take their festivities fairly seriously. And in recent months, those in town Monday through Friday for higher education are taking the weekend's parties to a whole new level.

How, you ask?

Theme parties.

Two little words that create such a large scope of possibilities, these parties have become an increasingly popular trend among college students here in Happy Valley.

In a party season that could easily be covered in bulky winter jackets, scarves and gloves, students are turning out in grass skirts, cowboy hats and an array of other novelty costumes to celebrate practically anything.

Alan Schaffranek, designer and decorator at Best Event Rental, 140 N. Atherton St., said he has noticed the trend.

"I think the popularity of theme parties has definitely increased, especially in the last six months," Schaffranek said. "The generic party has been done for so long that now everyone wants to do something totally unique. Everyone wants to have their parties remembered."

Grass skirts and oversized cowboy hats are no longer just for Halloween, with shiny Mardi Gras beads and brightly-colored plastic leis becoming party staples as much as pong balls and plastic cups. On any given weekend, students could find themselves shaking their coconuts at a luau, wearing masks and beads on Bourbon Street or reliving those painful yearbook pictures taken in the teased and stone-washed '80s.

Schaffranek said the options for theme parties are virtually endless.

"The best part about a theme party is that everyone can do something different, and everyone can plan something that no one else has thought of," Schaffranek said.

"We offer everything from Mardi Gras to casino night, Western, Southwestern, '50s, '70s, football and, of course, our most popular theme: the Hawaiian luau. Everyone can come up with an idea and put a unique spin on the theme. Parties are so much more exciting that way."

Jake McCaleb, general manager of the discount party supply store Party City, 32 Colonnade Way, said he has also noticed sales that indicate the increased popularity of theme parties over the past few months.

"Hawaiian-themed items seem to be selling quite quickly with the students, even though it's winter and so cold," McCaleb said. "Who knows, maybe it's because it's winter and so cold."

McCaleb said he feels the students are great at putting interesting twists on the average party.

"[Penn State] is one of the No. 1 party colleges in the country because of the students that go here," McCaleb said. "They're a wild young group of kids, and sometimes just a regular party isn't enough for them. Besides, who doesn't like Mardi Gras? Who doesn't want to go to a luau?"

Tera McCorkel (junior-nursing) said the costumes and props are her favorite part of going to theme parties.

"[Theme parties] put such an interesting twist on the usual party scene, and it's fun to not only involve costumes but props as well," McCorkel said. "I definitely get excited to plan my outfit and see everyone else's costumes once I get there. There is always that one really great costume that someone went all out on."

Now, the roaming of late-night streets in State College by students in all their themed glory of beads, leis, masks and other party-appropriate accessories is no longer a bizarre novelty, but just another way of embracing celebration with the imagination and excitement they are known for.