Students can enjoy wide variety of events

By Sarah Gloria









The voice of frustrated students screams for fun ideas of what to do on weekends. Contrary to popular belief, living in Stockton opens a door to opportunities to unique places to hang out with friends.

Stockton features the new downtown area full of things to do, and now hockey, baseball and soccer games have been added to the list.

The Stockton Ports baseball team now attracts more people to their games with their new location. Games take place all summer and students can go in groups of friends or with family members. After going to games last season, fans know what to do to get ready for the games this season.

The Stockton Arena opened in time for the Thunder. Students have now gotten the chance to see what it is like to have a team in their hometown. Katelyn Rouppet, junior, has been to different games at the Stockton Arena including hockey and soccer to watch the Stockton Cougars.

After going to about three or four games, Rouppet has decided that the best way to go to the arena is with friends. She has realized that eating before the game is wise because of the arena prices.

Rouppet saw her first hockey game in the Stockton Arena and she hasn’t been disappointed. “There are great seats and you have a good view wherever you are inside.”

Not only can you watch sports events, but movies are featured downtown in the theater. This is the only place in Stockton where it is possible to see a new movie, eat some of the diverse food, and get ice cream or coffee for dessert, all within a few steps.

The Stockton Empire Theater hosts independent film viewings. The remodeled theater offers a café that gives a peaceful setting for casual entertainment.

Students can go pretty much anywhere for fun on the weekends, but the Gary and Janice Podesto IMPACT Teen Center can keep them occupied. Recently the center hosted a poetry slam for teenagers to enter and get the chance to win a spot to open for Common. In a teenage forum, also held recently, students talked about current issues and were given the opportunity to have their voices heard.

Students enjoy music and concerts in a variety of ways. Lincoln Center features Lincoln Center Live where bands play and teenagers hang out and enjoy themselves.

Pacific Bowl is used more often than people think. Senior Katie Sharp is one teen who goes to the bowling alley on Saturday nights. She uses the “Granny Style” and enjoys bowling strictly for fun.

“It’s not really competitive but one time I beat the boys and printed out the score sheet,” Sharp said.

Now that she has been bowling in town with friends for a while, she knows to go to Pacific Bowl instead of the alley on West Lane because the “old men are too serious and ruin the experience.”

Teens who still don’t know what to do, during the school year and the summer, can easily find a hobby to take up through Stockton Parks and Recreation. Whether it be dance classes or life guarding instruction it is easy to make fun out of spare time.

The next time students think about how bored they are and the limited amount of activities available to them, they can simply take a moment to look around town and see how lucky we are to live in Stockton.