Between 1 and 10 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20, Franciscan University of Steubenville welcomed the annual Bilbo Baggins birthday celebration with shouts of joy and various hobbitty festivities. Set under the J.C. Pavilion with strands of lights and a large birthday banner overhead, the party welcomed faculty, students and outside visitors alike. 

The Tolkien Society collaborated with various other groups such as the Franciscan Dance Club and Franciscan University Fencing Club to make Bilbo Baggins’ birthday party one of the biggest club events of the year. “I’ve been told somewhere between 500 and 1,000, I would say a good 500 (people) attend throughout the day. It really does depend on the year,” said LukeJohn Habisohn, the president of the Tolkien Society. 

The scale of the event became apparent as the hundreds of guests flowed in and out of the J.C. Pavilion through the day, enjoying dancing and a generous banquet of food and drink. Special-ordered cakes imprinted with the images of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins, who share their birthdays in “The Lord of the Rings,” were served to guests as well. 

Soundtracks from “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” films played in the background, setting an adventurous mood, as the many Tolkien fans conversed and laughed through the night.  

 The Franciscan Dance Club performed a spectacular Lord of the Rings themed dance, and a costume contest also took place. The costume contest winner was a small visitor by the name of Kolbe, who came dressed as Pippin Took.  

More information on the Tolkien Club, as well as the Franciscan Dance Club and Fencing Club, can be found on posters around campus. Information can also be discovered on the GroupMe app, under Franciscan’s campus section. 

(From left to right) Anastasia Williams (Senior) as ‘Peasant from Gondor,’ Damian Lotz (Sophomore) as ‘Hobbit Holding a Mushroom,’ Gabriel Johnson (High School Senior) as ‘Boromir’ and Elaina Johnson (Sophomore) as ‘Éowyn’.

Photo credit: Marianna Herrera