A day before the first pitch in South Williamsport and hours before the parade, all 20 teams gather at the Williamsport college for the Little League Baseball World Series Picnic.

Away from the dramatics and intensity of the baseball diamond, the picnic offers a rare opportunity for the young athletes to be kids. Whether it’s divulging in the large buffet table, playing various backyard games from different regions, or communicating with other nations in languages that only a kid could decipher, a trip to the picnic offers a different, more humbling view on the busiest two weeks in the community.

“What a great opportunity,” said Michael Reed, President of Penn College.

“We are honored to be able to host all of the players and to be able to kick off the parade here… It’s just such a great opportunity to celebrate, and it is one of the many pieces that we are involved with in the Little League World Series… It provides such an energy and it’s a great place to kick off the welcoming,” Reed added.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College president Mike Reed welcomes Little League players to a picnic for the Little League World Series teams on the Penn College campus in Williamsport on Tuesday. The afternoon event included food, games and an appearance Baseball Hall of Famer, Billy Wagner.

Reed was one of the many spectators at the entrance of the picnic that included Penn College graduates, student workers, and medial who congratulated the teams as they stepped off the bus and on to the campus.

Arriving in two teams per bus, the athletes were directed to the open buffet table hosted by Penn College culinary students. Food for the players included corn dogs, popcorn, water and, most popular amongst players from all over the world, churros.

Under the hot sun the athletes played games such as cornhole, jenga, or spikeball. While most games start out as competition among teammates, it isn’t rare to see opposing teams indulge in a game or two against each other.

Never one to forget the pageantry, Little League complimented the picnic with a speech from baseball hall of famer Billy Wagner, who was also the Grand Marshall of the Parade later that day.

But for the most part, the picnic offers the chance, amongst press conferences, competitions, and media duties, to simply be a kid.

“Look, I have no idea what it would be like to make it through the whole [regional] and be one of the twenty teams here,” echoed Reed. “But to have an opportunity, just to stop for a minute, enjoy everybody else’s camaraderie, share the stories from around the world about how they got here, it’s wonderful to be able to provide that for them to do that.”

The Little League World Series runs through Aug. 24 in South Williamsport.