Lower Merion High School is opening its campus to the public Saturday, Oct. 3, for a Back-to-School Food Truck Festival outside the Kobe Bryant Gymnasium in Ardmore.
The event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. and features food trucks serving doughnuts, burgers, burritos and Thai food, according to the Lower Merion School District's event listing. Obstacle courses, yard games and music round out the afternoon.
The district posted the announcement Wednesday, Sept. 30, giving families just a few days' notice before the weekend gathering. No admission price or registration details were listed.
The festival takes place outside the gymnasium dedicated in 2010 and named for the school's most famous alumnus, Kobe Bryant. Bryant played basketball at Lower Merion before joining the NBA and donated $411,000 to the district, the bulk of which helped build the gym, as 6abc Action News reported. The district has said Bryant's generosity also included ongoing support of the boys' and girls' basketball teams.
At the 2010 dedication ceremony, Bryant told the crowd, "I'm just thankful to be back here."
About 8,600 students returned to the district's eleven schools for the start of the 2026–27 school year on Sept. 8, according to the district. The festival marks one of the first community events on campus since classes resumed.
No specific food truck vendors or a rain-date plan have been announced. The district's event page does not list an organizer contact.
Upcoming LMHS campus events
The LMHS Class of 2028 hosts a flea and vendor market in the school's front lot Saturday, Oct. 17, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fifty vendor spots are available at $25 each, with a rain date of Oct. 24, according to the district's events page.
