Downtown State College and the Penn State campus will once again come alive with art, music and community as the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts returns July Wednesday, July 9 through Sunday, July 13.
Now in its 59th year, the five-day celebration is expected to draw in roughly 150,000 visitors and will feature its hallmark Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition, food live performances, street painting, cultural programming and family-friendly events.
The festival opens Wednesday with Children and Youth Day, an interactive celebration for young artists and families. More than 300 vendors between the ages of 8 and 18 will participate in a youth-only sidewalk sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The day will also include live performances, hands-on arts activities and a cultural showcase at Sidney Friedman Park, where kids can collect stickers at passport stations by completing activities highlighting global traditions. The day concludes with the always-popular Grand Procession at 3 p.m., featuring papier-mâché puppets parading from the Old Main lawn to the park.
The festival’s main attraction, the nationally recognized Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition, begins Thursday and runs through Sunday. Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, the exhibition will feature more than 300 artists from across the country offering works in a variety of media. Jurors will award $20,000 in prizes during a Saturday morning ceremony.
Performing arts will again be a key part of the festival experience, with more than a dozen stages and venues showcasing music, dance and theater acts. All outdoor performances are free to attend.
New this year are two small stage additions on campus: one at the corner of Pollock and North Burrowes roads and the other in front of the Willard Building at the corner of Pollock Road and Pattee Mall. Both offer shaded spaces and more intimate performances from local and regional musicians. For indoor entertainment, the State Theatre will serve as a cooling station and host select performances Thursday and Saturday.
Among the highlights is the expanded BookFestPA, held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of Schlow Centre Region Library. The event will include author signings, book sales, and programming for readers of all ages. A used book sale and literary merchandise will also be available.
Visual arts will extend to the pavement with the popular Street Painting Exhibition Thursday through Sunday along the 100 block of East Foster Avenue. Visitors can watch local artists create large-scale chalk artworks, while children can try their hand at their own mini murals for a $5 fee, or $10 to take home a box of pastels.
Other special events include the Festive Spirits cocktail party at The Towers at 5 p.m. on Friday, a ticketed benefit featuring craft cocktails, beer, hors d’oeuvres and live acoustic music for $150 per person. The CPFA Silent Auction will run Thursday through Sunday on the 100 block of South Allen Street, offering a curated selection of artwork from exhibiting artists.
For families, a new Kids Zone at the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza on South Fraser Street offers creative play, crafts, yard games and a collaborative mural activity from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Schlow Library hosts additional sensory-friendly accommodations, including quiet spaces, and a nursing and lactation station, supported by Mount Nittany Health.
Late-night programming debuts this year with Arts Fest After Dark at Manny’s Performance Space. Featuring international acts Chicha Libre and Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp on Friday and Saturday, the shows offer an opportunity to experience global music in an intimate venue.
Athletes can participate in the Sue Crowe Memorial Arts Festival Races on Sunday morning starting at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg. Registration is available in advance online or in-person downtown on Saturday and at the Military Museum on Sunday morning.
Festivalgoers can expect a robust selection of food vendors, including new food trucks stationed at Pollock and Burrowes on the Penn State campus. See the full lineup of food vendors.
Meanwhile, the Central PA Tasting Trail’s Craft Beverage Expo will relocate to Sidney Friedman Park, offering craft beverages from regional producers and live music in a shaded, enclosed setting from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
The juried fine art exhibition, “Images 2025,” will be on display throughout July in Schlow Library, featuring Pennsylvania-based artists selected by juror Richard Rinehart, director of Bucknell’s Samek Art Museum.
Other art includes the annual banner exhibition and competition along the festival route, and “Hintzpiration” at the Penn State Alumni Center featuring the work of alumnus and artist Tom Mosser.
PARKING
To help alleviate parking concerns, visitors are encouraged to use Penn State’s West Parking Deck and take advantage of free shuttle service running daily to downtown. Covered bike parking is also available through a partnership with Freeze Thaw Cycles and the State College Borough.
The borough will not be enforcing the “No Parking 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.” and the one- and two-hour restrictions from 2 a.m. on Wednesday to 6 a.m. on Sunday.
Event rates will be in place at all downtown public lots and garages from 6 p.m. Wednesday through 6 p.m. Sunday.
Some parking signs will be covered and temporary exhibitor signs will be posted in those areas. Exhibitor parking areas during the festival will be strictly enforced and unauthorized vehicles will be subject to ticketing and towing.
ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, July 9
Children’s Workshops & Creative Activities – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm – Sidney Friedman Park
Children’s Workshops & Creative Activities – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm – Old Main Lawn
Cultural Showcase – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm – Sidney Friedman Park
Children & Youth Sidewalk Sale – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Yoga Lab – 10:00 am – Old Main Lawn
CC4H Robotics – 11:00 am & 1:00 pm – Old Main Lawn/ Festival Shell
Adam Swartz Puppets – 11:30 am – Allen
Erin Jeannier – The Queen of Hoops – 10:00 am through 2:00 pm – Old Main Lawn
Heartfelt Music & Mantra Experience – 11:00 am – Borough Plaza
Suzuki Strings at Arts Fest – 1:00 pm – Allen Street Stage
Children & Youth Day Procession at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts – 3:00 pm – Old Main Lawn
Chip Mock Caricatures – $ additional cost involved – 10:00 am through 2:00 pm – Allen Street
The Superman Cartoons of Max Fleischer – $ additional cost involved – 4 pm – State Theatre
Thursday, July 10
Chip Mock – $ additional cost involved – 10:00 am through 7:00 pm; Allen
Tussey Mountain Moonshiners – 11:00 am; Allen
Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop – 11:00 am; State
Celtic Nations Duo – 12:00 pm; Pollock
The Music Academy – 1:00 pm; Schlow
JT Thompson Piano – 1:00 pm; Allen
Jim Colbert – 1:00 pm; Willard
Laura Boswell – 2:00 pm; Pollock
Erin Jeannier – The Queen of Hoops – 2:00 pm; State Theatre
Centre Dance – 2:00 pm; Shell
Code Blue – 2:30 pm; Park
Mary Madigan – 3:00 pm; Willard
The Music Academy – 3:00 pm; Schlow
JR Mangan Band – 3:00 pm; Allen
Mountain City Acoustic – 4:00 pm; Pollock
Nittany Valley Wranglers – 4:00 pm; Shell
Natascha & the Spy Boys – 4:30 pm; Park
The Music Academy – 5:00 pm; Schlow
The Sorters – 5:00 pm; Allen
Megan & Doug Irwin – 5:00 pm; Willard
Briggs & Strayer – 6:00 pm; Pollock
The Woods Family Band – 6:30 pm; Shell
Joe Baione – 6:30 pm; Park
Western Range – 7:00 pm; Allen
Happy Valley Improv – Youth Show – $ additional cost involved – 7:00 pm; Blue Brick
Eric Mintel Quartet – 8:30 pm; Shell
The Jaded Lips – 9:00 pm; Allen
One Acre West – 9:00 pm; Park
Friday, July 11
Yoga Lab – 10:00 am; Old Main Lawn
Chip Mock – $ additional cost involved – 10:00 am through 7:00 pm; Allen Street
The Music Academy – 11:00 am; Schlow
Adam Hallacher Septet – 12:00 pm; Park
Biscuit Jam – 12:00 pm; Pollock
The Music Academy – 1:00 pm; Schlow
Jeff Mamett – 1:00 pm; Willard
Wanderlost – 1:30 pm; Allen
Below Centre – 2:00 pm; Pollock
PennSoulvanians – 2:30 pm; Park
The Music Academy – 3:00 pm; Schlow
Conner Gilbert – 3:00 pm; Willard
Making State – 3:30 pm; Allen
Black Cat Belly Dance – 4:00 pm; Pollock
Astral Shakedown – 4:00 pm; Shell
The Triple A Blues Band – 4:30 pm; Park
Big Red & Zoe Makenna – 5:00 pm; Willard
Urban Fusion – 5:30 pm; Allen
Hops & Vines – 6:00 pm; Pollock
Os Mutantes – 6:30 pm; Shell
Chivalrous Crickets – 6:30 pm; Park
Happy Valley Improv – $ additional cost involved – 7:00 pm; Blue Brick
Ted McCloskey & the Hi Fi’s – 7:30 pm; Allen
Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal – $ additional cost involved – 8 pm; State Theatre
Velveeta – 9:00 pm; Shell
The Plate Scrapers – 9:00 pm; Park
Happy Valley Improv – $ additional cost involved – 9:00 pm; Blue Brick
Habbina Habbina – 9:30 pm; Allen
Saturday, July 12
Instrument-Making Station – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, MLK Plaza
Chip Mock – $ additional cost involved – 10:00 am through 7:00 pm; Allen Street
Early Childhood Music Class! – 10:30 am – MLK Plaza
State College Municipal Band – 11:00 am; Park
Honey Pie – 11:30 am; Allen
Crooner & Co. Swing Band – 12:00 pm; Shell
Chase Campbell – 1:00 pm; Willard
The Coal Aly Band – 1:00 pm; Park
Blue Cactus – 1:30 pm; Allen
Eyes of Age – 2:00 pm ; Pollock
Zydeco-A-Go-Go – 2:00 pm; Shell
Trout Fishing in America – 2:00 pm; State Theatre
OverheaD Duo – 3:00 pm; Willard
Zeropoint Big Band – 3:00 pm; Park
House of Hamill – 3:30 pm; Allen
Caryn Dixon – 4:00 pm; Pollock
Ma’am – 4:30 pm; Shell
Acoustic Artifacts – 5:00 pm; Willard Plaza
La Fiesta Band – 5:00 pm; Park
Sweet Desire – 5:30 pm; Allen
Hannah Bingman – 6:00 pm; Pollock
Project 22 – 7:00 pm; Shell
Ady Martinez y Orquesta Mi Amor – 7:00 pm; Park
Happy Valley Improv – $ additional cost involved – 7:00 pm; Blue Brick
The Soul Benders – 7:30 pm; Allen
Trout Fishing in America – 8:30 pm; State
Happy Valley Improv – $ additional cost involved – 9:00 pm; Blue Brick
My Hero Zero – 9:30 pm; Shell
Pure Cane Sugar – 9:30 pm Allen
The Wilson Springs Hotel – 9:30 pm; Park
Sunday, July 13
Gospel – 10:30 am through 12:30 pm; Shell
Chip Mock – $ additional cost involved – 11:00 am through 4:00 pm; Allen Street
The Keystone Big Band – 11:30 am; Park
The Rocket Blasters – 12:30 pm; Allen
Singer/ Songwriter Showcase – 2:00 pm; Park
*featuring: Christopher Carithers, Jim Colbert, Tim Craven, Michael Lundy
The Extra Miles – 2:30 pm; Allen
