After a two-year absence, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts made its much anticipated return as an in-person event on Wednesday with Children and Youth Day kicking things off in downtown State College and on the Penn State campus.
It was a day to ease back into the annual festival, now in its 56th year. And it was one full of activities geared toward youngsters before things go full throttle into the Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition featuring hundreds of artists and a packed entertainment schedule at venues throughout town, all of which draws more than 125,000 each year.
For young artists and crafters, it was also a chance to get back to selling their own creations, with their tents lining South Allen Street for blocks starting around the Municipal Building. Artists aged 8 through 18 who live in or have relatives in Centre and surrounding counties are eligible to participate.
Some, like 14-year-old Libby Peachey of State College, are veterans of the Youth Sidewalk Sale who were thrilled for its return. This marked Libby’s fourth time as a vendor at the festival as she operated Peachey’s Plushies and More.
“Originally, the first things we ever made were plushies,” Libby said. “This year we were selling boxes, plushies and we were trying out these little critters with fake plants in them. Over the years we’ve done yetis, we’ve done plushies so this year we’re trying something new.”
The atmosphere feels a bit different after the COVID-induced hiatus, but it was a fun day, she said.
“This year’s been really fun,” she said. “I think after COVID things have been slightly different just in the atmosphere, but I think it’s pretty much the same and it’s really fun every year that I’ve done it.”
For someone who has grown up with and has been an active participant in the festival, the past two years have been a strange time.
“I think it’s just something that really unites the community so it’s been weird the past couple years not being able to see everybody,” Libby said. “I know this is something that brings everyone together. I definitely missed it.”
She also missed working alongside her cousins, Lily and Kallie Medich, who had the tent next to hers and on Wednesday were having a successful day themselves.
For 13-year-old Lily it marked her third year as a vendor, while it was the first for 10-year-old Kallie. Lily got her start making polymer clay jewelry (“It was kind of a mess,” she says) then moved on in her second year to making custom erasers.
This time around, she produced creative and colorful magnets, some using the erasers, that drew a steady stream of interested visitors.
Kallie, meanwhile, came up with the idea to create wooden snake, shark, lizards and fish fidget toys that proved to be wildly popular.
“They sold out almost immediately,” Lily said. “It was crazy how fast. I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything sell that fast before.”
The toys were part creativity and part savvy business plan.
“Kallie picked them because everyone likes the toys; they usually sell pretty quick,” Lily explained. “And also there’s usually not a lot of things for boys here. There’s usually a lot of jewelry and just more feminine things, so she got some animals and things that it seemed a lot of little boys liked a lot.”
Like her cousin, Lily said the start to the festival seemed a little different this year but all in all it was a fun day.
“Every year has been really, really fun,” she said. “This year felt slightly different because of COVID… just like an atmosphere change, but it’s still been really fun and it’s been great every year we’ve done.”
Elsewhere on Wednesday, young performers also had a chance to shine on the Allen Street Stage and the Festival Shell Stage on Old Main Lawn. The day saw performances from The Music Academy, Nittany Dreamers Baton & Silk Corps, Hot Styles Dance Company, Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop, Centre Dance Studio and Happy Valley Improv.
On Old Main Lawn, several Penn State organizations offered science-themed and arts-and-crafts activities, 4-H members brought seeing-eye puppies in training and the Penn State All-Sports Museum shared some Nittany Lion history.
State College police and Alpha Fire Company firefighters were stationed on Foster Avenue to talk with families and give an up-close look at their vehicles.
Many of the food trucks that will satisfy sweet and savory cravings throughout the weekend were also up and running on Allen Street, in the Memorial Field parking lot and in Sidney Friedman Park.
On the Allen Mall on campus, meanwhile, the line was steady as usual at the Penn State Berkey Creamery stand where, among other flavors, visitors can get a scoop of the special new Festival Fudge.
The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts continues through Sunday. Be sure to check out our guide for everything you need to know.
