Highlighted by the daylong Central PA 4th Fest, entertainment and fireworks around Centre County will celebrate Independence Day this week. Check out Fourth of July events happening throughout the area:
JULY 2
‘Independence Day’ at The State Theatre
Catch the 1996 blockbuster epic “Independence Day” on the big screen with a 7 p.m. showing on Sunday at The State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave. in State College. [Tickets]
JULY 3
Fireworks Spike-tacular
The State College Spikes’ 6:35 p.m. game against the Williamsport Crosscutters on Monday at Medlar Field will be followed by the “Patriotic Fireworks Spike-tacular,” a 20-minute show billed as one of the largest fireworks displays to be featured at a Spikes game. [Tickets]
Hall’s Fireworks
Hall’s Food and Fireworks, 659 Beaver Road in Julian, hosts its 17th annual fireworks display on Monday. Gates open at 4 p.m. and fireworks begin at dark. $10 per car or $2 per person for walk-ins. Festivities will include a DJ, 50/50 and more, with Snyder’s Concessions and other food vendors on site. Personal grills and tailgating are permitted. No personal fireworks or alcohol are allowed. Carpooling is encouraged, and if parking reaches capacity vehicles will be turned away.
JULY 4
An American Celebration Concert
Join the Bellefonte Community Band and the State College Area Municipal Band from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Bellefonte’s Talleyrand Park for an afternoon of patriotic music. More than 100 musicians from throughout Centre County will perform classics like “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and modern arrangements of tunes from the American songbook. Free and open to the public.
Central PA 4th Fest
After scaling back for the last three years, Central PA 4th Fest will once again hold a daylong celebration, including the return of the parade and Firecracker 4k, all capped off with what is expected to be the largest fireworks show in Pennsylvania.
Entertainment and activities in the area around Beaver Stadium are open to all. Events inside Medlar Field at Lubrano Park require tickets ranging from $15 to $35, which provide access to stadium concessions and restrooms, live music, kids activities and premium seating for views of the fireworks. Outside lawn VIP seating is also available for $20.
Find ticket and parking details at centralpa4thfest.org.
The 1 p.m. parade will begin at Burrowes Street in State College and travel along College Avenue before turning left onto Shortlidge Road and making its way to the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State’s campus.
4th Fest Lineup
| Time | Event | Location | Approx. Duration |
| Firecracker Run Registration | Medlar Field | ||
| 9 a.m. | Firecracker Runs | Bryce Jordan Center | 90 minutes |
| 9 a.m, | Ag lot opens for day of parking – $10 | Ag lot off of Park Ave., enter from Orchard Road. | Until full |
| Noon | Parade line up begins | Burrowes Street | 1 hour. |
| 1 p.m. | Independence Day Parade | Downtown to BJC | 2 hours |
| 1 p.m. | All Lots Open | Stadium West $15, BJC $25, Porter Spikes VIP | |
| 3 p.m. | Food Courts Open | Event Areas | |
| 3 p.m. | Car Show Cruise In | BJC Pull off – Following Parade | 3 hours |
| 3 p.m. | Children’s Activities & Community Organizations* | Towne Square (Curtin Road near Beaver Stadium) | 4 hours |
| 3:30 p.m. | Music: Ady Martinez | Towne Square (Curtin Road near Beaver Stadium) | 1 hour |
| 4 p.m. | Roller Derby | Stadium West Parking Lot | 1 hour |
| 4 p.m. | Medlar Field Opens with Concessions, Kid Zone (ticketed) | Medlar Field | |
| 4 p.m. | Medlar Field Beer Garden Opens (ticketed) | Medlar Field | |
| 4 p.m. | Free Hot Dogs | Bryce Jordan Center area | Until gone |
| 5 p.m. | Lawn Viewing Opens | Adjacent to Medlar Field | |
| 5 p.m. | Music: Adam & the Armadillos | Towne Square (Curtin Road near Beaver Stadium) | 1 hour |
| 5:30 p.m. | BMX Bikes | Beaver Stadium Student Entrance | 1 hour |
| 5:30 p.m. | Music: Gabe Stillman (ticketed) | Medlar Field | 75 minutes |
| 6 p.m. | Giant Flag Birthday Cake | Towne Square (Curtin Road near Beaver Stadium) | Until gone |
| 7 p.m. | BMX Bikes | Beaver Stadium Student Entrance | 1 hour |
| 7:15 p.m. | Music: Yachtley Crew (ticketed) | Medlar Field | 75 minutes |
| 8:45 p.m. | Kids Run the Bases (ticketed) | Medlar Field | 20 minutes |
| 9:15 p.m. | Fireworks | Around Medlar Field | 32 minutes |
Summer Thunder
This one’s not in Centre County, but if you’re looking for a different fireworks experience, take a short drive south on I-99 to Tipton. DelGrosso’s Amusement Park and Laguna Splash Water Park, 4352 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd., will host its annual Summer Thunder on Tuesday. The water park opens at 11 a.m. and DelGrosso’s Park rides open at noon. The nighttime celebration starts at 9 p.m. with a musical pre-show, followed by the fireworks show at approximately 10 p.m.
