A Centre County holiday tradition will celebrate its 42nd year of honoring the spirit of the season by providing opportunities to give to charitable causes.
The Alternative Christmas Fair will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, at University Baptist & Brethren Church (UBBC), 411 S. Burrowes St. in State College.
Shoppers will be able to visit with representatives of 31 charities and make donations in the names of their loved ones as gifts. They can then write down the names of the charities they wish to support and the amounts on a single sheet of paper. At checkout, UBBC provides donors with cards and envelopes they can give to friends and family showing a donation has been made in their name. All donations go to the designated charities.
Since the first Alternative Christmas Fair in 1982, the event has raised $992,078 for participating charities. This year, organizers anticipate it will eclipse the $1 million mark.
Sandwiches, soups and desserts will also be available for purchase during the fair.
Issuing a proclamation in November declaring Dec. 8, 2024 as Alternative Christmas Fair Day in the borough, State College Mayor Ezra Nanes said the event represents the “true spirit of holiday giving.”
“The Alternative Christmas Fair is a community-building gathering, a celebration of the wonderful services in Centre County, an opportunity for representatives of local charities to connect with other groups doing related work, one-stop holiday gift shopping for everyone, a delicious meal and a beloved State College tradition,” Nanes said.
For those who can’t attend in person, donations can be made online or by check through Dec. 22.
More Community
View all Community
New Yarn Shop Opens in Pine Grove Mills, Continuing Longtime Crafting Tradition
A new yarn shop has opened in Pine Grove Mills, bringing knitting and crocheting supplies back to a space that served local fiber artists for more than two decades. Woolly […]
Attendance Grows for 2026 Arts Fest, People’s Choice
Festival week in Centre County brought another boost to the local tourism industry with increased visitations for two major events. Marking its 60th year, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the […]
Centre County Dining Scene Veterans Partner for New Restaurant at Gamble Mill
Two familiar names in the Centre County dining scene are teaming up to bring a new restaurant to the Gamble Mill in Bellefonte. Hublersburg Inn owner Andi Heidt and Happy […]
