First Friday, the monthly street festival organized by the Downtown State College Improvement District, returns for its final edition of the year on Friday, Dec. 5, with an evening of music, art, family activities and business promotions across the borough.
Events run throughout downtown beginning in the early evening, with many businesses and venues hosting activities between 5 and 8 p.m.
Highlights in the MLK Plaza include a visit with Santa, a free, continuous holiday trolley looping through downtown and free hot cocoa served by the State College Lions Foundation and Kish Bank — all from 5 to 8 p.m.
Several businesses are offering promotions and programming, as well:
- Drip Studios at 148 E. Calder Way will be open 4 to 7 p.m. with 20% off piercings and 10% off jewelry.
- Hungry Run Wine Cellars at Way Fruit Farm, located at 252 E. Calder Way, will offer $5 off a purchase of three bottles during a 5 to 7 p.m. tasting.
- Kitchen Kaboodle at 108 E. Beaver Ave. will host a Tea Forté tasting from 5 to 7 p.m.
- Duck Donuts, 125 S. Fraser St., will run a buy-one-get-one deal for customers who mention “First Fridays.”
Over at 146 S. Allen St., Woskob Family Gallery will host “Between Places: A Folding Workshop,” led by artist Yasmine Abbas from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The 3 Dots Gallery at 137 E. Beaver Ave. will open ClearWater Conservancy’s 28th annual Art & Chocolate Fundraiser exhibition, “Echoes of the Wild,” from 5 to 8 p.m., with the exhibit remaining on display and online through February.
Retail and family activities include a coloring contest at Growing Tree Toys, 202 S. Allen St,. from 5 to 8 p.m. The Makery at 123 S. Fraser St. will be offering ornament painting from 6 to 8 p.m. Refreshments and gallery sales will be offered at The Nittany Quill at 111 S. Fraser St., from 5 to 8 p.m.
Appalachian Outdoors will offer refreshments, an in-store raffle, yard games and puzzles while collecting food, coat donations and last-chance toy donations for Toys for Tots.
Wellness and community events include a Forest Bathing Yoga Nidra session at the Bhakti Yoga Center, 322 E. College Ave., with a 90-minute practice beginning at 6 p.m. Registration is recommended for the session.
The Blue Brick Theatre at 209 W. Calder Way will host Happy Valley Improv at 7 p.m., and patrons can receive 20% off tickets using the promo code FIRSTFRIDAY.
Manny’s, 101 Hiester Street, will present a bill including Condor, My Cousin’s Girlfriend’s House, Ham on a Stick and Howling Dragon. Doors open at 7 p.m., with general admission of $12 and student tickets costing $7.
The State Theatre will present Dailey & Vincent’s Candy Canes and Coal Christmas Tour at 8 p.m.. Advance tickets are $50 with day-of-show tickets $55.
A First Friday map is provided by organizers to help visitors locate participating businesses and events. Event planners encourage attendees to use free parking in the Pugh, Fraser and Beaver garages; participating merchants will validate parking.
Organizers also noted that the Borough of State College and DSCID are beginning the process to update the downtown master plan and to reauthorize the improvement district. The master plan project will kick off during First Friday at Appalachian Outdoors between 5 and 8 p.m., where residents are invited to share input about a vision for downtown State College.
Seasonal programming continues downtown through the month. The Enchanted Forest nonprofit tree-decorating contest will be on display on the lawn of Faith United Church of Christ at the corner of College and Locust, where visitors can vote through Sunday, Dec. 7. Ten local nonprofits are participating, and the winner will receive a $1,000 donation from the DSCID.
First Friday is part of the district’s regular events calendar. For full event details and to view the event map, visit the DSCID website.
