First Night State College returns on Dec. 31 to bid farewell to 2024 and usher in 2025 with a family-friendly celebration throughout the day and night.
A New Year’s Eve tradition in State College since 1994, the festivities kick off on Tuesday morning and feature music, variety and comedy performances, ice sculptures, workshops and much more.
Here’s what’s in store for the alcohol-free community celebration, which is a production of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
FIRST NIGHT BUTTONS
First Night buttons help cover some of the costs of the festival and are required for entry to workshops and indoor performances. Buttons are $15 and children 12 and under do not require one if accompanied by an adult with a button. They can be purchased at locations around State College (see the list here) or at performance and information sites on Dec. 31.
ICE SCULPTURES
Ice carvers will create an array of sculptures out of more than 15 tons of ice and they will be on display until 6 p.m. on Jan. 1 (unless Mother Nature disposes of them first). Large sculptures will be on the 100 block of South Allen Street, and will include 2025 the year of the snake, Old Man Winter, Super Mario, butterfly wings, piggy bank, T-rex head, train and coin-operated rocket.
The always popular ice slide will be located in Sidney Friedman Park on the 200 block of South Fraser Street.
A total of 87 smaller sculptures will be in front of sponsoring downtown businesses and churches, at Mayor Welch Plaza in front of the State College Municipal Building, 243 S. Allen St., and in Friedman Park.
Ice Skating
After going on hiatus for a few years due to scheduling conflicts, First Night ice skating returns to Pegula Ice Arena from noon to 3 p.m. 3WZ will broadcast live and spin tunes for skaters. Skating is free with a First Night button.
REINDEER
Spruce Run Farm in Bloomsburg will be visiting Sidney Friedman Park with two reindeer from 4 to 8 p.m.
GRAND PROCESSION
The First Night Grand Procession is open to all and steps off at 6:30 p.m. from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 208 W. Foster Ave. Local drummers are invited to bring their own drums or use one of the African drums provided by First Night. People of all ages can be part of the procession, carrying one of the various giant papier-mâché puppets.
Anyone who wishes to participate should meet at the St. Andrew’s Education Building by 6 p.m.
5K RESOLUTION RUN
The 5K Resolution Run, held in partnership with Nittany Valley Running Club, starts at 6:30 p.m. at the corner of College Avenue and South Allen Street and follows the same route as last year through the Penn State campus. Runners and fast walkers, as well as spectators, are encouraged to wear costumes. Chip timing is provided by Runners High.
Runners can register online and in person on Dec. 30 from 2-4 p.m. at the State College Municipal Building or 4-6 p.m. on Dec. 31 at the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church basketball court, 250 E. College Ave., where bag storage will also be available. Registration is $30 until Dec. 30 and $35 on Dec. 31. For runners age 19 and younger, registration is $20 until Monday and $25 on Tuesday.
CARRIAGE RIDES
A carriage drawn by Percheron draft horses will be available for rides from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. through downtown State College starting from Mayor Welch Plaza at the State College Municipal Building. Rides — which require a First Night button and $5 fee — are in high demand, and not all can be accommodated.
PERFORMANCES
A wide array of performers will take to indoor and outdoor stages throughout the day. (Button required unless otherwise noted.)
Musical acts at First Night come from a variety of genres including bluegrass, jazz, rock, folk, blues, Celtic, Latin, ukulele, tuba and euphonium, children’s music, songs from the American songbook and more, with a wide range of local and regional performers. 3 Dots Downtown also will host a baby rave (noon-1:30 p.m.) and a singer/songwriter showcase (2:30-4:30 p.m.). See the full schedule here.
Among other entertainment:
• Chinese acrobat Li Liu will perform a show of hand balancing, artistic cycling, plate spinning, ribbon dancing, Chinese yo-yos and foot juggling at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. at The State Theatre.
• The Centre County 4-H Robotics Club will offer demonstrations and share how to learn more from noon to 4 p.m. in the State College Municipal Building Lobby. (No button required.)
• State College Area High School Thespians bring together everyone’s favorite princesses, princes and surprise guests for “Enchanted New Year’s Eve” at 12:30 p.m. in the State College Municipal Building Community Room
• Tempest Studio features performances of “The Great American Broadcast” a show about a radio station on location in State College to broadcast Christmas cheer to soldiers abroad on Dec. 9, 1944, at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tempest will also host “Poems for the New Year,” for all ages to write, talk, share and read at 3 and 9 p.m.
• Erin Jeannier, The Queen of Hoops, will dazzle audiences with hula-hoop skills, stunts and illusions at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Penn State Downtown Theatre Centre.
• Adam Swartz Puppets presents “Puppets and Dragons” at 2:30 p.m. at State College Presbyterian Church.
• Happy Valley Improv will have shows at 2:30, 4:30, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. at the Blue Brick Theatre.
• Ridiculous Nicholas will perform his comedic, one-man circus show at 3, 6 and 8:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the State College Municipal Building.
• 3 Dots Downtown will host a Trivia Night with fun prizes at 7:30 p.m.
WORKSHOPS
First Night includes several workshops for kids and adults to get creative. (Button required unless noted.)
• From 11 a.m to 9 p.m. make a resolution mug at 2000 Degrees ($7 plus a First Night button; last seating at 8 p.m.).
• An arts and crafts workshop for children 12 and under will be held at 3 p.m. in the Social Hall at State College Presbyterian Church
• Adam Swartz Puppets will present a small puppet building workshop at 5:30 p.m., also in State College Presbyterian Church’s Westminster Hall.
• The Allegheny Ukulele Kollective will welcome players of all abilities and ages, even those with no experience, for a ukulele workshop and jam at 4 p.m. in State College Presbyterian Church’s Martin Room.
• Contribute to a collaborative community artwork from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. at the Woskob Family Gallery, 146 S. Allen St., where a scroll of paper will stretch across the gallery for visitors to draw, doodle and express themselves using a variety of art materials. (No button required.)
RESOLUTION SCULPTURES
Inside the Municipal Building, visitors can pin their resolutions to the First Night Phoenix, one of the celebration’s popular Resolution Sculptures to help make a fresh start in the new year.
Burning Man, which collects wishes, regrets and unkept resolutions, at the State College Municipal Building Lobby from noon to 9:45 p.m. and is then ignited in Sidney Friedman Park at 10 p.m.
Others include the Remembrance Tree in the Municipal Building; First Bells, a sound sculpture installation in Sidney Friedman Park; fire sculptures from 5-10 p.m. in Sidney Friedman Park; Edison’s Clothesline along South Allen Street; the Bucket List at the Blue Brick Theatre; and Wheels of Fate at Mayor Welch Plaza.
Tempest Studios, 140 Kelly Alley will welcome visitors to create origami cranes with their resolutions written on them. Cranes will be collected at the end of the evening and shipped to Hiroshima City, Japan to become a part of the Paper Cranes and Children’s Peace Monument.
The Quest for the Resolution Chest, meanwhile, is a self-guided journey that starts at the hiking boot ice sculpture in Sidney Friedman Park and sends participants on a 15-20 minute journey following clues to the Resolution Chest.
