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Light Up Night Kicks Off Holiday Season in State College

The downtown State College holiday tree, donated by Penn State plant science professor Rick Bates, was illuminated during Light Up Night on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Photo by Evan Halfen | StateCollege.com

By

StateCollege.com Staff

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State College ushered in the holiday season on Thursday with a night of family fun and festive cheer.

The Downtown State College Improvement District’s sixth annual Light Up Night welcomed community members for the launch of the holiday light show in the Martin Luther King Plaza, entertainment, refreshments and of course Santa lighting the tree at the Allen Street Gates.

Here’s a look at some of the sights.

Photo by Evan Halfen | StateCollege.com
Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com

The annual timed musical light show by Nittany Entertainment made its debut for the season on Thursday night. It will run 5-10 p.m. daily throughout the holiday season.

A volunteer gives a child a teddy bear during Light Up Night in the MLK Plaza. Photo by Evan Halfen | StateCollege.com
Families took part in crafts from The Makery in MLK Plaza during Light Up Night. Photo by Evan Halfen | StateCollege.com
Free trolley rides gave passengers a look at the lights and decorations around downtown State College. Trolley rides will also be offered Friday, Dec. from 5 to 8 p.m.,; Saturday, Dec 6 from 11a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Photo by Evan Halfen | StateCollege.com
Photos by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com
On Calder Way between South Fraser and South Pugh streets, where lights are running in coordination with the MLK Plaza light show, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts organized the event’s first KristKIDL Market, a children’s makers market featuring young local artisans showcasing and selling their handmade creations. Photos by Evan Halfen
Tempest Productions was among the performance groups entertaining the crowd on South Allen Street. Photo by Evan Halfen | StateCollege.com
The CATA mini bus on South Allen Street was festively adorned. Photo by Evan Halfen | StateCollege.com
Reindeer from Spruce Ridge Reindeer returned to South Allen Street for Light Up Night. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com
South Allen Street during Light Up Night 2025. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com
Molly Cahill of Molly au Contraire was among the vendors at the Artisan Market on South Allen Street during Light Up Night. Photo by Evan Halfen | StateCollege.com
Santa was joined for the lighting of the tree by a helper picked from a drawing of kids who donated to Toys for Tots. Santa will return to downtown State College for photos during First Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the MLK Plaza. Photos by Ella Wehmeyer | Onward State
This year’s tree at the Allen Street Gates was donated by Penn State plant science professor Rick Bates. Photo by Evan Halfen | StateCollege.com