State College Celebration to Mark Earth and Arbor Days With Food, Entertainment and Education

State College will celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day with a community festival featuring live music, local food vendors and interactive engagement stations.

The Earth and Arbor Day Celebration will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, in Sidney Friedman Park, 241 S. Fraser St.

“This is an opportunity for community members and students to learn about topics that interest them, participate in crafts and activities, or find volunteering opportunities, while enjoying a day at the park,” Anna Bohsali, Borough of State College sustainability assistant, said in a news release.

While the borough has held Earth Day celebrations for the past three years, this is the first year it is adding Arbor Day to the programming.

The recognition is particularly fitting, as State College has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for 41 consecutive years, borough arborist Lance King said.

“This achievement shows the community’s commitment to urban forestry and public trees in State College,” King said in a statement.

The event will include more than 30 vendors from around the Centre Region sharing beneficial and practical environmental, conservation, and sustainability-related information. 

Environmental organizations from Penn State will also be represented with the Penn State American Nuclear Society & Women in Nuclear, the Penn State Sustainable Food Systems Food Network, Sustain Penn State and the Penn State Agriculture and Environmental Center among the engagement stations. 

Youth will be able to to crochet keychain bracelets at a crochet-keychain-and-coasters station, and the Bellefonte Fiber Arts Crafting Circle will host a sit-and-craft station.

The evening will feature live music, and Rebelz Mobile Cuisine, Fatema’s Kitchen, The Funnel Cake Kings and Mya’s Potroast Jamaican Cuisine will be on hand as food vendors.

Sidney Friedman Park is accessible via CATA’s AC and RC lines, and parking is also available at the Beaver and Fraser garages. 

“From climate advocacy and bird conservation, sustainable arts and crafts, biking and live music, there will be something for everyone to enjoy,” Bohsali said.