It’s almost time to say goodbye to 2016 and hello to 2017.
And once again, First Night State College — a downtown tradition since 1993 — will be here on Saturday to celebrate the start of the new year.
From a plethora of performances to giant ice sculptures, carriage rides to ice skating and much more, the festival will offer a full day and night of activities for the whole family. Performances and activities start at noon and continue into the evening on New Year’s Eve.
CATA will be offering special White Loop service from 4:30-11:30 p.m. with free, continuous transportation between the major downtown event sites.
First Night State College is organized by the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and is one of more than 50 First Night celebrations around the country.
FIRST NIGHT BUTTONS
First Night buttons help cover some of the costs of the festival and are required for entry to many of the performances and activities throughout the day and night. Buttons are $10 and children 12 and under do not require one if accompanied by an adult with a button. They can be purchased at 20 locations around State College (see the list here) or at performance and information sites on Saturday.
GRAND PROCESSION AND 5K RESOLUTION RUN
The First Night Grand Procession steps off at 6:30 p.m. from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 208 W. Foster Ave. It’s a community event that anyone is welcome to join. 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 no later than 6 p.m.
Penn State men’s hockey coach Guy Gadowsky will be the official starter for the 5K Resolution Run, which starts at 6:30 p.m. at the corner of College Avenue and South Allen Street. Runners and fast walkers, as well as spectators, are encouraged to wear costumes, and the runner or group of runners with the best costume will receive an award.
The certified course is mostly flat and loops through the Penn State campus before concluding at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 250 E. College Ave. Registration is $28 and $18 for runners age 19 and under. See the First Night website for more on registering for the run.
Procession and Resolution Run Routes
PERFORMANCES
Dozens performers will take the stages at locations throughout downtown State College starting at 11 a.m. and continuing into the night, featuring music, theater and much more.
Musical acts at First Night will suit almost any taste, with the schedule including children’s music, barbershop, Dixieland, Oom-pah, bluegrass, traditional Irish and Scottish, choral, classical, doo-wop, jazz, soul, rock and more.
Puppeteer Carolyn Koerber, making her final First Night appearance with The Talking Stone.
State High Thespians will feature Disney princes, princesses and special guests with a musical theater performance ‘The Prince and Princess New Year’s Ball,’ while Middle-earth Studios presents an interactive storytelling experience with the audience taking part in the adventure.
There will be a fortune teller, a Zumba class, belly dancing, master jugglers, an acrobatic performance and clown comedy.
Plan your day with the performance schedules:
Early Afternoon (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) | Late Afternoon (3-5 p.m.) | Early Evening (5-7 p.m.) | Night (After 7 p.m.)
ICE SCULPTURES
Ice sculptors will carve more than 100 blocks of ice, creating large walls and sculptures. Visitors can watch the sculptors in action from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on South Allen Street, and sculptures will be on display through midnight
The always popular ice piggy bank and Russian ice slide will be located in Sidney Friedman Park and many more will be on display on Allen Street, in front of the State College Municipal Building and in front of downtown churches and businesses.
Check out the full list of ice sculpture locations.
ICE SKATING
First Night State College’s most popular event, ice skating sessions will be held on the hour between 5 and 10 p.m. at Pegula Ice Arena. Music will be provided by Larry Moore Productions. A First Night button is required for entry but skates can be rented for free.
CARRIAGE RIDES
Two carriages drawn by Percheron draft horses will be available for rides from 7 to 10 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.
WORKSHOPS
Children’s arts and crafts workshops for kids under 12 will be held at The Makery, 209 West Calder Way, from 1 to 3 p.m. and State College Presbyterian Church social hall, 132 W. Beaver Ave. from 2 to 4 p.m. A Community Drawing Project will take place in the Woskob Family Gallery, 146 S. Allen St., from 1 to 10 p.m.
Performer workshops include:
– Pepper Lotus Belly Dance, 1:30 p.m., The State Theatre Attic
– Songwriting with Jim Colbert, 3 p.m., The State Theatre Attic
– Ukulele with Allegheny Ukulele Kollective, 4:30 p.m., Location TBD
Several resolution-themed exhibits will populate the downtown. Among them is Burning Man, which collects wishes, regrets and unkept resolutions at the State College Municipal Building Lobby from noon to 11 p.m. and is then ignited in Sidney Friedman Park at 11:15 p.m. Other resolution exhibits include fire sculptures, the Bucket List, Edison’s Clothesline, First Night Phoenix and Wheels of Fate.
With a First Night button and $7 fee, attendees can make a Resolution Mug from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. at 2000 Degrees.
