Light Up State College Guinness World Record Made Official

State College now officially holds a Guinness World Record.

On Feb. 4, the 100 block of South Allen Street was filled with thousands of ice luminaries for ‘Light Up State College,’ a community-wide event designed to set a world record. Organizers have received word from Guinness World Records that the record has been officially verified, Centre Foundation announced on Friday.

Community members made and brought to the event 5,622 ice luminaries — cup-shaped structures made entirely out of ice that hold a light inside. That more than doubled the previous record for most ice luminaries in a single location of 2,561 in Vuollerim, Sweden.

“We wanted to transform Downtown State College into a winter wonderland and achieve a world record, but we knew we needed the community to make it happen” said John Stitzinger, event organizer and a founder of The Make Space, in a release.

Stitzinger heard last year about the Knight Cities Challenge, which awards competitive funds to innovators for ideas to make communities more vibrant places to live and work. He and co-organizers submitted a last-minute application, and won a $51,450 award to make Light Up State College happen. Centre Foundation partners with the Knight Foundation for these types of projects.

Community members made their own ice luminaries in the weeks leading up to the event. Dozens of volunteers helped to set up Light Up State College and by 2 p.m. on Feb. 4, a line had formed with people eager to drop off their luminaries.

Light Up State College had a festival atmosphere, with live music and hundreds of people crowding onto Allen Street until after the final tally had been announced.

“Making and freezing luminaries became the focus of attention of our town citizens and surrounding community for about two weeks in the dead of winter…” State College Mayor Elizabeth Goreham said. “On that evening early in February a crowd began to gather at dusk. People ignored the cold as they watched the luminaries fill the street and then ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’ as they were lit, forming a transfixing blanket of what one little girl called ‘stars’ … Everyone stayed until the final tally was announced, then stayed afterwards to enjoy the friendly atmosphere. I saw people I hadn’t seen for years, as well as neighbors and friends…’

At around 6 p.m. the lanterns were lit and the counting began. Centre County Commissioners Steve Dershem was among the official counters who served as witnesses.

“As the lanterns were counted and we realized that the previous record was more than doubled, a real sense of pride and accomplishment flowed through the crowd,” Dershem said. “Our community owes a debt of gratitude to Make Space, Centre Foundation, and the volunteers throughout Centre County for a fantastic event.’

‘This world record was made possible by the thousands of Centre County residents and many volunteers who came together to showcase the amazing and connected community we are a part of,’ added Commissioner Michael Pipe.

Commissioner Mark Higgins also was among the official counters.

‘The world record attempt was a lot of fun,’ Commissioner Mark Higgins noted. ‘It brought everyone from the community together to work toward a common goal. And boy did it look marvelous when we were done.’

The Make Space is a nonprofit, community makerspace and workshop for anyone who enjoys creating new things, sharing knowledge and working across boundaries in the arts and technology. The volunteer-run organization holds an open house at the space every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at 141 South Fraser Street in downtown State College.

Centre Foundation has a Guinness World Record certificate online that local residents can customize and print here.

“Light Up State College was such a unique event,” said Molly Kunkel, executive director of Centre Foundation. “We were happy to help John and the Make Space bring this idea to life, excited to see the community embrace the idea in such a big way, and thrilled with the way the night ended – thousands of lights and just as many smiles.’