Say goodbye to 2015.
It was an eventful year in State College, and we’ll be breaking down the highlights (and lowlights) of 2015 soon. But in the mean time, let’s celebrate the coming of 2016 with First Night State College.
The festival takes over downtown State College on Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve, with musical performances, tens of giant ice sculptures, and a whole lot more.
From the 50+ performances taking place on Thursday from noon to night, to the buttons that will ensure you access to those very performances, here’s everything you need to know about First Night.
Say goodbye to 2015 and ring in the New Year with help from this guide.
WHAT’S UP WITH THE BUTTONS?:
If you’ve ever been around State College for the end of the year, you’ve likely heard about the First Night buttons. As the event organizers put it, the buttons are a way to mitigate the costs and time and planning that goes into First Night.
“Presenting First Night State College requires time, effort, and money. Your First Night button helps cover some of the costs involved in bringing you a great winter festival,” they said. “A button entitles the wearer to general admission to most First Night performances and workshops. Show your button at one of these locations and we’ll entertain you on a first come, first seated basis.”
The buttons cost $10 for anyone 13 or older, and admission is free for those younger than that if accompanied by an adult button-wearer. The online sale of buttons is over, but they’re available at several locations throughout town and at First Night information sites on New Year’s Eve.
You can get your button at over 20 retail locations. See the full list on the First Night website here.
THE PERFORMANCES:
There is, of course, a wide array of performances to enjoy throughout town on New Year’s Eve.
In the early afternoon, you can join the State College Area High School Thespians at either noon or 3 p.m. for a “New Year’s Ball” featuring Disney princes and princesses and some surprise guests.
“Each will have a musical story to share and will interact with all of the guests at the ball,” the Thespians said. “The program is especially suitable for children.”
That event will be held in the municipal building’s Community Room, but is of course just one of many options going on in the early afternoon. You could also see acclaimed local magician and “balloon animal-ologist” Dennie Huber at 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. in the Schlow Library’s Downsbrough Room. The Jay Vonada Trio, a jazz band that’s played the local festival circuit for years, will play at 2 p,m. in the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center.
As the day goes on, you have options including the Pepper Lotus Belly Dance Troupe, which performs improvisational tribal style belly dance, “a modern take on traditional belly dance.”
Many members are highly trained in more classic genres of belly dance, so the troupe also showcases a full variety of belly dance styles from around the world.,” the First Friday website says. “Pepper Lotus, the region’s only professional belly dance troupe, is directed by Shannon Bishop.”
You can catch Pepper Lotus at the University Baptist & Brethren Church at 3:30 p.m. And if that isn’t quite up your alley, central Pennsylvania bluegrass and Americana band the Tussey Mountain Moonshiners will perform at Grace Lutheran Chuch at 4:30 p.m. The band won the prestigious DelFest Bluegrass Band Competition in Maryland just five years ago, and the group is known for its energetic live shows.
The early evening features performances including comedian, magician, and mind-reader Peter Gross at the Downtown Theatre Center at either 4:30, 7, or 9 p.m. Gross has performed at the White House and on HBO, so you know this guy is just about guaranteed to both make you laugh and amaze you.
And as day becomes night and New Year’s Eve celebrations ramp up, there will be more bands around town than you can count on your fingers. From Jackie Brown & the Gill Street Band’s funky sound to Rick Hirsch & Smoove’s jazzy numbers to The Ultra Kings’ rock and roll, there’s something for everyone.
And that’s not all. You can check out the full list of performances over on the First Night website.
WHERE DO THE ICE SCULPTURES COME FROM?:
A lot of hard work a lot of carving. Just last year, the sculptors carved over 100 blocks comprising of more than 10 tons (or 20,000 pounds) of ice.
Some of the favorites, including an ice slide and a giant ice piggy bank are located at Sidney Friedman Park.
You can see the ice blocks turn into beautiful sculptures from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on First Friday on South Allen Street.
Head over to the First Friday website for a complete list of where all the sculptures are located throughout downtown State College.
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?:
For starters, you can begin your annual New Year’s resolution to get in shape with the 5K Resolution Run at 6:30 p.m. The run departs from the corner of College Avenue and Allen Street and is sponsored by Mount Nittany Health. The run’s celebrity starter will be Penn State Lady Lions coach Coquese Washington, and both runners and spectators are encouraged to wear costumes.
You can register for the Resolution Run at the ArtsFest office until noon on Wednesday. There will also be registration available on the day of the race from 4 to 6 p.m. at the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church basketball court. Registration is $28 to participate in the 5K.
There is also the First Night Grand Procession, which begins at 6:30 p.m. and features giant paper-mache puppets and local drummers. All spectators are encouraged to join in on the parade, and there are plenty of extra puppets and drums to go around.
If you want to take part in the Grand Procession, you must be at the Education Building at 208 W. Foster Ave. by 6 p.m. at the very latest.
There’s also ice skating, fire sculptures, carriage rides, and plenty more to enjoy throughout town for the holiday to ring in the New Year.
