A downtown tradition since 1993, First Night State College will return on Sunday to help say goodbye to 2017 and celebrate the start of 2018.
It’s a day and night filled with performances, giant ice sculptures, carriage rides, ice skating, a grand procession and more activities for the whole family 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 event sites.
First Night State College is produced by the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and ‘promotes the performing and visual arts as catalysts for unifying citizens on New Year’s Eve through imagination, creativity, and community participation,’ according to organizers.
FIRST NIGHT BUTTONS
First Night buttons help cover some of the costs of the festival and are required for entry to some of the workshops, indoor performances and Pegula Ice Arena 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 locations around State College (see the list here) or at performance and information sites on Sunday.
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.
The 5K Resolution Run 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 a plaque. The top three male and female runners also receive a plaque and other top runners in various age groups receive a certificate.
The certified course is mostly flat and loops through the Penn State campus before concluding near the Wesley Center, 256 E. College Ave. See the First Night website for information on registration and costs.
PERFORMANCES
Dozens of performers will take the stage at locations around downtown State College starting at noon and continuing into the night, featuring music, theater and much more.
Musical acts at First Night come from a wide variety of genres, with the schedule including children’s music, barbershop, bluegrass, rock, traditional Irish and Scottish, choral, classical, doo-wop, swing, cabaret and chamber.
State High Thespians will feature princes, princesses and special guests with a musical theater performance. Middle-earth Studios presents an interactive storytelling experience with the audience taking part in the adventure in this year’s show, The Meistersingers of Nuremburg. Fresh New York Comics brings laughs from four up-and-coming comedians who are making their names in the New York City scene.
Other entertainment includes the wild juggling act Hilby, the acrobatics of Li Liu, and the high-energy and family-friendly Black Cat Belly Dance.
A luminaria lighting celebrating peace, hope, love, justice and equality will be held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza on South Fraser Street.
Plan your day with the performance schedules:
Early Afternoon (Noon-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
First night includes a number of workshops for kids and adults to get creative. From 11 a.m to 9 p.m. make a resolution mug at 2000 degrees ($7 plus a First Night button; last seating at 8 p.m.). Children’s arts and crafts workshops for parents and kids to work together 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.
Performer workshops include Black Cat Belly Dance at 1:30 p.m. in the The State Theatre Attic; Songwriting with Jim Colbert at 3 p.m. in The State Theatre Attic; and Ukulele with Allegheny Ukulele Kollective at 7:30 p.m. in Westminster Hall of State College Presbyterian Church, 132 W. Beaver Ave.
RESOLUTION EXHIBITS
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 10:45 p.m. and is then ignited in Sidney Friedman Park at 11p.m. Other resolution exhibits include the Resolution Tree, fire sculptures, the Bucket List, Edison’s Clothesline, First Night Phoenix and Wheels of Fate.
This year’s celebration also will feature artist Robert Villamagna’s latest resolution sculpture making its debut. The final work will be a surprise and will be on display from noon to 11 p.m. at Mayor Welch Plaza in front of the State College Municipal Building.
Wall to Wall, a community art-making event will be held from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Woskob Family Gallery, 146 S. Allen St. Join in by writing your resolution on the wall. The mural will remain on view through Jan. 13.
LADY LION BASKETBALL
A First Night button will provide discount admission to the Penn State Lady Lion basketball Big Ten home opener against Maryland at 2 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center. With a button, general admission is $6, a discount of $10.
