State College Lights Up Downtown to Ring in the Holiday Season

State College was aglow with the holiday spirit as community members came together for festivities to Light Up Downtown on Thursday night.

The second annual event, organized by the Downtown State College Improvement District, featured the kick off of a seasonal timed light show in the Martin Luther King Plaza on South Fraser Street and on Calder Way between Fraser and Pugh streets, the lighting of the tree at the Allen Street Gates, a visit from Santa and more festivities throughout the evening.

“The holidays are a magical time and our goal is to transform downtown State College into a winter wonderland where people of all ages will find joy,” Lee Anne Jeffries, DSCID executive director, said last week. “We encourage the community to rediscover our unique local businesses during this time, grab a bite to eat and check some things off their shopping list.”

Thursday’s festivities kicked off at the MLK Plaza with hot cocoa, popcorn, balloon animals, activities and photos with Santa.

The light show at the plaza began with a specially choreographed performance by dancers from the Central PA Dance Workshop.

Several families were selected at random to join Santa on a trolley ride to light up other parts of downtown. This year’s display also includes lights at the Centennial Walkway, the Enchanted Forest tree decorating challenge highlighting local nonprofits and live trees and a gingerbread couple at the community garden on Calder Way.

Santa and the trolley will return from 5 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 3 for First Friday. Trolley rides also will be available 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 4, 10 and 11.

Light Up Downtown will be on display through Jan. 2.