Then&Now

The Enduring Appeal of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts By Holly Riddle Is there any event that defines State College in the summer quite like the Arts Festival? The first event of its kind in Centre County, it has been a staple since 1967, drawing thousands upon thousands of attendees to downtown streets,…

State College Little German Band marks more than 60 years of music, tradition, and community The State College Little German Band, the oldest continually performing community band in Centre County, is comprised of a wide variety of 35 local musicians, music educators, and retirees playing a wide variety of Bavarian-style music, including marches, waltzes, and…

Half a century of inspiring curiosity in nature and conservation In the heart of central Pennsylvania for the last 50 years is Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, a Penn State-affiliated outdoor education and recreation facility. Founded in 1976, the center originally consisted of one room in a building on the Stone Valley Recreation Area side of…

How campus stewards are building a more sustainable University Park To bid farewell to seemingly endless winters, University Park displays an array of color and fragrance along the walkways, buildings, groves, and meadows throughout the grounds. Photographers, writers, botanists, and the community can find moments of joy in the fresh blooms seen as the season…

From its humble beginnings in 1948 to today’s 100-plus-member ensemble, the State College Choral Society remains a cornerstone of Central Pennsylvania’s cultural life The long-running choral group puts on several performances of classical music in the winter and spring each year, two of which are fast approaching in the coming weeks. The group had humble…

Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center celebrates 30 years On Jan. 6, 1996, the first event, winter commencement, was held in the brand-new Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State’s University Park campus. Named for the university’s 14th president, who served from 1983 to 1990, the multi-purpose facility has since become the major entertainment center for Central…