Fun Beyond the Festival

Sure, the Festival is the best thing ever. But State College and Central Pennsylvania have even more to offer!  After checking out the Festival, make time to visit the People’s Choice Festival at its new location in Centre Hall, or Heritage Days in Philipsburg. There are also exhibitions at the HUB-Robeson Center and the Penn State Libraries to see.

By all means, make plans to come back at another time of year to enjoy outdoor recreation, heritage and sporting events, wineries or distilleries, or just to see friends and family.  The Festival is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fun in central Pennsylvania. 

People’s Choice Festival

The People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts was founded in 1993 by two energetic local artists, George and Nancy Marion who realized that here were more local artists than could be accommodated by the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. In 2022 the festival moved to a new location: Centre Hall’s Grange Park. While the location changed, the festival organizers are committed to continuing to build upon the rich tradition of central Pennsylvania’s only festival devoted exclusively to the Pennsylvania artists and craftspeople. In addition to artists, the festival features live entertainment, educational activities for children, and many food options.

Philipsburg Heritage Days

Philipsburg Heritage Days was founded in 1998 by former Philipsburg Bicentennial Committee members. The organizers’ aim was to create an annual event that would showcase the rich historic assets of the Philipsburg community. Each year, the committee selects a theme that highlights a specific historical event or recognizes one of the area’s civic groups. Many class reunions, family reunions, homecomings, and weddings are planned around the Heritage Days celebration. The event concludes with a fireworks display on Saturday, July 15.

Other Arts Options 

Other Art Options

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Corner of West Foster Avenue and Fraser Street
Stained Glass Windows Tour, Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15; 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Facing Memorial Field, this church building, in the English Norman style was consecrated in 1928. St. Andrew’s is well known for its stained glass windows designed, produced, and installed by the famous Willet Studios of Philadelphia.

Visit the church’s website to learn more. 

HUB-Robeson Center
Pollock Road
Penn State Campus
Open Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

HUB Gallery: Unsolicited Advice/Laura Marsh

Through July 16

Through textile paintings, banners, spheres, and installations, Marsh discusses larger societal issues through use of fabric.

Art Alley: Anacostia Portraits/Elana Volkova

Through September 2023

Anacostia Portraits is a participatory art project using a historic photographic process to create a visual archive celebrating the people who make up the Anacostia region of the District of Columbia.

Woskob Family Gallery
146 S. Allen Street
State College

I See Fish in the Somber Woods /  Mengqi Xu

Through July 2023
Friday, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Visit the gallery’s website to learn more. 

Earth Archives: Stories of Human Impact
Eberly Family Special Collections Library’s Exhibition Gallery, 104 Paterno Library
Penn State Campus
Click here for exhibition hours.

Between the Lines: Global Histories of the Book
Exhibition Gallery, 104 Paterno Library (10am to 4pm)
A student-curated exhibit

Black Feminist Embodiments of Self-Love and Self-Recovery
Available for viewing during Pattee/Paterno Libraries open hours
Charles L. Blockson Collection of African-Americana and the African Diaspora

Art Alliance Members Show
Kish Bank Expect More Store
114 South Allen Street
State College

The opening reception for the second half of the Members Show is 5:30–7:30 at KISH Bank Expect More Store on S. Allen St. Snacks and drinks are generously provided by KISH Bank.

The Members Show offers the opportunity for all Art Alliance members, regardless of their level of expertise, to show their work. We look forward to this double annual show featuring the work of our many talented members. The 2022 show was split between June and July and held at KISH Bank Expect More Store on S. Allen St in State College.

A Popular Vote with a $100 cash prize is awarded to the artist whose work receives the most votes in each half of the show. Votes were cast in-person by visitors to the show.

All works are original and have not won awards in previous Art Alliance shows. Works may not be reproduced in any manner without explicit permission from the artist. 

Kish Bank – The Expect More Store
114 S. Allen Street

From Farm to Canvas
July 7 to August 29
“From Farm to Canvas” by the Farmland Preservation Artists of Central Pennsylvania, a joint enterprise of the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania and the Centre County Farmland Trust. Our mission is to promote the preservation and appreciation of farmland through the visual arts.

The 2022 Golden Basket 
3 Dots Downtown
137 E Beaver Ave
State College

July 15, 1:30 – 3:30 pm, while supplies last

The 2022 Golden Basket, presented by Arize Federal Credit Union and benefiting central Pennsylvania’s food hub, Appalachian Food Works, will have chefs prepare a dish created with locally sourced ingredients for $3 per taste.

Extend Your Visit and Explore!

In addition to Arts Festival, there are lots of other great things to see and do in State College, the region, and the Commonwealth. Here are a few links in case you’d like to extend your visit and explore more of Pennsylvania.

From fine dining in downtown State College, to arts and sporting events on Penn State’s University Park campus, to hiking or hunting in the wilds of our mountains, Central Pennsylvania has something for everyone.

Come to Pennsylvania!

Embark upon your own personal happiness adventure. Follow where joy leads you.

Whoever you are, no matter what you love to do, know that happiness is Pennsylvania’s keystone. It always has been. It lives in our historic treasures. Our dynamic urban spaces. Our greater-than-great outdoors.

Mix it up. Make it yours. Visit soon and build your own personal adventure from every corner of our warm and welcoming state.

You’ll be so happy you did.

Check out VisitPA.com to learn more. 

 

Buy a Festival Wristband!

Festival wristbands are required for certain indoor performances. They are $15 each (plus shipping if ordered online) and are good for the entire Festival.

Visit the Festival Store!

Get a Festival poster and buy Festival wristbands, t-shirts and other merchandise at the corner of College and Allen – or visit our online store.