Children and Youth Day

Children and Youth Day at the Arts Festival is Wednesday, July 8, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. 

Each year, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts opens on Wednesday with Children & Youth Day, called “Kids Day” by many. The day is devoted to young artists, young performers, young guests, and the young at heart.

On Children and Youth Day, the day before the “grown up” regular Sidewalk Sale & Exhibition opens, young artists sell their wares from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Children and Youth Sidewalk Sale.  It’s a fun way for kids age 8 to 18 to express themselves artistically while also exploring their entrepreneurial side.  The Children and Youth Sidewalk Sale is sponsored by AAUW State College.  

Young visitors can explore their own artistic talents through free creative activities in Sidney Friedman Park and on the Old Main lawn starting at 10:00 a.m.

Everyone in the family can choose their favorite giant puppet and march in the Children & Youth Day Grand Procession of giant (and not so giant) papier-mache puppets from Old Main Lawn to Sidney Friedman Park, accompanied by drummers and a pep band from State College Area High School. The procession steps off at 3:00 p.m.

The day is a great way to see how talented and creative young people can be.  Of course, it’s also a great day to bring your little ones to the Festival to let them blow off some steam in the dumping buckets water sculpture too! 

South Allen Street

At the Allen Street Stage:

11:00 a.m. Kidz Karaoke

2:00 p.m. Adam Swartz Puppets

6:30 p.m. Community Sing-Along

The Children and Youth Sidewalk Sale takes place on South Allen Street from Highland Alley to Fairmount Avenue from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Chip Mock Caricatures from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Spin 360 Photo Booth from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority along with Jabebo Studio will be near Schlow Centre Region Library to share information on the importance of recycling to our environment.

Public safety personnel will be on hand from the Alpha Fire Company and the State College Area Police Department. Have you ever wanted a closer look at a fire truck or a police car? Now’s your chance. Children and Youth Day is a great time to take photo with a firefighter or police officer.

Old Main Lawn

Yoga Lab
10 a.m.

Come experience our kid-friendly yoga and meditation as a way to bond with your little one through playful expression.

Lots of Penn State affiliated groups
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Visit the Penn State Center for Language Science booth for face-painting and language science related crafts and activities such as mask-making and brain puzzles.

Penn State Athletics representatives will help kids create their own visors and slap bracelets.

The Penn State All Sports Museum honors the men and women who built the legacy of Penn State Athletics across the last 150+ years.  Check out their photo ops and card giveaways.

Penn State Health is proud to offer opportunities to participate in meaningful creative exchanges on Children & Youth Day on Old Main Lawn and throughout the Arts Festival at the Penn State Health Kids Zone in MLK Plaza.

The Palmer Museum of Art is the largest art museum collection between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and the most significant academic art museum in the state.  Visit their booth for creative art activities.

Make a craft with Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center while learning about local flora and fauna.

Tempest Productions
11:30 a.m.

“Storybook Theatre:  Where tales come to life and adventure begins!”

Sidney Friedman Park

Let your creativity flow with the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania, a nonprofit organization that exists to serve students, artists and the art-loving public in Pennsylvania’s Centre County, the adjacent counties, and beyond.  Design and decorate your own card with watercolors and colored pencils. 

Have your face painted at Children & Youth Day by artistic members of the State College Area Education Association.

Work on an interactive craft with Jana Marie Foundation, who envisions communities working together to knock down walls and transform emotional distress into resilience and hope. Through the power of dialogue and creative expression, they spark conversations, build connections, and promote mental well-being among young people and their communities in central PA.

Make art with shells with Tides, whose vision is to form a community of individuals who have a healthy grief support system for every wave of grief.  Sponsored by Koch Funeral Home.  

Visit the PNC Mobile Learning Adventure, a traveling exhibit that provides an opportunity for parents to learn about the importance of early childhood education while having fun with their children.  

Join the Sierra Club Moshannon Group and Pets Come First for more Children & Youth Day fun.

 

At the Sidney Friedman Park Stage:

Mayor Welch Plaza at the State College Borough Building

Mount Nittany Health is pleased to be part of this year’s Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts Children & Youth Day with a fun and family-friendly Sun Safety event!

Children who stop by our booth will have the chance to decorate their very own bucket hat to take home — a creative way to stay stylish while protecting themselves from the sun all summer long.

Families can also learn more about simple, healthy sun safety habits for kids, pick up sunscreen and youth sunglasses, and connect with some of our friendly pediatric providers and pediatric clinicians who will be on site to answer questions and share helpful tips.

We look forward to spending the day with our community and helping families enjoy a safe, sunny summer together!