Things to do near Penn State

First Night State College - Here's to 2024!

It's that time of year again! Celebrate the close of 2023 and embrace the possibilities that 2024 may bring at First Night State College! Be a part of this annual tradition which has taken place in downtown State College since 1994! The event is organized by the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and promises to be a night full of entertainment and excitement! First Night State College is a fun, alcohol-free New Year's Eve celebration which is tailored to our unique community and promotes the performing and visual arts.

The First Night State College event is slated for Sunday, December 31st beginning at 10:00am and offers a variety of activities for people of all ages! A First Night Button provides general admission to indoor performance shows and workshops (on a first-come, first-served basis), available at select downtown merchants and performance venues. (see the link below for a list of where to purchase)....

First Night State College - Ring in 2023!

As 2022 comes to a close, the new year approaches with high hopes, resolutions and a fresh start. What better way to spend New Year’s Eve than with family and friends, celebrating in this wonderful town we call “home?” The ever popular First Night State College event is this Saturday, December 31st from noon until 11pm – so bundle up and enjoy the festivities! 

Go back in time with a horse drawn carriage ride for $5. Rides require a First Night Button and are offered on a first come, first served basis from 6:30 - 8:30pm. Oh, what fun!! At Sidney Friedman Park, you can also check out the two reindeer (known as caribou) from Spruce Run Farm in Bloomsburg, PA. Visit the majestic reindeer any time between 4 – 8pm! 

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Upcoming Art Festivals in Centre County

For two long years, summers in central Pennsylvania have looked a little different. In State College and the surrounding areas summers are typically full of arts festivals, live music, and lots of fun! In 2022 things are finally getting back to normal; Arts Fest, People’s Choice, and the Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Fair will be happening in-person once again!

Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts™ is a tradition in State College that began 55 years ago. At Arts Fest you can stroll and shop throughout the streets of downtown and the PSU campus admiring the amazing creativity of artists from all over the country. While enjoying the sidewalk sale and exhibition on South Allen Street, make sure to look up. Above the street you will find beautiful banners, part of a competition that displays vibrant colors and artistry floating in the breeze for all to see.

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State College Farmers Market - Covid Adjustments

State College Farmers Market - Covid Adjustments

People enjoy buying local, that is why the Farmer's Market is such an important event that has been taking place in Downtown State College for years. Everyone enjoys getting fresh produce, baked goods, flowers.. etc. 

The Farmers Market would normally offer a variety of different vendors and be open to the public Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the 100 block of Locust Lane. Participating farmers are required to personally produce everything they sell. The markets start outdoors the first week of May and run through the beginning of November.

Due to the pandemic, the amount of vendors for the Farmers Market have been adjusted.  There are half as many vendors that are taking part which has affected all participating in the Farmers Market.

It is still a delight that the Farmers Market is in fact taking place at the same...

Exploring Our Outdoors: Spring Creek Park

Rising in the mountains near Penn State, Spring Creek has been named one of the finest wild trout stream in Pennsylvania.

Whether you are looking for a Park to take children to, go on a hike for the weekend, bike riding, or of course fishing, Spring Creek is a beautiful spot that you must stop at if you are in the State College Area.
Spring Creek Park offers outdoor recreation and nature preservation. A public space open to the general public. The park offers open spaces under the maintenance of State College Parks Department.
The park offers a playground with a sandbox area, 3 picnic pavilions, 2 sand volleyball courts, 4 tennis courts, walking paths, adult softball field, adult baseball field, 2 basketball courts, fitness unit, very cool covered bridge, fishing, restroom building (seasonal),...

CULTURE CORNER: Bellefonte Art Museum

Central Pennsylvania artists and art lovers have a great resource right in their own backyard.

The Bellefonte Art Museum is located in the Linn House, an historic structure on the National Historic Registry. The museum is only 20 minutes from State College and Penn State, and is centrally located in the downtown area of Bellefonte.

The museum has a strong focus on local art. The Artist Registry contains over 165 local artists, many who show their work at the museum. The Community Gallery, Pottery Gallery, Photography Gallery and Sieg Gallery all showcase the work of these different artists, rotating out every month.

The museum hopes to enrich the community not only through local work, but through the Special Exhibitions Gallery, which includes work from China, Vietnam, East Africa, Haiti, Japan and South America.

Perhaps one of the most though-provoking exhibits at the gallery,...

EXPLORING OUR OUTDOORS: The Mid State Trail

Whether you’re looking for an overnight excursion or simply a short day-hike, the Mid State Trail should be at the top of your list.

Known as the “wildest footpath in Pennsylvania,” the 320-plus mile trail runs just south of State College on its route from the Maryland to the New York border. It covers diverse topography and is located mostly on public land, including the nearby Rothrock and Bald Eagle state forests.

The State College section of the trail is the most popular, but you’ll still find serenity in abundance. Our local section is known for its beautiful views and a monument near Little Flat Fire Tower that was erected to commemorate the trail’s birthplace. Founded by Professor Tom Thwaites of the Penn State Outing Club in 1969, the trail holds a special place in the heart of Penn Staters and Pennsylvanians alike.

The trail passes through or near...

ALL ABOUT PENN STATE: The Pegula Ice Arena & PSU Hockey

Since its construction in 2013, the 6,014-seat Pegula Ice Arena has been the home of the Penn State Nittany Lions men’s and women’s ice hockey teams, plus countless other community events.

Located on the corner of Curtin Road and University Drive in State College, it’s named after its primary donors, Kim and Terry Pegula, who made the largest donation in Penn State’s history to help build the rink.

Penn State's men’s hockey program first began in 1938, but the current program traces its beginnings back to 1971 when the program was restarted on a non-NCAA level. The women’s team began as the “Lady Icers” during the ’96-97 season as a club team, and like the men’s team, played in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

In 2010, it was...

ALL ABOUT PENN STATE: The Arboretum

Perfect for a stroll or picnic, The Arboretum at Penn State is sure to please.

Opened in the fall of 2009, this relatively new addition to campus is 395 acres and includes the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens. The arboretum is Penn State’s second (the first is at Penn State Behrend), and the second in Centre County (the other being Rhoneymeade Arboretum & Sculpture Garden in nearby Centre Hall).

The arboretum’s mission is simple: to promote scholarship and education about plants, their history and their importance on earth.

It’s an easy place to spend an hour or two enjoying the wide variety of flora that call the gardens home. It’s especially beautiful in spring when flowers are in bloom (you can use their interactive Blooming Bulb map...

CATA CORNER: Best warm-weather destinations

As the memory of winter fades and temperatures rise, Penn State students and locals alike are usually ready to get out of their homes and enjoy all that Centre County has to offer. Whether they're looking to spend a night out on the town, go for a swim or simply read a good book, there are plenty of activities in or near State College to keep anyone entertained during the warmer months.

Fortunately, many of the region’s top summer attractions can be reached via the Centre County Transportation Authority’s bus system. Most bus routes originate in the downtown, making it easy for students and others nearby to hop on a bus and visit their favorite summer spots.

For those unfamiliar with downtown State College, there’s a huge variety of dining and nightlife options. Whether you’re...