The 2024 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts will take place at several State College locations and on Penn State’s campus from Thursday to Sunday, with Children and Youth Day on Wednesday.
The festival will feature a number of performances and activities, in addition to iconic events, like the annual Banner Exhibition and Competition. Here’s a schedule of performances and events.
Wednesday, July 10
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. — The annual Children & Youth Day Sidewalk Sale will take place on South Allen Street. The event presents a way for youth artists between the ages of 8 and 18 to “develop both their artistic and entrepreneurial potential.”
The Cultural Showcase will also take place at Sidney Friedman Park during this time. There will be an interactive Kirtan session at 11 a.m.
Additionally, several organizations will perform, including Packard Highland Dancers, Nittany Highland Pipe Band, Penn State Asian Classical Music Club, Dance4Joy, Roots of Life and Black Cat Belly Dance.
During this time, the Paint by Number Arts Festival Poster Mural activity will also be in session on the Allen Street Stage. The completed mural will be displayed on a sponsor tower during the remaining days of the festival.
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. — The Cody Sabol Art Speed Painting performance will take place on the Allen Street Stage. The “highly acclaimed speed painter” will be creating three pieces of art at this year's festival.
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. — The Cirque Phoenix will perform at the Festival Shell Stage. Dmitry Myers, a professional circus artist, dancer and gymnast, will hit the stage.
Thursday, July 11
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m — The annual Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition will feature artwork submitted from artists from across the United States and several foreign countries.
Street painters will be at Foster Avenue on either side of South Allen Street during this time, and performances at several community locations will occur throughout the day.
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. – The Public Art Walk is in downtown State College. There will be a guided tour for anyone willing to learn about murals, sculptures and more.
Sidney Friedman Park — Performers include Deb Callahan Band at 2:30 p.m., Touch of Classics at 4:30 p.m. and the Coal Aly Band at 9 p.m.
Allen Street Stage — Performers include The Tussey Mountain Moonshiners at 11 a.m., euphonium-tuba quartet Below Centre at 1 p.m., the Quasi Quintet at 3 p.m., Corner Brothers at 5 p.m., Caryn Dixon Trio at 7 p.m. and the Soul Benders at 9 p.m.
Festival Shell Stage — Performers include The Ultra Kings at 4 p.m., JR Mangan Band at 6:30 p.m. and Eric Brace and the Last Train Home at 8:30 p.m.
Blue Brick Theatre — State College's premier longform improv company, Happy Valley Improv, will perform at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.
Friday, July 12
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m — The annual Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition. Street painters will be at Foster Avenue on either side of South Allen Street during this time.
5:30 p.m. — Winners of the Images 2024 Juried Exhibition, which attracts an anticipated 125,000 visitors, will be announced. The exhibition runs from July 1-31 at the Schlow Centre Region Library.
Performances at several community locations will occur throughout the day.
Sidney Friedman Park —Performers include DJ Elbow Knee Knee at 11 a.m., Black Cat Belly Dance at 2:30 p.m., Hartman & Goslin at 4:30 p.m., Matt Otis and the Sound at 6:30 p.m. and Joy Marie & The Gill Street Band at 9 p.m.
Allen Street Stage — Performers include Anchor & Arrow at 11:30 a.m., Sammy Hallacher Quartet at 1:30 p.m., Hops & Vines at 3:30 p.m., The Triple A Blues Band at 5:30 p.m., Ted McCloskey and the Hi-Fi’s at 7:30 p.m. and The Pines at 9:30 p.m.
Festival Shell Stage — Performers include Christine Havrilla & Gypsy Fuzz at 4 p.m., Blue Eyed Sally at 6:30 p.m. and Chase Campbell at 9 p.m.
Penn State Downtown Theatre Center — At 6:45 p.m., Bard in the Boro will feature a series of Shakespeare shorts.
Blue Brick Theatre — Happy Valley Improv will perform at 7 p.m. and at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10.
Saturday, July 13
9 a.m. — Winners of the $20,000 in prize money for the 2024 Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Allen Street Stage.
People can still view the art from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and there will be street painters throughout the day.
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. — The Public Art Walk at 3 Dots Downtown.
Performances at several community locations will follow.
Sidney Friedman Park — Performers include DJ Elbow Knee Knee at 11 a.m., Songwriter Showcase at 2 p.m., Across the Pondat 7 p.m. and The Tall Pines at 9:30 p.m.
Allen Street Stage — Performers include the Skoal Brothers at 11:30 a.m., House of Hamill at 1:30 p.m., The Extra Miles at 3:30 p.m., Natascha & the Spy Boys at 5:30 p.m., OK Otter at 7:30 p.m. and Pure Cane Sugar at 9:30 p.m.
Festival Shell Stage — Performers include the State College Municipal Band at 12:30 p.m., Rick Hirsch 5 at 2:30 p.m., The Sorters at 5 p.m., Ady’s Latin Band at 7 p.m. and The 8 Ohms Bandat 9:30 p.m.
Blue Brick Theatre — Happy Valley Improv will perform at 7 p.m. and at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10.
Tempest Studios — Kid-Friendly Best of the Fest will present kid-friendly films from across the world at 11 a.m. “Hamlet: The Time is Out of Joint,” an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet. will be performed at Tempest Studios. Tickets are $10 each.
Sunday, July 14
11 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition. Performances at several community locations will follow.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza — Christ Community Church, Albright-Bethune United Methodist Church, Calvary Harvest Fields Church and Unity Church of Jesus Christ will present “Never Far: Songs of Hope & Celebration” at 11 a.m.
Sidney Friedman Park — The Nittany Knights, an all-male group, will perform at 11 a.m., and the Bellefonte Community Band will perform at 2 p.m.
Allen Street Stage — Eric Ian Farmer & Friends will hit the stage at 12:30 p.m., and Cat’s Eye, known to play songs from the Great American Songbook, will perform at 2:30 p.m.
Festival Shell Stage — Formed in 1918 and a “staple of the central Pennsylvania nightclub scene,” Velveeta will perform at 12:30 p.m. David Zentner & the Nashville Music Co.will then perform at 3 p.m.
Tempest Studios — The Children's Ensemble will perform “Alice in Wonderland” at 1 p.m. before “Hamlet: The Time is Out of Joint” begins at 3 p.m.
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