Over the past 59 years, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts has become one of the top-ranked juried art fairs in the country, the highlight of the State College summer, one of the biggest non-football alumni weekends for Penn Staters, the summer’s economic anchor for downtown State College businesses, and the place to be for art, music, and fun the week after Independence Day.

For many of the 125,000+ visitors and hundreds of volunteers each year, the Arts Festival is an enduring tradition, experienced with friends and family, and not to be missed.  Please explore this site to learn more about the many facets of Arts Fest.

Schedule of Events:

10:00am - 12:00pm - Instrument-Making Station

A creative, hands-on activity perfect for kids of all ages. Drop by and get crafty with sound to make your very own musical instrument with teachers from The Music Academy!

Location: Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza S. Fraser St., State College

10:00am - 7:00pm - Chip Mock Caricatures

Chip Mock grew up in Johnstown, Pa., admiring and drawing funny likenesses from an early age, inspired by artists John Johns, Norman Rockwell, Mort Drucker, and Al Hirshfield. While studying...

Location: South Allen Street

10:30am - 11:30am - Early Childhood Music Class!

A perfect way to start your family's weekend at Arts Fest! Join Betha Christopher, certified Musikgarten Instructor at The Music Academy, for a joyful, interactive music class designed especially for...

Location: Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza S. Fraser St., State College

11:00 am - 12:00 pm - State College Municipal Band

The band was formed in 1976 with a group of approximately 80 amateur and semi-professional band members to perform at the Arts Festival. Performing four free indoor concerts per year,...

Location: Sidney Friedman Park 241 South Fraser Street, State College

11:30am - 12:30pm - Honey Pie

Honey Pie is Sam Christensen on vocals and guitar, Molly Countermine on vocals, keys, percussion, and guitar, and Rene Witzke on bass...and occasional percussion.

Location: Allen Street Stage 123 S Allen St, State College

12:00pm - 1:00pm - Crooner & Co. Swing Band

Crooner & Co. Swing Band brings to life the excitement of the swing era. Performing the music of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Bublé, Glenn Miller

Location: Festival Shell Stage 100 W. College Avenue, State College

12:00pm - 1:00pm - Luke & Steve

Luke Cimbala is a Townie, whose passion for the music scene influenced him to start a business called The Band Junkies that shines light on local musicians.

Location: Kish Bank Pollock & Burrowes Stage PA

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Coal Aly Band

The Coal Aly Band is a fun 11-piece cover band with a premiere horn section who have quickly gained traction and popularity in the central Pennsylvania music scene.  

Location: Sidney Friedman Park 241 South Fraser Street, State College

1:30pm - 2:30pm - Blue Cactus

Blue Cactus got their start among the active honky-tonk circuit of North Carolina, developing an electrified twang that now branches out effortlessly into folk, alt-country, and psychedelic-tinged rock. Having released...

Location: Allen Street Stage 123 S Allen St, State College

2:00pm - 3:00pm - Trout Fishing in America – Children’s Show

Trout Fishing in America is the songwriting collaboration of Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet.  For almost 50 years, their vibrant, percussive sound and dynamic stage presence have cultivated a multi-generational...

Location: State Theatre 130 West College Avenue, State College

2:00pm - 3:30pm - Zydeco-A-Go-Go

Originating from the heart of Philadelphia, PA, this all-star lineup boasts a colorful group of personnel with decades of experience. Their mission was spreading worldwide the gospel of soulful rocking...

Location: Festival Shell Stage 100 W. College Avenue, State College

3:00pm - 4:00pm - Zeropoint Big Band

The 16-piece Zeropoint Big Band has been knocking the socks of Central PA music fans since 2009. Their post-modern-retro approach to big band jazz leaves few musical stones unturned.

Location: Sidney Friedman Park 241 South Fraser Street, State College

3:30pm - 4:30pm - House of Hamill

Pennsylvania-based House of Hamill is a fixture on festival stages across the US, and have shared their music and stories on the country’s premier folk stages. Their version of “Pound...

Location: Allen Street Stage 123 S Allen St, State College

4:00pm - 5:00pm - Caryn Dixon

Caryn Dixon is a Country/Americana artist from central Pennsylvania, currently carving her path in the heart of Nashville, TN. Known for her powerhouse vocals and emotionally rich songwriting

Location: Kish Bank THRIVE Stage at Pollock

4:30pm - 6:00pm - Ma’am

Are they country? Are they crazy? Does it matter? Hailing from somewhere in Central Pennsylvania Ma’am is a seven headed cowpoke racing their horse & buggy off the road

Location: Festival Shell Stage 100 W. College Avenue, State College

5:00pm - 6:00pm - La Fiesta Band

La Fiesta Band is a high-energy music ensemble that brings the vibrant rhythms of salsa, cumbia, merengue, and bachata to life. Led by maestro Jose Mijangos, an award-winning composer 

Location: Sidney Friedman Park 241 South Fraser Street, State College

5:30pm - 6:30pm - Sweet Desire

Hailing from the once bustling railroad town of Altoona, Pennsylvania, Sweet Desire is far from the most average of rock and roll groups today. Formed in 2021, and drawing inspiration...

6:00pm - 7:00pm - Hannah Bingman

For over twenty years, Hannah Bingman has been writing and performing her folk/blues compositions at venues along the east coast.

Location: Kish Bank THRIVE Stage at Pollock

7:00pm - 8:00pm - Happy Valley Improv

Happy Valley Improv is State College's premier longform improv company, bringing the art of improvisation to Centre County through performances, classes, workshops, and community outreach. 

Location: Blue Brick Theatre 209 W. Calder Way, State College

7:00pm - 8:30pm - Project 22

Project 22 is a collaboration of independent recording artists and award-winning musicians out of Eastern Pennsylvania who've played night clubs, festivals and honky-tonks from Memphis to Maine.

Location: Festival Shell Stage 100 W. College Avenue, State College

7:30pm - 8:30pm - The Soul Benders

Hailing from Ithaca, NY, The Soul Benders is a rock blues band led by the powerhouse vocals of Cisco PL. With a repertoire that includes soul-stirring originals and reimagined rock...

Location: Allen Street Stage 123 S Allen St, State College

8:30pm - 9:30pm - Trout Fishing in America

Trout Fishing in America is the songwriting collaboration of Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet.  For almost 50 years, their vibrant, percussive sound and dynamic stage presence have cultivated a multi-generational

Location: State Theatre 130 West College Avenue, State College

9:00pm - 10:00pm - Happy Valley Improv

Happy Valley Improv is State College's premier longform improv company, bringing the art of improvisation to Centre County through performances, classes, workshops, and community outreach. 

Location: Blue Brick Theatre 209 W. Calder Way, State College

9:30pm - 11:00pm - Pure Cane Sugar

Pure Cane Sugar is a female fronted Americana band based out of State College, PA. Since 2007, Pure Cane Sugar's sultry voices, soulful harmonies, and powerful lyrics, have evoked exquisite

Location: Allen Street Stage 123 S Allen St, State College

9:30pm - 11:00pm - My Hero Zero

My Hero Zero is a genre-blending powerhouse known for high-energy performances, seamless musicianship, and a deep connection with their audiences. Based on the East Coast

Location: Festival Shell Stage 100 W. College Avenue, State College

9:30pm - 11:00pm - The Wilson Springs Hotel

The Wilson Springs Hotel is a high-powered country and bluegrass outfit based out of Richmond, Virginia. The band combines tones of traditional country and western swing, bluegrass, folk, and rock

Location: Sidney Friedman Park 241 South Fraser Street, State College