The 58th annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts is quickly approaching and this year will see a big change: the elimination of buttons or wristbands previously required for many performances.
Live performances have been an important part of Arts Fests over the years, and this summer they will all be outdoors and free to attend, according to a Friday press release from Arts Fest Director Pam Etters.
In the past, the buttons – which will transition to wristbands in 2022 – were available for purchase across the city and required for certain live performances.
Dozens of artists will take the stage July 11-14 at venues including the Festival Shell on the Old Main lawn, the Allen Street Stage and Sidney Friedman Park.
“This summer we will once again offer a mix of old favorites and new artists on our outdoor stages,” Etters wrote in the release.
Some indoor venues in downtown State College receive tickets from their host organizations, including Happy Valley Improv, The State Theater and Tempest Productions.
Free live performances aren’t the only new feature at this year’s Arts Fest. Here’s a look at others:
Arts Fest Passports
This year, Arts Fest introduces a new way to navigate the festival with a cultural theme: passports.
These passports, which can be picked up at the festival’s “passport stop,” will help guide festival-goers through five passport stations in downtown State College. The locations share information about their culture and visitors earn a sticker at each stop.
If you collect all five stickers from each station, you can return the passport to Stuckey Mitsubishi for a chance to win a DelGrosso’s Amusement Park prize package, according to the press release.
Courtesy tent
This year, Arts Fest has partnered with the Center Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association to provide a guest tent at the State College Municipal Plaza. At the tent, fairgoers who want to continue shopping during Arts Fest without having to carry already purchased goods can check them and pick them up later.
In addition to safely storing purchases, the guest tent also offers a pick-up service from the parking lot at the rear of the municipal building for those who have difficulty carrying their goods to the car.
Additional bicycle storage
This year, the Arts Fest is partnering with Freeze Thaw Cycles and the State College Borough to provide additional parking for those traveling to the festival by bike.
“Although it is strictly prohibited to cycle through the festival, we recognize that cycling to the festival can relieve a lot of parking stress,” the press release said.
This additional parking space will be located in the Beaver Avenue parking garage and offers extensive covered bicycle storage.
Sensory oasis spaces
The Schlow Center Region Library, located at 211 S Allen St., will host sensory oasis spaces during this year’s festival.
The new sensory oasis spaces are located on the second floor of the library for festival goers in need of a sensory break from all the hustle and bustle of downtown.
There are three areas that people who need a break can choose from:
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The Quiet Area, for those who need a non-private space to relax and breathe, found in the nook overlooking the intersection of Allen Street and Beaver Avenue.
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The Teen Space, for those looking for low stimulation or stress-relieving moderate activity, overlooking the library parking lot.
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Joyce’s Sun Room, for those looking for a controlled environment where music and games can be played.
The library will also house a nursing and lactation station for mothers, sponsored by Mount Nittany Health.
For more information about this year’s Arts Fest and a full schedule of events, visit arts-festival.com.
