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 - 11:00am - Yoga Lab

Come experience our science-based yoga and meditation with an emphasis on mindfulness and functional movement to promote physical and mental well-being.

Location: Old Main Lawn 100 W. College Avenue, 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.

Location: South Allen Street

12:00pm - 1:00pm - Biscuit Jam

A central PA favorite, Biscuit Jam combines soulful harmonies with a unique “unplugged” instrumentation to create their distinctive brand of lively audience-oriented Americana rock. Members include: Kelly Countermine -  vocals, guitar

Location: Kish Bank THRIVE Stage at Pollock

12:00pm - 1:30pm - Adam Hallacher Septet

The Adam Hallacher Septet is an all-star group of young jazz musicians from State College and Reading PA featuring Adam Hallacher (trumpet), Stephen Liu (alto saxophone), Noah Gibney (piano), Elijah...

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

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Jeff Mamett

Jeff Mamett is a singer-songwriter influenced by artists like Guy Clark. His songs are authentic and earthy. After years as a sideman, recording and touring with various artists

Location: Willard Building Plaza Old Main Mall, University Park

1:30pm - 2:30pm - Wanderlost

Wanderlost is a piano rock quartet from western Pennsylvania formed in 2022. They are known for their jazz/funk-inspired horn lines, tight vocal harmonies, and infectious grooves.

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

2:00pm - 3:00pm - Below Centre

Instruments that play the bass parts are often the unsung heroes of the symphonic band. The public can name famous trumpeters and flutists
Location: Kish Bank THRIVE Stage at Pollock

2:30pm - 3:30pm - PennSoulvanians

The PennSoulvanians are an award winning 7-piece ensemble from Central PA playing all original music ranging from rock to R&B, reggae to hip-hop and more. Sponsored by Altoona First Savings

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

3:00pm - 4:00pm - Conner Gilbert

Through hard work and a true love of music, Hollidaysburg-based Conner Gilbert has made a name for himself as a successful musician. As a live acoustic musician, he works tirelessly

Location: Willard Building Plaza Old Main Mall, University Park

3:30pm - 4:30pm - Making State

Making State is a 3-piece American pop-rock band from State College, PA. Their unique brand of entertainment blends big hooks, soaring vocal harmonies, and slamming grooves that are sometimes funky

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

4:00pm - 5:00pm - Black Cat Belly Dance

Shannon Bishop is a professional Egyptian-style dancer based in State College, PA and the Artistic Director of Black Cat Belly Dance, central Pennsylvania's only dance school devoted to Egyptian dance

Location: Kish Bank THRIVE Stage at Pollock

4:00pm - 5:30pm - Astral Shakedown

Astral Shakedown is a vintage-inspired jam band that brings a mix of soul, rock, and funk to the stage.  Their eclectic vibe is sure to get you on your feet...

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

4:30pm - 5:30pm - The Triple A Blues Band

Chicago, Swing, Delta, Jug-Band, Jazz and Soul are some of the many styles that The Triple A Blues Band brings to each performance. Named in honor of the many minor-league

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

5:00pm - 6:00pm - Big Red & Zoe Makenna

Brian “aka Big Red” has been playing music in numerous states since the early 2000’s. He and his family moved to Happy Valley in 2013, and he began playing again after

Location: Willard Building Plaza Old Main Mall, University Park

5:30pm - 6:30pm - Urban Fusion

Urban Fusion blends jazz, funk, soul, blues & Latin in their original compositions plus arrangements of classics from Grover Washington, Herbie Hancock, George Duke and more. Dubbed the Funk Brothers

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

6:00pm - 7:00pm - Hops & Vines

An acoustic rock duo comprised of Jonathan McVerry, aka “Hops” and Christie Clancy, aka “Vines”, their shows are a collection of classic songs from nearly all genres peppered w

Location: Kish Bank THRIVE Stage at Pollock

6:30pm - 8:00pm - Chivalrous Crickets

The Chivalrous Crickets is a family folk band with a unique sound centered on sibling vocal harmonies, rich instrumental blends and rousing arrangements of original, contemporary and ancient traditional music...

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

6:30pm - 8:00pm - Os Mutantes

Os Mutantes aren’t just a band—they’re a cultural phenomenon. Born in the explosive Tropicália movement of late-60s Brazil, they flipped the script on what Brazilian music could be, fusing it...

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

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

7:30pm - 8:30pm - Ted McCloskey and the Hi-Fi’s

Ted McCloskey has been telling compelling stories to local and national audiences for years. He is a singer/songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist, a producer and film composer. He has fourteen records

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

8:00pm - 9:00pm - Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal

Tickets are $73 in advance or $78 day of show *additional processing Presenting four-time Grammy Award-winning artist and country music royalty, Rosanne Cash with John Levnthal. Known for her literary...

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. Started by four improvisers

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

9:00pm - 10:00pm - The Plate Scrapers

Born from the tradition of Bluegrass jams and potlucks, The Plate Scrapers -- Derek Kretzer (banjo), Andrew Jordan (guitar), Robbie Mann (fiddle), Jody Mosser (dobro), and Kevin Johnson (bass) --...

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

9:00pm - 10:30pm - Velveeta

Velveeta the cheese food is a staple in the dairy case at fine supermarkets across the country. Developed in 1918 by Swiss immigrant Emil Frey of the Monroe Cheese Company...

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

9:30pm - 11:00pm - Habbina Habbina

The Brooklyn based Mediterranean trio led by guitarist Amit Peled, channels the rare repertoire of Mediterranean music by guitar giants such as Aris San and Omar Khorshid.Retro-Mediterranean-hits are brought to...

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

9:30pm - 11:00pm - ARTS FEST AFTER DARK – Chicha Libre at Manny’s

Manny’s Live Performance Space is proudly hosting Arts Fest After Dark! Gorinto Productions and Secret Planet bring the party to Manny’s stage with world-class global sounds that'll keep you moving

Location: Manny's 101 Hiester Street, State College