Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
- June 20, 2017
- By Toptrendz
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The first Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts was held in July 1967, and lasted nine days. Sponsored by Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture and the State College Chamber of Commerce, the first Festival was opened by Governor Raymond P. Shafer. Musical performances took place downtown and on campus, and the first Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition consisted of people hanging work on snow fence along "The Wall" on the southern border of the Old Main lawn. The show wasn't originally juried, so one could purchase art created by professionals and amateurs. Patrons could even buy kittens.
The festival is now five days long, from Wednesday through Sunday in early July each year, and the Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition is now professionally juried. A large portion of the event takes place in the Borough of State College, PA, and the remainder on the adjacent University Park campus of The Pennsylvania State University.
The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts placed at number five on the list of Top 10 Summer Festivals 2013 by Livability.com, a national website that ranks quality of life and travel amenities of America’s small and mid-sized cities
The Central PA Festival of Arts, better known as Arts Fest, is a favorite annual event every July. It features the nationally-ranked Sidewalk Sale & Exhibition featuring over 300 of the nation's best artists and craftsmen in addition to performing arts presented at six outdoor and indoor stages.
Each day of the Arts Fest features musical performances by artists from Pennsylvania and around the country.
Enjoy the Italian Street Painting Festival on the 100 block of Hiester Street to see works of art at the tips of your toes. Also watch a mound of sand turn into a beautiful sculpted work of art as the weekend passes along.
In addition to the Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition, the Festival presents performers on outdoor and indoor stages in downtown State College and on the Penn State campus. Currently the Festival presents indoors in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, State College Presbyterian Church, and the State Theatre in downtown State College. The Festival also erects outdoor stages on the 100 block of South Allen Street, and on the lawn of Old Main, Penn State’s administration building. Each July, about fifty different performers are presented. Most performances are free, some require a Festival button for admission. Music presented covers a wide range of genres, from classical to rock to bluegrass to jazz to symphonic band. Performers are of international, national, state, and regional standing.
Many Others festival have been added to Pennsylvania Festival like:
-Governance and Mission
-Children and Youth Day
-Sidewalk sale and Exhibition
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