Kick off the holiday season with Light Up Night on Thursday, November 20 from 5-8pm on Fraser Street’s MLK Plaza and the 100 block of Allen Street in Downtown State College!
Enjoy a winter carnival with hot drinks, visits with Santa, free trolley rides, performances, catch the new holiday lighting display, and much more!
Get a jump on your holiday shopping at the local Artisan Market and stop by to visit with live reindeer and learn more about these fascinating creatures!
The night culminates with Santa and one lucky child lighting the evergreen tree at the Allen Street Gates! Bring a toy for Toys for Tots or a non-perishable food Item for the YMCA Backpack Program by 7pm, and your child will be entered for a chance to help Santa light the tree.
While you are out, take a stroll down to the Enchanted Forest on Locust Lane and vote for your favorite non-profit tree in our Downtown Holiday Tree Challenge! The non-profit with the tree that receives the most votes receives a $1,000 donation from the Downtown Improvement District!
The fun continues with the release of this year's limited-edition ornament!
For the past four years, the State College Downtown Improvement District has sponsored a holiday ornament highlighting a historic or important landmark in State College. This year's ornament will feature The State Theatre!
Ornament sales launch at participating downtown businesses on Black Friday, which is November 28, 2025 this year.
Make sure you leave room on your tree!
Then come back to downtown State College to celebrate Small Business Saturday!
Get Ready for a Festive Small Business Saturday – With Free Downtown Gift Cards & Exciting Prizes!
The Downtown team will be downtown with their spinning wheel, giving away hundreds of dollars in downtown gift cards. Join them for this beloved annual tradition, where they celebrate the start of the holiday season and connect with downtown visitors. It’s the perfect way to kick off the season with fun, prizes, and a whole lot of local cheer – you won’t want to miss it!
Venture downtown to support your local small businesses on November 29 during Small Business Saturday! Make a day of it, shop and dine local by patronizing the small, brick and mortar businesses that make our downtown special…this day and every day!
And how will you get around town this holiday season? With free parking and bus tokens of course!
Free Holiday Parking
From Monday, November 24 through Sunday, December 21
From Monday, December 22 through Sunday, January 4
Free Bus Tokens Available
Monday, November 24 through Wednesday, December 24
Happy Holidays from Downtown State College and the Borough of State College!
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