In 2026, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts will celebrate its 60th year. Over six decades, the Festival has grown into one of the top-ranked juried art fairs in the country, the highlight of the State College summer, one of the largest non-football alumni weekends for Penn Staters, and an economic anchor for downtown businesses. It is the place to be for art, music, and community fun the week after Independence Day. For thousands of annual visitors, the Arts Festival is an enduring tradition shared with friends and family and one that is never to be missed. Festival highlights include: • More than 300 of the nation’s finest artists in our juried Sidewalk Sale & Exhibition • 80+ performances by regionally touring and local bands • Our signature water-dumping buckets • Street painting artists-in-action • An annual banner competition and exhibition • A month-long juried art exhibition featuring Pennsylvania artists • Tastings from the Central PA Tasting Trail • A 5K and 10-mile race with the Nittany Valley Running Club • Schlow Library’s BookFest • And a dedicated Children & Youth Day to launch the five-day Festival
