First Night State College

When: December 31st, 2019

Where: Downtown State College

Book Your Lodging: Click Here

To Get the Official Visitor Guide: Click Here 

First Night Lodging Packages: Click Here

Ring in 2020 in Downtown State College! Enjoy New Year's Eve at a local restaurant, take in the holiday atmosphere with carved ice sculptures and festive musical and visual entertainment - it's fun for the whole family!

First Night State College will take place in downtown State College, PA and on the University Park campus of Penn State University on December 31, 2019.

First Night State College is well known for its outstanding displays of carved ice. Large ice sculptures will be located in the 100 block of South Allen Street, while smaller one block sculptures will be located in Sidney Friedman Park, on the Municipal Building Plaza, and in front of sponsoring businesses and churches downtown. Come and watch the talented First Night State College ice carving team do its stuff!

First Night State College features musical and vaudeville performances in downtown churches and theatres. You can hear jazz, bluegrass, folk, classical, and even bagpipe music from a great lineup of entertainers. You can also enjoy downtown from a horse-drawn carriage; check out our visiting reindeer (resting after their big night!) or take part in a procession of giant papier mache puppets. At one of First Night’s resolution sculptures, you can declare your resolution for the New Year, or just enjoy the resolutions your friends and neighbors may or may not be keeping. There will be art workshops where youngsters can work on a craft project. For many, the highlight of First Night State College is the 5K Resolution Run, produced in conjunction with the Nittany Valley Running Club. Over 600 participants will run and walk through downtown State College and the Penn State campus—many in costume!

If you’re hungry at First Night, you can nosh on some kettle corn, pick up a delicious strudel, or enjoy a chili dog. Or you can eat at one of the many fine restaurants in downtown State College.

First Night State College is great fun for the entire family. This family-oriented, alcohol free event comes just once a year—don’t miss it! 

FIRST NIGHT®STATE COLLEGE BUTTON
A First Night®State College button provides general admission to workshops, indoor performances, the Penn State Ice Pavilion, on a first-come, first-served basis. It also supports the funding of all outdoor events. Children 12 and under are admitted free with an adult.  First Night®State College buttons cost $10 each and may be purchased at businesses throughout the Centre Region, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, and at performance sites on Tuesday, December 31st. Get more information about our buttons, where to purchase them, and see the online purchase option by clicking here.