It’s Arts Fest time! The festival is so jam-packed with stuff to do, things to buy, bands to listen to, and performances to see that even the most determined won’t be able to do or see everything. So we here at Onward State decided to help a brother out by giving you the highlights.

Thursday, July 8th
• At 2:30 PM the AAA Blues Band will hit the festival shell stage. The reason they make my list of highlights is because the band- who perform with national acts and at festivals throughout the mid-Atlantic- was actually formed at the 1990 Arts Festival. At the very least they’ll conjure up some pleasant nostalgia.
• The Nittany Highland Pipe Band will take the shell stage at 4:30 PM. They’re on the list because one, I think babgpipes are cool and two how often to you get a chance to witness bagpipe-ing? Not often seeing as they’re the one of the only drum and pipe bands in PA.
• Student favorite, British Phil, will be performing on the Allen street stage at 5:00 PM. This group won the 2010 Battle of the Bands at Penn State and played at the Movin’ On spring festival.
• Comedic troubadours, The Arrogant Worms will be in the Schwab Auditorium at 8:00 PM. They make my list for being one of a kind at Arts Fest this year.

Friday, July 9th
• One thing worth mentioning is the “Incidental Music,” which includes performances by Colgate student Karen Alley and the group Below Centre along the exhibition routes so you can listen to some beautiful music while you shop.
• The Triple Take trio will be playing on the Shell stage at 2:30 PM with their bass, trombone, and harp! If you ask me a harp is a pretty cool instrument, and, from my bounded knowledge of harps, I can tell you they require a lot of skill to play.
• Funky zydeco group Blue Sky Mission Club will be on the Shell stage at 4:30 PM. Their funky, zippy ditties will have you dancing in no time. Plus the lead female singer has a real great folk voice.
• Ted McCloskey & The Hi-Fi’s will satiate any hipster-indie-rock cravings you may have at 6:00 PM when they hit the Allen Street stage.

Saturday, July 10th
• Jim Colbert & Friends will take care of the “Incidental Music” at 6:30 PM
• The sixteen-piece Zeropoint Big Band is one huge act featuring some of central Pennsylvania’s best musicians; they hit the Shell Stage at 1:30 PM
• Ruby & the Hummingbirds, who will be performing on Allen Street at 2:00 PM are an unique group that play some unbeatable classics from the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s- which is right up my alley.
• Another artist I like is Deirdre Flint- who will also be performing on Allen Street at 6:00 PM. She’s a folk artist with a satirical edge that’s garnered wide-spread acclaim.
• 10:00 PM on the Shell Stage is the place to see the always-popular Velveeta who play a variety of “80’s cheese.”

Sunday, July 11th
• Sunday at 12:00 PM the Penn State Taiji Club will demonstrate some Tai Chi on the Shell Stage.
• At 3:30 PM reggae group the Earthtones-who have performed with Burning Spear, Ziggy Marley, The Wailers, Yellow Man, and Culture- will be performing on the Shell Stage

So there’s the lowdown, for a complete, detailed list you can visit the Art Fest’s website. Have fun kiddies and don’t get too crazy.

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