On Kids Day, $400 pieces of jewelry are put aside in favor of $4.00 handiwork creations. From 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Wednesday afternoon, throngs of young entrepreneurs flocked to Allen St. to sell hand-crafted wares from lines of stalls filled with everything from bead necklaces to wooden toys to bound journals.
Though Arts Fest will cater to older tastes as the week goes on, Wednesday was fun for all ages, and especially to those youngsters proudly offering their own particular brand of art.
As we reported yesterday, Webster's Bookstore & Cafe is being effectively forced out of its downtown location at 126 S. Allen St by Scott Kresge, who, in conjunction with his mother Catherine Kresge, the owner of the property, declined to renew the current lease. Most signs point towards this being a business decision, one not subject to appeal.
Those in attendance at a support rally held last night at Webster's consider the eviction to be a call to arms, mostly because for them Webster's isn't simply a business. It's a community fixture integral to the culture of downtown State College. And the community is understandably upset.
The Arts Festival proper starts tomorrow, but there's still plenty happening downtown today for Children's Day. While you might not fit the intended demographic, there are still a couple of things worth checking out.
Running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the Children and Youth Day Sidewalk Sale on South Allen Street. Kid's ages 8 to 18 will be selling everything from cork guns to some rather impressive pottery. While the average quality and craftsmanship may pale in comparison to the professional vendors selling the rest of the week, the prices are also much lower in comparison. You might be surprised what you find.
Michael Pipe, the Democratic nominee for the 5th Congressional District, announced today that he will be holding a series of 12 town hall meetings across the region, with a stop in State College at the Schlow Memorial Library on August 10 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The full list of meetings and more information is viewable on Pipe's campaign website.
Following news that Webster's Bookstore and Cafe has just three weeks left in a lease of 128 S. Allen St that will not be renewed, concerned members of the community are organizing meetings and petitions to protest the possible closure of a downtown fixture.
Entering its 44th year, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, known as Arts Fest, is State College's biggest summer event, attracting over 125,000 visitors during its five days. Whether they're coming for the art or the parties, thousands of Penn State students and alumni will be headed to State College this week for the festival.
Read on to learn what to expect if you're planning on attending.