Central PA 4th Fest Parade Returns to State College

The Central PA 4th Fest parade returned to downtown State College and the Penn State campus for the first time since 2019 as the Centre County community celebrated Independence Day on Tuesday.

After COVID-19 caused the cancelation of 4th Fest in 2020, the last two years were scaled-down affairs as the nonprofit event rebuilt its volunteer base. But 2023 saw the festival get back to a day-long celebration, including the return of the Firecracker 4k in the morning and the parade in the afternoon.

Nearly 70 entrants such as bands, performance groups, community organizations and politicians marched and rode in the 45-minute parade that started at Burrowes Street, traveled east on College Avenue then made its way through the University Park campus to the area around Medlar Field and Beaver Stadium.

Festivities continued with entertainment, food and activities outside the stadiums, while a ticketed event with musical performances and other fun was taking place inside Medlar Field. It all led up to what was expected to be the biggest fireworks show in Pennsylvania, set to begin at about 9:15 p.m.

“It is not a high-budget type of activity,” Celesta Powell, 4th Fest executive director said in June. “You park, you get in there, you hang out. You really do choose your Fourth of July. We’re just really glad to celebrate as a large group there this year.”

She added that whether attendees bought a ticket for the Medlar Field events or enjoyed the free celebration outside the stadium, the goal was to have something for everyone.

“We’re trying to pack the day with as much as we can,” Powell said.

Check out the sights from the first 4th Fest parade since 2019 in the gallery below: