Here’s a look at what’s happening around Centre County this Fourth of July weekend.
First Friday
Friday, July 2, 5-8 p.m.
Downtown State College’s monthly celebration of local art, music, food and shopping returns for the first time since 2019. Here’s what’s happening for July’s First Friday:
• The duo Caledonia performs 5:30- 8 p.m. on the stage at the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, South Fraser Street
• The Makery, 123 S. Fraser St., hosts Lynn Anne Verbeck for a pottery make-and-take workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Learn to make a magnetic mini-vase out of self hardening clay, creating the vase at The Makery and taking it home to decorate and glue on the magnet once dry.
• McLanahan’s Downtown Market, 116 S. Allen St., will offer free pizza (while supplies last), half price happy hour and merchandise giveaways.
• Crust & Crumb, 115 E. Beaver Ave., will host jewelry designer Jennifer Black, whose work will be on display during the event.
• 3 Dots Downtown, 137 E. Beaver Ave., offers a community engagement activity for a forthcoming mural by local artist Ann Tarantino. Attendees can help shape this exciting piece of place-based public art in downtown State College. You’ll also find live music, 3 Dots’ current exhibit, “Faux Venus,” by Yiwei Leo Wang, food, drink, and surprises. The crew from Placemaking US, who are making a stop in State College on their cross-country Recovery Road Trip, will also join the fun.
• Lions Pride, 112 E. College Ave., will offer 25% off full-priced printed short sleeved T-shirts, in-store only, as their First Friday Special.
Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival
Friday, July 2 through Sunday, July 4
Grange Park, 169 Homan Lane, Centre Hall
The annual bluegrass festival at Grange Park continues through Sunday with live music from 2-9 p.m. each day, kids programs, craft and food vendors and RV and tent camping. Tickets are $30 a day and $15 on Sunday. Kids 12 and under are admitted for free with a paid adult. Tent camping is $25 a day and RV camping is $30 a day.
Concert on the Village Green
Friday, July 2, 7:30-9 p.m.
Village Green, 133 Mount Nittany Road, Lemont
Lemont Village Associations’s annual summer Friday night concert series continues with singer-songwriter Chris Kent.
Live Music at The State Theatre
Saturday, July 3, 7:30 p.m.
The State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave., State College / Streaming online
Musical collaborators for decades, Andy Tolins (guitar & vocals), Richard Sleigh (harmonica), Bill Stetz (bass) and Steve Buckalew (mandolin, fiddle, vocals) will perform in The Friedman Auditorium at The State Theatre. Tickets are $12.50. The show also will be live streamed on YouTube.
Kids on Wheels Parade
Bike Decorating: Saturday, July 3
Parade: Sunday, July 4
Centre Region Parks and Recreation’s Kids on Wheels Parade has become a Fourth of July tradition. From 7 to 8 p.m. on Saturday stop by the lower pavilion at Holmes-Foster Park in State College to pick up red, white and blue streamers for participants to decorate their bikes, trikes, scooters or strollers for the parade the next morning.
Registration is required for the July 4 parade. Participants will check in at the line-up site on East Foster Avenue between Locust Lane and Garner Street. Line-up begins at 9:30 a.m. and the parade steps off at 10 a.m. The parade moves west on Foster Avenue and disburses at Sidney Friedman Park.
Downtown State College Art Walk
Sunday, July 4; Wednesday, July 7; Friday, July 9.
This week’s Centred Outdoors adventure invites participants to explore art throughout downtown State College. From noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, a Centred Outdoors ambassador will be at 3 Dots, 137 E. Beaver Ave., to offer insight into some the artwork able to be found and provide guests with information on a self-guided tour. Ambassadors also will be on-site 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday and 6-8 p.m. on Friday, July 9.
State College Municipal Band Fourth of July Concert
Sunday, July 4, 3 p.m.
South Hills School of Business and Technology, 480 Waupelani Drive
The State College Municipal Band will perform a free Fourth of July Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at the South Hills School of Business and Technology’s Thom Mazza Band Shell.
State College Spikes and Fourth Fest Fireworks at Medlar Field
Sunday, July 4, starting at 5 p.m.
Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
Central PA 4th Fest won’t be having its typical daylong Independence Day celebration for the second consecutive year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the event is partnering with the State College Spikes for a postgame fireworks show.
The Spikes take on Trenton with a 5:05 p.m. first pitch and after the game ticket-holders can stay to watch a special fireworks display produced by 4th Fest. Kids can run the bases and after the game activities will lead up to the fireworks show. [Tickets]
Summer Sounds from the Gazebo
Sunday, July 4, 7 p.m.
Talleyrand Park, West High Street, Bellefonte
A Bellefonte summer tradition, Summer Sounds from the Gazebo in Talleyrand Park continues with free concerts every Sunday through Aug. 8. This week RamaLama performs a cappella doo-wop of the 1950s and ’60s.
