Central PA 4th Fest returns on Thursday in State College with a daylong Independence Day celebration featuring old favorites and new additions, all culminating in a Fourth of July fireworks spectacular.
Festivities kick off with the 20th anniversary Firecracker 4k run/walk through the Penn State campus, starting near the Bryce Jordan Center. Sign-in begins at 7:30 a.m. and the race steps off at 9 a.m. Registration ($20 for ages 5 to 18 and $35 for 19 and older) is online only and is available until 8:45 a.m. on Thursday.
Lots around Medlar Field will open at 9 a.m. Parking options ranging from $10 to $75 are available for purchase in advance through Ticket Return.
Activities outside Medlar Field and Beaver Stadium kick off at noon with a new feature for this year: the Firecracker Car Show. Classic cars will be on display in the Jordan East Lot until 5 p.m., when awards are announced.
Entertainment also begins at noon and vendors open on Curtin Road between Beaver Stadium and the car show. Vendors are scheduled to include Rebelz Mobile Cuisine, Snyder’s Concession, Clem’s BBQ, Sunset Ice Cream, Slush Happy Valley, Cogan’s Ice Cream, Carl’s Crazy Corn, Scott’s Roasting, Miller’s Tropical Ice and Sips and Giggles.
The annual Fourth of July Parade begins at 1 p.m. in downtown State College. As with last year’s parade, it will start at the intersection of West College Avenue and Burrowes Street, travel east on College Avenue and turn left onto Shortlidge Road, where it will disperse.
Fun continues outside Medlar Field, where there will be live music, zip line rides ($10), Kids Kingdom, BMX shows, free hot dogs at 4 p.m., lumberjack demos, roller derby and free slices of birthday cake at 7:04 p.m.
Tickets are not required for outside events, but $20 general admission tickets are needed for VIP fireworks seating and entertainment inside Medlar Field. The ballpark will open at 4 p.m. and will host a performance by the Donnie Burns Duo game between the Centre County League and North Branch League all-stars, the Great American Baby Race and a performance by central Pennsylvania rock cover band Honeypump.
Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:45 p.m., with accompanying music simulcast on 99.5 FM The Bus.
Check out the full schedule:
| Time | Event | Location |
| 7 a.m. | 4k registration | Medlar Field |
| 9 a.m. | Firecracker 4k | Starts/ends Bryce Jordan Center |
| 9 a.m. | Parking Lots open | Curtin Road, Park Avenue and Porter Road |
| 10 a.m. | Car show registration opens | Jordan East Lot |
| Noon | Vendors open | Curtin Road |
| Noon-5 p.m. | Firecracker Car Show | Jordan East Lot |
| 12:35-2 p.m. | Caryn Dixon | Community Stage, Curtin Road |
| 1 p.m. | Parade | College Avenue |
| 2-7 p.m. | Kids Kingdom | BJC Founders Lot |
| 2:30-4 p.m. | Natascha and the Spy Boys | Community Stage, Curtin Road |
| 3:30-4:30 p.m. | BMX Show | Stadium West near Curtin Road |
| 2-6 p.m. | Zip line ($10) | BJC pull-off, Curtin Road |
| 4 p.m. | Free hot dogs (until they’re gone) | Community Tent, Curtin Road near BJC |
| 4-5:15 p.m. | Lumberjack Demo | Stadium West near Curtin Road |
| 4 p.m. | Medlar Field opens | Medlar Field |
| 4-5 p.m. | Ady Martinez | Community Stage, Curtin Road |
| 4-5 p.m. | Donnie Burns Duo | Medlar Field |
| 5 p.m. | Car show awards | Community Stage, Curtin Road |
| 5-6:10 p.m. | BMX Show | Stadium West near Curtin Road |
| 5 p.m. | Centre County League vs. North Branch League baseball game | Medlar Field |
| 6-7 p.m. | Lumberjack Demo | Stadium West near Curtin Road |
| 7:04 p.m. | Free birthday cake | Community Tent, Curtin Road near BJC |
| 7:15-8:30 p.m. | Roller derby | Stadium West near Curtin Road |
| 8-8:15 p.m. | Great American Baby Race | Medlar Field |
| 8:15-9:30 p.m. | Honeypump | Medlar Field |
| 9:45 p.m. | Fireworks (Music simulcast on 99.5 FM) |
