Thank God It’s Friday: State College Weekend Events

If you weren’t already sure that Christmas season is here, this weekend event guide will prove it.

From the annual Polar Express trolley rides through downtown State College to stocking stuffer craft sales, there’s plenty of Christmas spirit making its way through the Centre region.

There’s plenty to keep busy with in town this weekend.

Here’s our weekly rundown of the best events going on in the area.

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FRIDAY:

It’s First Friday!

The monthly State College celebration is back for December. As always, there’s plenty going on this evening from 5 to 9 p.m. in downtown State College. 

You can go through a guided historic building tour of six downtown buildings. The Fraser Street Gallery will hold an opening reception for “Chasm,” its newest exhibit, featuring live music from Eric Ian Farmer and appetizers from Gigi’s. The Makery is holding a “handmade holiday pop-up party” featuring handcrafted treasures from local artisans and makers.

And that’s not all. There are plenty of events, lots of live music, and a ton of great deals at downtown businesses. Head over the First Friday website for a complete rundown of the festivities.

Rock on at the State Theatre.

If you’re into bluegrass and folk music, this concert is for you. While Keller Williams is widely recognized as a solo artist and uses live looping during his performances, the bluegrass artist is coming to State College with his new trio.

A collaboration with standup bassist Rob Wasserman and drummer Rodney Holmes, the Keller Williams Trio is a high energy band. Here’s a look at what the trio has to offer with a rendition of Joe Walsh’s classic hit “Life’s Been Good.”

Ticket are $25 for both general admission floor, which is standing, and the balcony, which is seated. Head over to the State Theatre website to purchase yours.

Do you like Christmas trees?

That was a rhetorical question. Of course you do! If you’re up for a drive to Lock Haven on Friday or Saturday, there’s a Festival of Trees at the Covenant United Methodist Church.

With Thanksgiving behind us, Christmas season is officially here, the this festival is celebrating that with a “large array of creatively decorated Christmas trees donated by community organizations.” There will be handmade gift items created by local artisans and vendors, and the event proceeds will support local charities. 

The event runs form 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

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SATURDAY:

The North Pole is coming to State College.

For the past 30 years, the Elves’ Gift Shop has has been held in the area as a holiday season fundraiser.

It has been the primary fundraiser for the Junior Woman’s Club of State College for just over a decade, raising over $7,000 a year. Held annually at a local State College school, children can shop for inexpensive items for parents, teachers, friends, and others with the help of “elves” — who are costumed local Girl Scouts.

The shop also includes a small holiday craft bazaar for adult shoppers to enjoy. The 2015 Elves’ Gift Shop will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Park Forest Middle School.

Seriously. The North Pole is coming to State College.

The Polar Express is back in town too! 

It all starts with a reading of the award-winning holiday story The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg at the library.

After the reading, all children will receive a bell — which is supposed to symbolize the magic of Christmas — and a gold coin. They can then head outside and hop on State College’s own version of the Polar Express to take a ride around downtown with a stop at Santa’s Workshop.

When they get there, the kids will take a photo with Santa himself and turn in their gold coins for items at the workshop. They will also get a chance to step into the tiny shoes of Santa’s helpers and decorate a picture frame to house their Santa photo.

The Polar Express, as always, is free for all participants and will be held on Dec. 5, 6, 12, and 13. On both Saturdays, the event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on both Sundays, it will go from 2 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. 

It’s (sort of) Christmas!

Christmas is still a few weeks away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start celebrating the holiday now. Boalsburg Hometown Christmas is here.

Head to downtown Boalsburg starting at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at the fire hall. There will be a $5 breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, an award presentation for the cookie contest, and Christmas crafts around the village.

There will also be Boalsburg Heritage Museum tours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., caroling at the community tree, the tree lighting, and more. See the full schedule here.

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SUNDAY:

Support local artisans. 

It’s the 40th annual Winter Craft Market this weekend, putting the crafts of local artisans on display at Mt. Nittany Middle School. 

Over 70 artisans will be showing off their goods and selling them at the market. Admission is $3, but you can knock a buck off that price with a printable postcard available on the Winter Craft Market website.

The market is open on both Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first day and from the same time until 4 p.m. on Sunday. The event supports two local charities, the Centre County Women’s Resource Center and the Childbirth Education Center.

And the crafts don’t stop there.

The Centre County Historical Society is holding a craft sale of its own this weekend at the Centre Furnace Mansion.

The 13th Annual Stocking Stuffer features 50 local artisans and antique collectors selling glass, jewelry, textiles, soaps, and more.

The $5 price of admission includes hot cider and cookies, and you get the chance to see the museum in its Christmas spirit, decorated festively and accented with fresh greenery and lovely trimmings.

The craft sale runs from Friday to Sunday, going from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

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