First Night State College returns on Sunday to bid farewell to 2023 and usher in 2024 with a family-friendly celebration all through the day and night time.

A New Year’s Eve custom in State College since 1994, First Night, a manufacturing of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, kicks off on Sunday morning and options music, selection and comedy performances, ice sculptures, workshops and way more.

Here’s what’s in retailer for the alcohol-free group celebration.

FIRST NIGHT BUTTONS

First Night buttons assist cowl a number of the prices of the pageant and are required for entry to workshops and indoor performances. Buttons are $10 and kids 12 and beneath don’t require one if accompanied by an grownup with a button. They will be bought at places round State College (see the list here) or at efficiency and data websites on Dec. 31.

ICE SCULPTURES

Ice carvers will create an array of sculptures out of greater than 30,000 kilos of ice between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and they are going to be on show till 6 p.m. on Saturday (except Mother Nature disposes of them first). Large sculptures will likely be on the 100 block of South Allen Street whereas the at all times fashionable ice slide will likely be positioned in Sidney Friedman Park on the 200 block of South Fraser Street.

More than 80 smaller sculptures will likely be in entrance of sponsoring downtown companies, at Mayor Welch Plaza in entrance of the State College Municipal Building, 243 S. Allen St., and in Friedman Park.

KIDS WINTER CRAFT MARKET

New this 12 months, the Kids Winter Craft Market will likely be held from 2 to five p.m. within the social corridor of State College Presbyterian Church, 132 W. Beaver Ave. Featuring contributors from the Arts Festival’s Children & Youth Sidewalk Sale in July, will showcase native youth and their unique artwork and wares.

REINDEER

Spruce Run Farm in Bloomsburg will likely be visiting Sidney Friedman Park with two reindeer from 4 to eight p.m.

GRAND PROCESSION

The First Night Grand Procession is open to all and steps off at 6:30 p.m. from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 208 W. Foster Ave. Local drummers are invited to deliver their very own drums or use one of many African drums supplied by First Night. People of all ages will be a part of the procession, carrying one of many varied large papier-mâché puppets.

Anyone who needs to take part ought to meet on the St. Andrew’s Education Building no later than 6 p.m. The procession will journey via Sidney Friedman Park to South Allen Street to College Avenue to Fraser Street and concludes on the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza.

5K RESOLUTION RUN

The 5K Resolution Run, held in partnership with Nittany Valley Running Club, begins at 6:30 p.m. on the nook of College Avenue and South Allen Street and follows. route via the Penn State campus, with just a few new twists and turns this 12 months. Runners and quick walkers, in addition to spectators, are inspired to put on costumes. Chip timing is supplied by Runners High.

Runners can register online and in particular person on Saturday from 2-4 p.m. on the State College Municipal Building or 4-6 p.m. on Sunday on the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church basketball court docket, 250 E. College Ave., the place bag storage may even be accessible. Registration is $28, or $18 for runners age 19 and youthful.

CARRIAGE RIDES

A carriage drawn by Percheron draft horses will likely be accessible for rides from 7 to 10 p.m. via downtown State College ranging from Mayor Welch Plaza on the State College Municipal Building. Rides — which require a First Night button and $5 charge — are in excessive demand, and never all will be accommodated. 

PERFORMANCES

A wide selection of performers will take to indoor and out of doors phases all through the day.

Musical acts at First Night come from a wide range of genres together with brass, bluegrass, jazz, rock, folks, blues, Celtic, nation, calypso, youngsters’s music and extra with a variety of native and regional performers. See the complete schedule here.

Adam Swartz Puppets will go around the globe with 5 totally different folktale variations of a well-known story in a wide range of puppetry types at 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. within the Municipal Building. State High Thespians will function princes, princesses and particular visitors with a musical theater efficiency at 1:30 p.m., additionally within the Municipal Building. 

Shannon Bishop’s Black Cat Belly Dance performs at 3:30 p.m. at University Baptist & Brethren, 411 S. Burrowes St.

Happy Valley Improv will carry out at 2, 4:30, 8:30, and 10:30 p.m. on the Blue Brick Theatre, 209 W. Calder Way.

Tempest Productions will current “The Great American Broadcast,” a recreation of a classic Nineteen Fifties radio broadcast that includes comedy, drama, suspense and music at 2:30 and seven:30 p.m. at Tempest Studios, 140 Kelly Alley

First Night will current just a few selection acts this 12 months.

Dextre Tripp & Circus Stella Acrobats will carry out at 1:30 and three:30 p.m. at The State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave. Tripp and his rescued canine companions carry out amusing circus stunts together with ladder balancing, juggling, ropewalking, unicycles and methods for treats in a humorous and light-hearted present.

Comedy magician and hypnotist Peter Gross performs at 2:30, 7 and 9 p.m. within the Municipal Building. The first two exhibits will function mentalism, with stunts, mind-reading and extra. The late present will showcase his hypnosis expertise in a family-friendly comedic efficiency.

You can even crew up with household and buddies to check your information and win prizes at Trivia Night, hosted by John Briggs and Karen Bettleyon at 7 p.m. inside 3 Dots Downtown, 137 E. Beaver Ave.

WORKSHOPS

First Night contains a number of workshops for teenagers and adults to get inventive. From 11 a.m to 9 p.m. make a decision mug at 2000 Degrees ($7 plus a First Night button; final seating at 8 p.m.).

3 Dots Downtown will host Black Cat Belly Dance’s Shannon Bishop for an introduction to improvisational fashion stomach dance at midday.

The Allegheny Ukulele Kollective will welcome gamers of all skills and ages, even these with no expertise, for a ukulele jam at 4 p.m. in State College Presbyterian Church’s Westminster Hall.

Adam Swartz Puppets will current a small puppet constructing workshop at 7:30 p.m., additionally in State College Presbyterian Church’s Westminster Hall.

RESOLUTION SCULPTURES

Inside the Municipal Building, guests can pin their resolutions to the First Night Phoenix, one of many celebrations fashionable Resolution Sculptures to assist make a recent begin within the new 12 months.

Burning Man, which collects needs, regrets and unkept resolutions, on the State College Municipal Building Lobby from midday to 9:45 p.m. and is then ignited in Sidney Friedman Park at 10 p.m.

Others embody the Remembrance Tree within the Municipal Building; First Bells, a sound sculpture set up in Sidney Friedman Park; fireplace sculptures from 5-10 p.m. in Sidney Friedman Park; Edison’s Clothesline alongside South Allen Street; the Bucket List at the Blue Brick Theatre; the Resolution Yeti on South Allen Street.

The Quest for the Resolution Chest, in the meantime, is a self-guided journey that begins on the mountaineering boot ice sculpture in Sidney Friedman Park and sends contributors on a 15-20 minute journey following clues to the Resolution Chest.