STATE COLLEGE – The Downtown State College Improvement District’s third annual Downtown Light Up Night will take place at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, the 100 block of Allen Street and Allen Street Gates, on Nov. 16, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Attendees will enjoy a winter carnival with hot drinks, visits with Santa, free trolley rides, performances, catch the new holiday lighting display and much more.
The DSCID revealed exciting new additions to the event this year, including a local artisan market and live reindeer sponsored by downtown retailers Growing Tree Toys, Lion’s Pride and Harper’s.
Santa will arrive in the MLK Plaza on the Alpha Fire Company truck at 5 p.m., and will remain in the plaza until 7 p.m. for family visits and photo opportunities.
Other attractions in the MLK Plaza include crafts provided by The Makery, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., free hot cocoa and popcorn courtesy of the Lions Club and free trolley rides, from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Activities on Allen Street include street performers by Tempest Productions, stage performances by local musical and dance groups, free drawings by Monster D and free balloon animals by Nittany Balloons.
On Allen Street event goers will greeted with snacks by Auntie Anne’s, hot cider by Way Fruit Farm, free grilled stickies and coffee courtesy of The Corner Room. Warm-up stations will be located at Kish Bank (event supporting sponsor), The Squirrel & Acorn Bookshop and Tempest Studios (Kelly Alley).
The night will culminate with Santa and one lucky child lighting the iconic evergreen tree at the Allen Street Gates at 7:30 p.m. For a chance to light the tree with Santa, simply bring a new toy for Toys For Tots or a non-perishable food item for the YMCA Backpack Program by 7 p.m. and drop them at the DSCID collection tables at both MLK Plaza and Allen Street.
Families are also encouraged to take a stroll to the Enchanted Forest on Locust Lane and vote for their favorite non-profit tree in the Downtown Holiday Tree Challenge.
The non-profit tree with the most votes between Nov. 16 and Dec. 3 wins a $1,000 donation from the DSCID.
For detailed information about Light Up Night, visit downtownstatecollege.com or visit the Facebook event page.
