STATE COLLEGE – The Downtown State College Improvement District (DSCID) is excited to announce its collaboration with the Central PA Festival of the Arts to enhance the festival experience for artists and attendees alike.
This year, the DSCID is introducing a pilot program aimed at integrating downtown restaurants into the festival activities by coordinating lunches for artist vendors.
Scheduled for July 10-14, the Central PA Festival of the Arts attracts thousands of visitors to downtown State College each year. Recognizing the opportunity to showcase local culinary offerings, the DSCID has organized a convenient meal service initiative.
Seven participating downtown restaurants will provide boxed meal options for artist vendors on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the festival.
Artists will pre-purchase these meals, which will be delivered directly to their booths by Arts Fest volunteers. This service ensures that artists can enjoy a delicious lunch without leaving their booths or missing out on potential sales.
In addition to supporting local businesses through the meal program, the DSCID is hosting two guided downtown public art walk tours during the festival.
These tours will take place on Thursday, July 11 at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 13 at 9:30 a.m., starting from 3 Dots Downtown at 137 E. Beaver Ave.
Pam Etters, executive director of the Central PA Festival of the Arts, said: “The public art walks are a valuable addition to Arts Fest and further help us showcase the vibrant art scene in downtown State College to our creative visitors.”
Visitors are invited to join these tours without registration, simply by arriving at the designated meeting point at the scheduled time.
“Downtown State College is proud to showcase its vibrant arts scene and diverse culinary offerings during the Central PA Festival of the Arts,” said Lee Anne Jeffries, executive director of the DSCID.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Arts Fest to support our local businesses and provide engaging experiences for festival attendees.”
Etters agreed, “We are excited to partner with the Downtown State College Improvement District in an effort to better support our beloved downtown businesses. Lee Anne, and her team, have been instrumental in this collaboration, and we greatly appreciate the time and efforts they have put into launching this pilot lunch program. The response from visiting artists has been great!”
Downtown State College is home to over 40 works of public art and self-guided art walk experiences are available to the public by downloading the DSCID’s Art Walk Brochure or pick up a printed copy at 127 S. Fraser St.