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Light Up Night
November 16, 2023 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Kick off the holiday season with Light Up Night on Thursday, November 16 from 5-8pm on Fraser Street’s MLK Plaza and the 100 block of Allen Street in Downtown State College!
Enjoy a winter carnival with hot drinks, visits with Santa, free trolley rides, performances, catch the new holiday lighting display, and much more!
New this year…Get a jump on your holiday shopping at our local Artisan Market and stop by to visit with live reindeer and learn more about these fascinating creatures!
The night culminates with Santa and one lucky child lighting the evergreen tree at the Allen Street Gates! Bring a toy for Toys for Tots or an non-perishable food Item for the YMCA Backpack Program (See list of items needed) by 7pm, and your child will be entered for a chance to help Santa light the tree.
MLK Plaza:
- Santa will arrive in the MLK Plaza on the Alpha Fire Company truck at 5pm and will be in the plaza until 7pm. This is your chance to visit with Santa and get a photo!
- While you’re in the Plaza:
- Check out a craft by The Makery from 5-7pm
- Enjoy free hot cocoa and popcorn courtesy of the Lions Club
- Take a ride on the free trolley, running 5-8pm.
- Grab a bite at Juana’s and get 10% off from 5-8pm
- A warm-up station at Tempest Studio (Kelly Alley)
- Catch the kickoff of the annual lightshow in the MLK Plaza, designed by Nittany Entertainment, at 7pm!
- We will have a collection station for Toys for Tots & YMCA Backpack Program in the MLK Plaza – drop by with your donation by 7pm for the chance to light the tree with Santa!
Allen Street Amusements:
- Local Artisan Market Vendors
- Live Reindeer sponsored by these generous downtown businesses: Growing Tree Toys, Lion’s Pride & Harper’s
- Street performers, organized by Tempest Productions!
- Stage performances by local musical & dance groups
- Monster D’s unique monster drawings
- Balloon animals by Nittany Balloons
- Food by Auntie Anne’s
- Hot Cider from Way’s Fruit Farm
- Free stickies and coffee courtesy of The Corner Room
- Free food courtesy of YMCA’s Travelin’ Table
- A warm-up station in Kish Bank with hot cocoa
- A warm-up station in Squirrel & Acorn Bookshop
- We will have another collection station for Toys for Tots & YMCA Backpack Program at the DID table – drop by with your donation by 7pm for the chance to light the tree with Santa!
- Santa will light the tree at the Allen Street Gates at 7:30pm with the help of the winning child from the Toys for Tots & YMCA Backpack Program drawing!
- While you are out, take a stroll down to the Enchanted Forest on Locust Lane and vote for your favorite non-profit tree in our Downtown Holiday Tree Challenge! The non-profit with the tree that receives the most votes between Nov 16 and Dec 3 receives a $1,000 from the Downtown Improvement District!
Thanks to our Supporting Sponsor, Kish Bank!
