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Let’s Light Up Downtown for the holidays!
This year’s Light Up celebration will take over the 100 Block of Allen Street and the MLK Plaza! Enjoy a winter carnival with hot drinks, visits with Santa, free trolley rides, performances, catch the new holiday lighting display, and much more!
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 a non-perishable donation for the Food Bank 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.
  • Catch the kickoff of the annual lightshow in the MLK Plaza, designed by Nittany Entertainment, at 7pm!
  • Juana’s will be offering a 10% discount during Light Up!
  • We will have a collection station for Toys for Tots and the Food Bank in the MLK Plaza – drop by with your donation by 7pm for the chance to light the tree with Santa!

Allen Street

Allen Street will be alive with:

  • Street performers, organized by Tempest Productions!
  • Stage performances by the Nittany Valley Handbell Ensemble, Central PA Dance Workshop, the Nittany Ballet, and more!
  • Penn State’s Pennharmonics will be giving roving acapella performances.
  • Monster D’s unique monster drawings
  • Balloon animals by Nittany Balloons
  • Juggling by Michael David
  • Popup table by Appalachian Outdoors
  • Food by Auntie Anne’s
  • Hot Cider from Way’s Fruit Farm
  • Free cookies courtesy of Webster’s
  • Free stickies and coffee courtesy of The Corner Room
  • A warm-up station in Kish Bank with hot cocoa
  • We will have another collection station for Toys for Tots and the Food Bank 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/Food Bank 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 17 and Dec 4 wins $1000!
Thank you to our Supporting Sponsor, Kish Bank!