Central PA 4th Fest ‘on a real big precipice’ as funds run low, organizers say
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- 4th Fest may end after 2026 due to rising costs and declining support.
- Fireworks, safety and event logistics now demand at least $350,000 annually.
- Organizers urge residents to attend, donate and spend to sustain the festival.
Central Pennsylvania’s biggest Fourth of July festival — State College’s “4th Fest” — is just around the corner. But while excitement is running high for the red, white and blue festivities, funding is running low and organizers fear the longtime community staple is at risk of ending.
In a May Facebook post, Central PA 4th Fest urged community members to help keep the tradition alive, noting that the nonprofit is nearing the end of its funds.
“Every parade float, firework and family memory is made possible by local donations, volunteers, and partnerships,” the post read.
Due to decreased community donations, rising costs and lower ticket sales for the fireworks show, 2026 could be the last 4th Fest celebration, executive director Celesta Powell recently told the CDT.
“We’re sitting on a real big precipice,” Powell said. “A lot of our board members are wondering, are we the only ones that see the value?”
Rising costs for all-day events
Central PA 4th Fest’s history stretches back to the 1920s. Today, from the Firecracker 4K race through Penn State’s campus to the choreographed fireworks show, 4th Fest is no easy event to pull off. Out of the entire day, fireworks are the most costly.
The roughly 32-minute volunteer-led fireworks show costs about $4,000 per minute, Powell said. And according to the Central PA 4th Fest website, community events cost about $100 per minute. The next biggest cost is public safety, which costs roughly $50 per minute for police, ambulance services and fire safety teams for the 12-hour celebration. At the bare minimum, Powell said, a total of $350,000 is needed to throw an adequate 4th Fest celebration.
And those costs could increase soon.
Some of 4th Fest’s fireworks are imported from Spain and China, making the Independence Day staple especially vulnerable to the United States’ ongoing tariff war. Currently, tariffs on fireworks and other Chinese goods sit at 30%, the Associated Press reported. With tariff talks resuming in August, American fireworks buyers like Powell are worried about the possible major price increases in 2026.
“I stopped looking because it was just freaking me out,” said Powell.
The increasing costs don’t stop there. With higher inflation, the minimum price for future festivals is also expected to rise.
“Materials, labor, food, beverages, everything just costs more these days,” 4th Fest Fundraising Director Scott Walker said. “The price is going up and the support is going down.”
Why has support, interest declined?
With a 16-year history with 4th Fest, Walker traces the beginning of the nonprofit’s financial losses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Back then, due to limited crowds, an all-day celebration wasn’t possible. Still, the 4th Fest board put on a fireworks show anyway — a financial setback that’s still being felt today.
Now, in a post-pandemic world, all-day celebrations have returned, but funding has not. Revenue sources include registration fees for the Firecracker 4K, which typically draws between $15,000 and $20,000. Though support from local businesses has declined, Walker said, some community organizations, like the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, still contribute heavily to the festival’s funds.
“The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau is proud to support 4th Fest through the annual Tourism Grant program in partnership with Centre County Government,” HVAB President and CEO Fritz Smith said in a written statement. “The festival is a central Pennsylvania tradition that thrives on community support.”
HVAB’s annual tourism grants, which are funded through the county’s hotel tax, contribute $45,000 to 4th Fest.
Another major contributor is parking passes. On a good day, Powell said, parking recoups about $35,000. But Walker said these sales have been declining.
In addition to parking passes at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, viewers have the option of purchasing VIP passes for the stadium or grass seating. Walker, who is also the general manager of the State College Spikes, said many are utilizing other ways of watching the fireworks show.
“We need people to come and attend 4th Fest, here,” he said. “A lot of folks, I think, pull off the side of the road and enjoy the show, but 4th Fest doesn’t retain any dollars and cents from that.”
Each year before New Year’s Day, 4th Fest organizers must raise at least $100,000 before arrangements can be made for that year’s celebration. While organizers know there’s enough in the coffers for next year’s festival, a 2027 event remains a question mark, Powell said.
Powell thinks there may be a deeper, more political reason behind today’s declining support. The Fourth of July, she said, is becoming increasingly more politicized — a theory that Walker agrees with. As a result, they believe people are more hesitant to spend money on events honoring the patriotic holiday.
But Powell believes Fourth of July celebrations are bigger than political perspectives. Citing other signature Centre County events like the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, she sees 4th Fest as an opportunity to draw the community closer together.
“They make you feel good. They make you feel part of something,” she said. “That’s the value. That’s why I do these because there’s tremendous value in that piece.”
Walker agreed. Regardless of the challenges, he said Independence Day will always be his favorite holiday.
“I love the Fourth of July,” he said. “Even more Christmas.”
This year, 4th Fest will be hosting back-to-back entertainment for families to enjoy. The Firecracker 4K kicks off the celebration at 9 a.m., with the Firecracker Car show to follow, along with the Independence Day parade and of course, the iconic fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. Along with 26 local vendors and live music, Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act, a stunt performer, will also make an appearance.
The best way to support 4th Fest is by attending, spending money on parking, tickets and events. To give a more direct contribution, visit 4th Fest’s donation page.
