First Friday in State College returns this week, with free movies starting next month
For the first Friday of every month through summer, live music, free food and family movies will be found in downtown State College.
Friday’s kickoff event will feature live music from Caledonia from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. plaza stage, a showing of “In the Heights” at The State Theater and several art gallery exhibitions.
As the First Friday program returns from a winter hiatus, Downtown State College Improvement District has released a list of bands and films that will be playing throughout the summer.
- May 6 – Eric Ian Farmer & Ady Martinez and Friends
- June 3 – Midstate Select
- July 1 – Mellow Honey
- August 5 – Crush
- September 2 – Ken Baxter & Friends
Starting May 6, family-friendly films will be shown at Sidney Friedman Parklet during First Fridays, starting with “Annie.” “Luca” will play in June and “Encanto” in July, Lee Ann Jeffries, executive director of the DSCID, said.
The movies in the park are a replacement for the Downtown Family Flicks that were previously hosted at Calder Way.
“Sidney Friedman park has more space for families to spread a blanket and layout,” Jeffries said. “We hope it gives more space for the event to grow.”
About a dozen local businesses are participating in Friday’s event, which is a good turnout for the start of the program, Jeffries said.
The DSCID is also working with the Downtown State College Farmers Market to provide live music on Friday afternoons. The market will open April 29 and music will start May 6.
A full list of events and times for the Friday event can be found online.
Parking for the events will be available in Pugh, Fraser and Beaver garages and parking validations can be picked up at participating merchants.