State College part of free America250 concerts across Pennsylvania. What to know

Five free concerts will be held across the commonwealth this summer to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary, and one of them will take place in State College.

Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration announced the “Commonwealth Concert Series” Thursday as part of Pennsylvania’s America250 celebrations. The series will kick off with a concert at the Bryce Jordan Center on May 23. Four more concerts will be held across the state through June 27, in Erie, Hershey, Wilkes-Barre and Pittsburgh.

In Happy Valley, residents can look forward to seeing the West Point, N.Y.-based Benny Havens Military Band and Pennsylvania-born country artist Gabby Barrett perform, with Georgia native and popular country artist Cole Swindell headlining the show.

Attendees will be required to have a free ticket to get into the concert, and can visit america250pa.org to get alerts for ticket release dates.

“America’s story started right here in our commonwealth and Pennsylvanians have played a key role in shaping our nation,” Shapiro wrote in a press release. “My administration is committed to ensuring everyone can take part in celebrating our history — and this concert series will bring together Pennsylvanians from all across the commonwealth, giving them an opportunity to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.”

Elsewhere across the state, The Fray and First to Eleven will perform in Erie on June 6, The Avett Brothers will perform in Hershey on June 13, Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum) and En Vogue will perform in Wilkes-Barre on June 20 and Nelly and Third Eye Blind will perform in Pittsburgh on June 27. Additional supporting artists will be announced on a rolling basis.

“I’m proud that we secured funds in the 2025-26 budget to put on these free concerts — and I’m confident the commonwealth is ready to put on a once-in-a-lifetime show,” Shapiro stated.

According to the series website, the concerts are being funded by a $675,000 grant, which was awarded by the recently-created Marketing to Attract Marquis Events program, in addition to $57.5 million being set aside in the state’s last two budgets for the overall celebration.

Shapiro and other officials hope that the concert series will complement the several other events that will be held across Pennsylvania this summer, including the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the PGA Championship in Newtown Square and the FIFA World Cup and MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

“The Commonwealth Concert Series adds to this great lineup of events that will fuel Pennsylvania’s economy and strengthen our communities,” state Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger wrote in the press release.

What else is planned for America250 in Centre County?

Aside from the concert, there will be several other opportunities to celebrate the United States’ semiquincentennial in Centre County. During a February kickoff event, officials said some of the area’s typical summer events will be held with an America250-style twist.

That includes the Philipsburg Heritage Days festival, which will run from July 8-11, and the Centre County Grange Fair, which is Aug. 21-29. Both events will have a theme relating to America’s 250th anniversary, and about 50,000 patriotic, Pennsylvania-themed hang tags will be handed out to fairgoers to attach to their keys, keychains, belt loops and more.

Another concert featuring a patriotic joint performance from the Bellefonte and State College community bands will be coming to Bellefonte on July 3, along with a parade honoring Independence Day. The next day, Fourth Fest’s parade will be held in State College, too — both events that America250PA will have a hand in putting together.

Additionally, three more bronze Liberty Bell replicas — similar to the one erected in Curtin Village in November as part of the “Bells Across America” initiative — will be dedicated across Pennsylvania.

Moving forward, more information about the upcoming America250PA events in Centre County will be posted at the organization’s event page as they are finalized.