It’s that time of year in Centre County — tents, food trucks and stages are popping up for events like the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and the People’s Choice Festival. Find full coverage below.
Expand All
The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts is officially underway, with Children and Youth Day kicking off the annual celebration Wednesday.
Also known as Kids Day, young artists took the spotlight on the first day of the five-day event. In addition to children aged 8-18 invited to sell their creations before the official Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition starts, Kids Day also featured performances, crafts and activities and a Grand Procession of papier-mâché puppets.
The Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Read more about parking, schedules and more in our Arts Fest guide.
Below is a look at scenes from Kids Day:
Reid Arcana, 5, laughs as he runs through the mister followed by his sister Rosie, 2, during the Children and Youth Day at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Hundreds of young artists featured their work for the Children and Youth Day sidewalk sale at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Olivia Wigfield, 11, gives a sales pitch about her cave clay-created figures during the Children and Youth Day sidewalk sale at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Wigfield and her friend Izzy DiPlacadio’s booth “Cave Critters” features animals made from clay they collected around Woodward Cave. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Elizabeth Moritz shows her paper spinners during the Children and Youth Day sidewalk sale at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
A watercolor and cutout image of the circle barn and Mount Nittany by Owen Seidel, 11, at the Children and Youth Day sidewalk sale on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Friends Jake Haas and Tyler Aten talk to customers about their 3D printed items during the Children and Youth Day sidewalk sale at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Jake Haas, 11, makes his giant 3D printed figure Fred give a thumbs-up to customers at the Children and Youth Day sidewalk sale at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Paul Brigman makes large bubbles with a bubble wand made by his son at the Children and Youth Day sidewalk sale at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Hundreds of young artists featured their work for the Children and Youth Day sidewalk sale at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
A youngster gets dumped on by the buckets during Children and Youth Day at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
A youngster gets a better view at the Children and Youth Day sidewalk sale at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Merritt Reed, 8, sings karaoke to “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” during the Children and Youth Day at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Ryleigh Fortney, 15, chats with a customer as she looks at seashell crowns during the Children and Youth Day sidewalk sale on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Fortney and her friend Maddie Hatch were selling an assortment of seashell crowns and wands along with tissue paper flowers and beaded bracelets. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Jessica McAllister has been the executive editor of the Centre Daily Times since 2019. She previously worked as a reporter at daily newspapers in New York and Colorado.
It’s that time of year in Centre County — tents, food trucks and stages are popping up for events like the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and the People’s Choice Festival. Find full coverage below.
