First Night®State College Visitors’ Guide

First Night State College will take place in downtown State College, Pennsylvania and on adjacent University Park campus of The Pennsylvania State University on December 31, 2012.

FIRST NIGHT STATE COLLEGE BUTTON
A 2013 First Night State College button provides general admission to workshops, indoor performances, the Penn State Ice Pavilion, on a first-come, first-served basis. It also supports the funding of all outdoor events. Children 5 and under are admitted free with an adult.  2013 First Night State College buttons cost $10 each and may be purchased at businesses throughout the Centre Region, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, and at performance sites on Monday, December 31st.

Get more information about our buttons, where to purchase them, and see the online purchase option by clicking here.

Special button 4-Packs are available for $35 (tax included) through Saturday, December 24th at 4:00 pm only at these sites:
--Centre County/Penn State Visitors’ Center – 800 East Park Avenue, State College
--Penn State Federal Credit Union – 1937 North Atherton Street, State College & 123 Amberleigh Lane,  Bellefonte

We encourage you to stay at these hotels that partner with us in presenting First Night:
   The Atherton Hotel
   Courtyard by Marriott
   Days Inn Penn State
   Hotel State College
   Nittany Lion Inn
   Ramada Conference Center [Please ask for FNSC rate]
   Residence Inn by Marriott

ABOUT FIRST NIGHT
First Night State College’s mission is to broaden and deepen the public’s appreciation of the visual and performing arts through an innovative, diverse, and high-quality New Year’s Eve program, which offers the community an alternative to traditional New Year’s Eve revelry.

First Night USA, the National Association of community-based New Year’s Arts Festivals, promotes, licenses, and supports the development of First Night festivals in communities across the United States. 

First Night festivals are presented by a broad range of nonprofit organizations and municipal agencies in twenty three different states. First Night organizers share a commitment to promoting the performing and visual arts as catalysts for unifying their citizens on New Year’s Eve (and beyond) through creativity, imagination, and participation. First Night empowers these organizers to plan and produce festivals that reflect their particular constituents and celebrate their unique communities.  For more information about First Night USA, please see www.firstnightusa.org

First Night State College is licensed to the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Inc.  No use of First Night State College may be made in connection with the manufacture and/or sale of merchandise without the CPFA’s express written approval.

Contributions to support 2013 First Night State College and the 2013 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts may be sent to: Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, P.O. Box 1023, State College, PA  16804-1023.

INFORMATION
Town & Gown’s First Night State College Official Program Guide is the official program guide for 2013 First Night State College.  It is available in many locations in downtown State College and on December 31 will be is available at First Night State College’s Warm-Up and Information Station at Christian Science Reading Room and Bookstore, 218 S. Allen Street.  This information site is open from 10:30 am to 10:30pm.

Please inquire there about the purchase of First Night State College buttons and for First Night information.  Lost children, lost parents or lost personal items may be reported at the Warm-Up and Information Station or by calling 237-3682. For medical, fire or police emergencies, call 911. For non-emergency assistance, call 863-1111 (campus) or 234-7150 (borough).

FIRST NIGHTSTATE COLLEGE WORLD WIDE WEB PAGES & SITE
The official 2013 First Night State College home page on the World Wide Web can be found at www.firstnightstatecollege.com.  Support for the web site has been generously provided by Homestead Graphics & Design.

WHAT TO WEAR
First Night State College events are held regardless of weather conditions!  Wear more warm clothing than you think you’ll need.

NO ALCOHOL, PLEASE
First Night is an alcohol-free event.  Additionally, State College’s open container ordinance prohibits public consumption of alcoholic beverages. Food or beverage consumption is not allowed at indoor performance sites.

WHEN TO ARRIVE
Performance sites have limited seating, and admission is first-come, first-served.  If you cannot get into an event of your choice, consider other offerings.  Plan your evening in advance and arrive at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of each event.

PARKING
State College's public parking spaces are open for parking during First Night State College activities. Additional free parking is available on Penn State's University Park campus.

CATA BUS SERVICE DURING FIRST NIGHT STATE COLLEGE
Take the bus from downtown to the Penn State ice pavilion!  Free and fully accessible CATA White Loop bus service will operate during First Night.  The White Loop provides continuous service between the major downtown and campus event sites.  The stops include Beaver & Allen (Schlow Library), The Palmer Museum of Art, Pattee Library, and a special First Night routing stop at the Greenberg Sports Complex (Ice Pavilion).  Service starts at Schlow Library at 4:30 p.m., Monday, December 31, and operates every 10 minutes until 11:30 p.m.  The last complete trip leaves Schlow Library at 11:20 p.m.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
Emergency medical services are available from 5:00 pm, December 31, to 1:00 am January 1, on the corner of College Ave. and Allen Street.  Emergency medical technicians are on duty.

ACCESSIBILITY
The First Night State College Shuttle is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair accessible sites are marked on the schedule of events grids in the First Night State College Official Program Guide.

UPCOMING DATES
47th Annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts™:
Children & Youth Day—Children & Youth Sidewalk Sale, performances, and activities--July 10, 2013
Sidewalk Sale & Exhibition---July 11-14, 2013
Downtown State College Italian Street Painting Festival --- July 12 – 14, 2013

2014 First Night State College -- December 31, 2013

REFRESHMENTS:

Annual Chili Café Faith United Church of Christ
December 31, 4:00 – 6:30pm;
Romig Hall lower level
A variety of homemade chilies including vegetarian chili, corn bread, desserts, and hot and cold beverages will be available.  Proceeds from the Chili Café will help fund a new sound system for Faith Church.  Visitors may use the Calder Way entrance down to Romig Hall or the handicapped accessible entrance on Locust Lane.

University Baptist and Brethren Church Soups and Sweets Cafe
December 31, 4-8 p.m.; Fellowship Room
Enjoy delicious homemade breads, soups, desserts, and hot beverages in between your First Night activities in the cozy basement of University Baptist and Brethren Church, 411 South Burrowes Street and Robin Alley.   A wheelchair accessible entrance (with lift) is available on Robin Alley next to the handicapped parking.  Suggested donations support youth travel to volunteer work projects.

Hanson’s Original Kettle Korn     
Sidney Friedman Park
Dec. 31, noon– 12:30 a.m.
The Hanson family arrived at First Night State College five years ago and have been collecting fans ever since!  They produce delightfully different popcorn served fresh, sweet and warm from a copper kettle.  They also offer hot beverages including hot chocolate, cider, and coffee at the top of Park.

Heidi’sStrudel
South Allen Street
Dec. 31, noon– 12:30 a.m.
Long an audience favorite at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Heidi’s Strudel will serve up piping hot strudels along with delicious roasted nuts.

State College Sunrise Rotary Club
South Allen Street
December 31, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Rotarians serve up a hot and tasty New Year's Eve fare.  The menu includes hot dogs, sauerkraut, chili, nachos, hot chocolate, coffee, cookies and ring-pops.  Proceeds will be used to support community organizations and projects.