Central PA 4th Fest returns to the State College area on Friday, bringing the community together with a full slate of activities and events to celebrate Independence Day.
Organized Fourth of July celebrations in State College began in 1927 when the Alpha Fire Company hosted a neighborhood carnival, and over the years the festivities have evolved and expanded into an elaborate community event.
“The next evolution in our community was a group that did what they called ‘The Great American Fourth of July,’ and they did that event up at the stadium and put out the fireworks,” Celesta Powell, Central PA 4th Fest executive director, said. “... This was the '80s into the '90s, and then in the early 2000s, another group evolved, and that's the Central PA 4th Fest. 4th Fest knew that people were coming up, tailgating during the Great American Fourth of July, hanging out all day, so they decided to make an entire festival out of it.”
This year's festival promises a jam-packed itinerary of events for all ages, concluding with one of Pennsylvania's most anticipated fireworks displays.
To kick off the day, the 21st annual Firecracker 4K The Fun Run will start at 9 a.m. at the gates of Medlar Field on Porter Road. Registration will close right before the race, at 8:55 a.m.
With the $20 registration fee, participants will receive a 2025 Firecracker 4K race T-shirt, and awards will be given to the top runners in each age group. All proceeds from the race go to support all 4th Fest activities.
Last year more than 700 community members ran and walked around Penn State's campus. This year's race is expected to host over 1,000 participants.
Following the race, at 11 a.m., the parade will begin, traveling along College Avenue from Burrowes Road to Shortlidge Road with a salute to military veterans, first responders, local leaders and community groups.
The second annual 4th Fest 자동차 전시회 , featuring vintage cruisers, muscle cars and American classics, will begin at noon in the Jordan East Lot near Beaver Stadium and will run until 5 p.m.
Entertainment will include live music throughout the festival, along with local food trucks and vendors offering everything from carnival food to barbecue favorites. Families can explore various activity zones, games, and interactive displays as the day goes on.
Performers will also be showcasing their talents throughout the day, including BMX racers from Dialed Action Sports, shows from the PA Professional Lumberjack Organization, and "Tyler's Amazing Balancing Act," to name a few.
At 4 p.m., Medlar Field will open for the community all-stars baseball game, followed by the Great American Baby Races and, later, VIP viewing of the fireworks show. Tickets for Medlar Field are $20.
Parking starts at $10 and festival grass seating tickets are $10 per person. Both can be purchased in advance or on the day of the event.
As a thank you to the community, the event organizers will be giving away 1,000 free hot dogs, while supplies last.
“Our event is a community event, which means we the people, by the people, for the people, kind of deal that if there's only 10 people showing up and paying for it, that's not a community event anymore,” Powell said. “I feel like this is one of the years you're going to see the Central PA 4th Fest look like what people have anticipated it would. But I do believe, and I am excited about it, that I think in 2026 [the nation’s 250th anniversary] you will see a different Fourth of July celebration in our community.”
Around sundown, at approximately 8:45 p.m., the community can enjoy a larger-than-life 32-minute fireworks display set to patriotic music. Named as one of the top fireworks shows in the U.S., this year’s performance promises to be one of the best the festival has seen thus far.
Powell estimates that approximately $275,000 was spent on this year’s event, covering costs such as permitting, venue fees, security, safety, and fireworks. She and her team are expecting an attendance of between 15,000 to 20,000 people throughout the day.
I think that it allows our community to be as vibrant as it is because we offer events like this," Powell said. "I think that events like Sips and Sounds or Arts Fest or the Fourth of July, or People's Choice, are necessities for having safe communities. And so the investment that the [Happy Valley] Adventure Bureau has in those is incredibly important... For decades, we have said the Central PA 4th Fest is only and can only be what the community supports.
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