First Friday

Experience the cool vibe of downtown State College during our monthly First Friday events. A casual atmosphere features art, people-watching, mingling with friends, shopping, and dining at the diverse and delectable State College restaurants. First Friday goers will experience after-hours access to galleries and shops, free bites and beverages, live music, retail and restaurant specials, and more. And there’s free parking in the Pugh, Fraser and Beaver garages with validations from participating merchants.

First Friday Map

First Friday at the DSCID Office
127 S Fraser St
5-8pm

Art of Ariel Oki on display as part of the Art Alliance Outreach Program! Light refreshments provided!

Grand Opening at Town Pride
240 E Calder Way
4-7pm

Join Town Pride State College for their ribbon cutting ceremony during First Friday! Town Pride State College is dedicated to providing high-quality, locally-inspired apparel, gift and home that allow residents and visitors to showcase their love for State College and Pennsylvania. From custom-designed sweaters, sweatshirts, hats and more, to exclusive gift and home items, the store offers a range of elite items that reflect the spirit and culture of the area.

A group from the Leadership Centre County Class of 2025 will launch its month-long donation drive benefitting the State College Food Bank at the Town Pride ribbon cutting. As a special incentive, those who donate $20 or a bag of food valued at $20 or more will receive 20% off their first purchase at Town Pride State College!

First Friday at The Nittany Quill
111 S Fraser St
5-8pm

The Nittany Quill offers light refreshments during First Friday! Snack while you shop! 5-8pm

First Friday at Duck Donuts
125 S Fraser St
5-8pm

Mention “First Fridays” for a Buy One Get One donut deal!

First Friday at Woskob Family Gallery
146 S Allen St
5–8pm

Workshop: Design Your Own Microbiome (DYOM) with Mellissa Monsoon
6-7:30 PM

Using illustration and collaging techniques, participants will explore the hidden world of the skin microbiome. Working in pairs or alone participants can glean from images of microbes to create dramatic and whimsical self-portraits. The workshop is designed to have fun with color, shapes and form. All ages are welcome.

Mellissa Monsoon is a British bio artist based in Kent; her work explores the relationships between nature, science and the human body. Past works have involved using casts of her own body and the bacteria that live on it to visualise the invisible world on our skin. She graduated in 2016 from the MA Art and Science course at Central Saint Martins and has since undertaken major commissions for The Eden Project and the BBC.

Music by Pepe Barcellos
6-6:45pm & 7-7:45pm

Pepe will perform Brazilian bossa nova and smooth samba from his hometown, including favorites like The Girl from Ipanema, Wave, and Mas Que Nada. He will also showcase innovative renditions of 80s rock and selections from his two albums of original songs.

Brazilian guitarist, composer, percussionist, and educator from Rio de Janeiro, Pepe Barcellos, has traveled the world, leading interactive workshops on Brazilian guitar and percussion for young learners. He earned a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from Georgia State University, where he contributed to research on musical creativity, student voice, and songwriting pedagogy. Since August 2024, Barcellos has been part of the music education faculty at Penn State University.

On Display
5-8pm

Incident & Accident: Daily Drawings by Cathy Braasch & Hands-on History: The Experience of Braiding a Lost Inca Rope by Kyle Marini

First Friday at Drip Studios
148 E Calder Way, 4th Floor
5-8pm

First Friday at 3 Dots
137 E Beaver Ave
5-8pm

First Friday at Appalachian Outdoors
131 S Allen St
5-8pm

First Friday at Growing Tree Toys
202 S Allen St
5-7pm

First Friday at The Makery
123 S Fraser St
6-8pm

Stop in to The Makery for a Springtime Portal: Craft Your Own Fairy/Gnome Door.
Pre-cut doors will be provided to decorate. This is a free, family friendly event.

First Friday at McLanahan’s
116 S Allen St
6-9pm

Downtown Window Egg Hunt

First Friday is the perfect opportunity to join the Downtown Window Egg Hunt, organized by Faces & Spaces Artistry! During the month of April you’ll find eggs painted on more than 40 businesses in Downtown State College. Find and take pictures of eggs for the chance to win prizes!