Shop Fine Art & Handcrafted Wares in Central Pennsylvania

July is one of the best times of the entire year to find yourself exploring the scenic landscape of central Pennsylvania, especially if you’re an art lover. Start planning your trip to the State College area for two of the region’s most popular art festivals where you can shop the fine art and hand made crafts created by hundreds of artisans in a variety of mediums. 

Frequently ranked among the top fine art and craft shows in the country, State College’s famous Sidewalk Sale is the place to be when it comes to shopping this summer. You’ll find more than 300 of the country’s best artists selling a wide variety of art and wares including original fashion, handmade jewelry, unique furniture, and even musical instruments. With a roster of artists and makers like this one, it’s no wonder the festival attracts around 125,000 visitors every summer. Festival goers can also watch something spectacular emerge over several days as Sidney Friedman Park sculpts a 25-ton pile of sand into a work of art.

For those that would prefer less traffic and a little more elbow room (as well as a more intimate experience with Pennsylvania itself), there’s always another option: Boalsburg’s People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts and Crafts. The family-friendly, “home-grown” festival celebrates the works of an exclusive roster of exhibitors made up of only artists from Pennsylvanian (200 to be exact) and while it brings in 110,000 visitors each year, the pastoral location surrounded by the cool, green mountains that are characteristic of PA gives crowds a spacious place to relax away from the sometimes oppressive heat and overpopulation of town. Besides the exceptional quality of art vendors that make up the event’s exhibitors, the festival also features dozens of mouthwatering food trucks and 40 live entertainment performances on its two stages. Hosted on the same days as the Sidewalk Sale, you can find the People’s Choice Festival fields just three miles east of State College.

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts will be held from July11th to July 14th. Click here for more information, hours, and directions. For more information on the People’s Choice Festival, also held July 11th to July 14th, click here.

Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
403 S. Allen Street, Suite 205A
State College, PA 16804
814.237.3682

People’s Choice Festival
235 Old Boalsburg Rd.
Boalsburg, PA 16827