Central PA 4th Fest

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July is over and we're onto August! The final count from our 4thFest Food Drive was 47,664 items. We're so grateful for everyone who donated and volunteered. We'll see you next year!

Photos submitted by Craig Colwell

Leah Guizar said that we could post this video to our Facebook page and we're so glad she did! Do you have any videos or pictures of 4thFest this year that you'd like to share with us? Tag us in your post or send them to us via Messenger on Facebook!

Frank Savino is here at the food drive drop-off volunteering his time on our last day for the drive!

The results are in for the 1st day total. 34,060 items!!!!! We are 68% of the way there to the goal of 50,000 items to help families in Centre County. Please help us reach our goal if you are able.... Saturday drops offs are at 2595 Clyde Avenue in State College and any of the YMCA branches in Centre County. From 9am to noon. We can do this. Neighbors helping Neighbors in Centre County.

We've taken many precautions to ensure that our volunteers and those dropping off donations are safe! It's not too late to donate your time or some food items. Drop off non-perishable food items at 2595 Clyde Ave., State College and sign up to volunteer here: https://tinyurl.com/yc38bysy

Watch this great video to learn more about our efforts with the food drive this weekend! If you have some food in your pantry you're able to part with, consider donating it in the 4thFest Food Drive! Drop off your items from 9am to noon both today & tomorrow at 2595 Clyde Ave., State College.

Based on preliminary counts, we are halfway to our goal of 50,000 donations. Help us go the distance by dropping off some food donations at 2595 Clyde Ave., State College between 9am & noon both Friday and Saturday! Our communities need our help during these challenging times, become a hunger hero!

Our goal for the 4thFest Food Drive is to donate 50,000 food items to the YMCA Anti-Hunger Program serving Centre County residents. Become a "Hunger Hero" by donating! You can view more information about the food drive here: centralpa4thfest.org/volunteer-opportunities

We are looking for volunteers! If you have time on Friday or Saturday to help the community, we would appreciate it if you could volunteer with the food drive, sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm

We appreciate Town&Gown including us in their July issue!

Did you see the article about 4thFest in Town&Gown Magazine?

To all of my local friends - won't you please come out and help pack the trucks on Friday and Saturday from 8am-1pm?

If you didn't get to watch the festivities on Saturday, fear not! We have a full video of the livestream and one of the firework locations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqz4UUGadrA

Become a "Hunger Hero" by donating to the 4thFest Food Drive! Find more information about the drop off locations & needed food items at our website: centralpa4thfest.org/volunteer-opportunities

You guys should listen to local musicians and other great patriotic content on our YouTube! This is also where you'll want to tune in to watch the fireworks virtually! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=620mBPiTTE0

Happy Independence Day!

If you won't be in your car to watch the fireworks, visit Forever Media online to listen to the broadcast that accompanies this year's firework show! foreverstatecollege.com/listen-live

Don't miss the fireworks tomorrow!

Pet safety is super important during firework shows. This video is brought to you by Centre County Paws; be sure to give it a watch so that you know how to help your furry friends on Independence Day!

You won't want to miss our firework show this weekend!

We are looking for businesses, organizations or individuals to be a collection point for food and other items! As a collection point, the expectation is to collect food items during the designated collection period from Wednesday, July 1 to Thursday, July 9. Learn more here: https://www.centralpa4thfest.org/volunteer-opportunities

We're happy to be part of such a patriotic & caring community! This was done in cooperation with the Downtown Improvement District, Borough of State College and 4thFest.

Watch State College Live today to hear about our 4thFest happenings this year! Learn about the community parade submissions, the food drive, live entertainment that will be streamed on our page, AND important firework info. Not to mention, a guest appearance by Josh Gallagher!

Stay tuned on the Central PA 4th Fest Parade page for more info about the parade!

We're getting very close to the event! Did you see this interview with Gary about the fireworks display preparations?

Don't miss the FIREWORKS in State College this Independence Day! There will be 4 firework displays at 9:30pm synchronized to music you can listen to on 99.5 WBU...S, 93.7 WMAJ, 101.1 WFGE, or 103.1 WAPY Be sure to follow safe social distancing guidelines when making your 4th of July plans. Rain dates for this even are July 3rd & July 5th.

Don't miss us on State College Live!

Here's everything that's going on this year with 4thFest!

For those of you submitting videos to be part of the 4thFest Parade, we will be overlaying "Stars & Stripes Forever" audio on the final video. If you'd like to listen to it to sync choreography or march in-time with the music, you can find it here: archive.org/details/StarsAndStripesForever

Instead of the usual 4th of July festivities, the organizers of the Central PA 4th Fest are hosting a community-led Food Drive the first two weeks of July. The ...Borough of State College has joined the initiative to become "Hunger Heroes" and develop a drop-off location on the first floor of the State College Municipal Building (243 South Allen Street). Donations will ONLY be accepted Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday, June 29 to Thursday, July 9. We are asking community members to utilize the "15-minute parking" spots in the parking lot behind the building and enter through the rear double doors. *Please note, donations will not be accepted Friday, July 3 as the Municipal Building will be closed.

And finally, this is the last featured viewing location! A great spot to view one of the four firework displays would be along the Science Park Road corridor! Be sure to remember safe social distancing guidelines when making your Independence Day plans. Stay tuned for future updates on great viewing spots!

If you're thinking about submitting a video to be a part of this year's 4thFest Parade, here's a great example! Brought to you by Pippin. #4thFestParade For more information on how to submit, hop on over to Central PA 4th Fest Parade

Shout out to Forever Broadcasting for letting Mel Curtis from the YMCA Anti-Hunger Program and Kim Reynolds, coordinator for the Stamp Out Hunger Drive on the show to talk about the 4thFest Food Drive. At 8:10am they will visit WRSC and the Morning Guys Jeff "Ironhead" Byers and Gary Sinderson, then they will be on BIG Froggy 101.1 with Party Marty McFly at 8:30am, at 8:40am the will join Jeff Brown on 99.5 the Bus. Then at 9am they will talk with Pat Urban on Happy 103.1.

Central PA 4thFest has celebrated our nation’s birthday in Centre County since 1927. In 2020, Central PA 4thFest WILL BE celebrating Independence Day in Happy Valley, albeit a little bit differently.

Socially distanced fireworks, a virtual parade and now a 4th Fest Food Drive are all in the works for the Central PA 4th Fest this year. Organizers tell me they look for the heroes in the community each year who make a difference and they're currently in search of hunger heroes.

Central PA 4th Fest has seen some changes this year because of the pandemic. On Monday, organizers also announced a new feature to go along with the festivities, one that will see neighbors helping neighbor.

State College, PA, June 22, 2020 Organizers of the Central PA 4th Fest are looking to do something just as spectacular for the community as its annual fireworks display by holding a countywide food drive during the month of July to assist Centre County residents in need. As our community continues to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19, the 4th Fest Committee had a strong desire to do something to engage our community in supporting our community, said 4th Fest Ex...ecutive Director Frank Savino. 4th Fest might look a little different this year, but we truly feel the best way to celebrate the birth of our nation and honor the spirit of the festival is for neighbors to help their neighbors. Beginning Monday, June 22, 4th Fest organizers are asking businesses and individuals to sign up as food collection points. Savino said the idea for individuals is that they will serve as collection coordinators in their respective business, organizations, clubs or neighborhoods. Collection point sign-up will be available on the 4th Fest website www.centralpa4thfest.org. Once signed up, a member of the team will reach out with the details. Nonperishable food items can be dropped off at collection points beginning Wednesday, July 1 through Thursday, July 9. The location of collection points will be published on the 4th Fest website. The organizers are asking the public to bring food in any excess boxes they have on hand. This will allow for easier packing of the trucks. Collection point coordinators or volunteers will be asked to drop off food at a designated warehouse from 9 a.m. to noon July 10 and 11. Individuals or groups that aren’t able to drop off at a collection point may bring their donations to the warehouse on July 10 and 11 as well. All food donated will be distributed to YMCA Anti-Hunger Program serving Centre County residents. Volunteers have always been the heart and soul of 4th Fest, so we welcome the help from anyone or any group that is interested in supporting the food drive, Savino said. Everyone can be a ‘Hunger Hero’ this year by participating. Fritz Smith, President and CEO of The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, applauded 4th Fest organizers for their innovation and commitment to the community in a year when the annual Fourth of July celebration will not be held as usual. 4th Fest is a time-honored family tradition in Happy Valley, he said. Frank and the committee found a way for the show to go on in a great way, and are starting what hopefully will become a new tradition even when the festival returns next year. This kind of dedication is what makes our community such a special place. More information about the Neighbors Helping Neighbors food drive is available on the 4th Fest website, centralpa4thfest.org

Thanks for tuning to see this week's featured firework viewing location! A great spot to view one of the four firework displays would be Hills Plaza Be sure to remember safe social distancing guidelines when making your Independence Day plans. Stay tuned for future updates on great viewing spots!

Please read through ALL of our parade rules & regulations before uploading your submission. You can go to https://forms.gle/fVpu53Yiq55BRvFW9 to submit your video!

Be sure to like & follow our sister page Central PA 4th Fest Parade for updates on the parade happenings!

Shout out to Forever Broadcasting for letting Abbie Jensen come on the air to talk about how we'll be doing a virtual community parade for Independence Day this year! At 8:10am they will visit WRSC and the Morning Guys Jeff "Ironhead" Byers and Gary Sinderson, then they will be on BIG Froggy 101.1 with Party Marty McFly at 8:30am, at 8:40am the will join Jeff Brown on 99.5 the Bus. Then at 9am they will talk with Pat Urban on Happy 103.1.

Central Pennsylvania 4thFest Media Release Virtual Community Parade June 8, 2020 Although many things are different this year, organizers of the Central PA 4thFest have adapted celebrations for Independence Day to take social-distancing guidelines into consideration while still keeping the spirit of the holiday alive. Fireworks will now be set off in multiple locations throughout State College as opposed to a singular location to encourage viewers to celebrate the nation’s bi...rthday safely. Another event that is evolving for these unprecedented times is the annual Independence Day Parade. 4thFest wants YOU to be a part of the parade this year. We are asking community members and organizations to take about 20 seconds of footage showing individuals parading at their own homes. Decorated bikes, twirling routines, enthusiastic marching - use your imagination! You’ll submit these videos through our website and on Facebook using #4thfestparade. If you have questions about your submission idea, please contact [email protected]. And if you’re planning something BIG, let us know by June 28th and we may be able to send a videographer to your home on the 4th of July! Stay tuned on the Central PA 4thFest and Central PA 4thFest Parade pages on Facebook as more information is released. We look forward to seeing your patriotic parades!

Happy Flag Day, PA! On this day in 1777, the Continental Congress established an outline for our first official national flag. Betsy Ross is credited for designing this version of the flag here in Pennsylvania.

In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Happy Flag Day!

Another great firework viewing location! If you happen to be celebrating near the Nittany Mall, you'll definitely get to see our awesome firework display this year. Be sure to remember safe social distancing guidelines when making your Independence Day plans. Stay tuned for future updates on great viewing spots!

Shout out to Forever Broadcasting for letting Kurt Weibel and Gary Mayhew come on the air to talk about how we're doing things this year for 4thFest and our plans for an amazing fireworks show! At 8:10am they will visit WRSC and the Morning Guys Jeff "Ironhead" Byers and Gary Sinderson, then they will be on BIG Froggy 101.1 with Party Marty McFly at 8:30am, at 8:40am the will join Jeff Brown on 99.5 the Bus. Then at 9am they will talk with Pat Urban on Happy 103.1.

4thFest is an all-volunteer event! We want to take a moment to give a big THANK YOU to all the volunteers from years past. Enjoy the holiday and stay safe. Looking forward to seeing you in person in 2021!

We're not giving away any details yet, but if you're in the vicinity of the Colonnade shopping center, this might be a great spot to view the fireworks on the north end of town for those who want to travel into State College to celebrate! Be sure to remember safe social distancing guidelines when making your Independence Day plans. Stay tuned for future updates on great viewing spots!

Did you know we'll be using 10" shells when we set off the fireworks this year? That's right, these shells are even larger than the ones used in our traditional shows! Shells of this size reach altitudes of 1100 feet, ensuring great visibility from many vantage points across the Centre Region. They'll be bright and brilliant in the night sky this 4th of July!

Independence Day is right around the corner! Show us how patriotic your home or neighborhood is by sharing a photo of your American Flag! Please submit all photos by commenting on this post with what town you live in. Make sure all pictures are appropriate and family friendly, and make sure anyone in the photo has given explicit permission for the photo to be shared on the 4thFest Facebook page!

As we follow health guidelines, we want the community to celebrate Independence Day in a safe and spectacular way - Thank you to the Centre County Gazette for publishing this article!

This year, we'll be celebrating Independence Day a little differently. Central PA 4thFest is working hard to create a fun & safe fireworks show that you can enjoy from your very own home! Fireworks will be going off at several different locations in State College and we ecourage everyone to be mindful of others while they celebrate this 4th of July. Video of 2019 fireworks display shared from the Centre Daily Times.

Central Pennsylvania 4th Fest MEDIA RELEASE May 26, 2020 The mission of the all volunteer Central Pennsylvania 4thFest is to be the catalyst for Central Pennsylvania’s 4th of July celebration to honor those men and woman who have made America great. In our twenty year history, we have been faithful to that goal and we aspire to continue that trajectory for July 4th, 2020.... With heartfelt appreciation for the years of outstanding support from the Centre Region, the 4thFest plans to pay-it-forward this July 4, 2020 by marshalling resources and providing Central Pennsylvania with a spectacular 4th of July fireworks celebration for each and every family that could be enjoyed in their own neighborhoods . 4thFest is planning four simultaneous fireworks displays located in approved secure locations within the Centre Region so that each family may celebrate the 4th of July with a grand fireworks display that potentially could be enjoyed from their own backyard. The four shoot sites will be comprised of shells that can be seen from a distance and will be electronically linked for synchronization while our special patriotic soundtrack will be broadcast via local radio. We anticipate the multiple displays to last approximately 12 to 15 minutes. This special 4th of July event will take place on Saturday July 4th at 9:30 PM. The rain dates are July 3rd and 5th. Please join us as we provide a 4thFest’s Symphony of Music and Fireworks as our commitment to celebrate the birth of the land of the free and home of the brave. More details on other activities to come. "As we follow health guidelines; we want the community to celebrate our Independence Day in a safe and spectacular way." -- Frank Savino, Executive Director, Central PA 4th Fest

Frank Savino was on at 2:09:19 with State College Live!

This year, 4thFest would like to encourage donors for Centre Gives to focus on the agencies supporting our community members during these difficult times that we are all working through to be safe and healthy. We have a strong community and have always supported one another. Let's make this year really special by showing just how generous Centre Countians are. This July 4th, we plan to celebrate in a different way. Stay tuned for ways to share your memories, decorations and celebrations in saying Happy Birthday America. We will be back next year for a bigger and better celebration and commemoration of our country's birth.

Another article about the press conference that took place earlier this morning.

For more information about the various local events that will be postponing festivities this year and the press conference that was held this morning, visit this Centre County Gazette post.

STATE COLLEGE, PA (April 16, 2020) Central Pennsylvania July 4, Inc. announced today that the Central PA 4thFestscheduled for Saturday, July 4, 2020will not take place this year as originally planned. The 4thFest board says that making this decision was difficult but necessary in light of the impact that COVID-19 has had on our community and nation. A large team of volunteers works year-round to plan the 4thFest. They join together with local sponsors, community members, v...endors, and participants to make the 4thFest one of the best fireworks shows in the nation. 'A lot of time and effort has gone into planning this event already, but the health and safety of our volunteers and community are top priority. We like to think of this as pushing the "pause" button instead of a cancellation,' says 4thFest board president, Kurt Weibel. "Nothing cancels celebrating the nation on July 4, it just has to happen in a different way this year. Stay tuned to our social media pages for virtual celebrations this year and be ready for a really big celebration in 2021!" Until then, the 4thFest team is encouraging everyone to stay healthy, happy, and patriotic this 4th of July.

We thought it would be a good idea to share this while everyone was stuck at home! You can see a 360 view of last year's fireworks show. This is part 1, so stay tuned for the rest! https://veer.tv/videos/328717

Frank Savino, Executive Director of 4th Fest, recently spoke at 2020 PASAE Connections. PASAE is Pennsylvania Society for Association Excellence. They held their annual conference at the Penn Stater and Frank was asked to be one of the speakers at the break out sessions. 4th Fest is known for our volunteers and Frank was asked to talk about Board/Volunteer Relationships. His talk was focused on recruiting, retaining and recognition of volunteers. PASAE made a donation to 4th Fest in appreciation of Frank's time in preparing for the event and being one of the 4 afternoon speakers. This event provided 4th Fest to be promoted to counties all across the state.

We have received quite a few inquiries on whether or not we are cancelling the event this year. As of right now, we have determined that we're going to proceed as planned. We hope that these trying times will be over soon and look forward to celebrating our nation on the 4th of July. We will update the public as decisions are made or changed. Thank you to everyone who supports Central PA 4th Fest. Stay safe!