Lit up by string lights, families bustled around the streets of State College, all gathered for the 25th annual First Night celebrations. The event included ice sculptures, food vendors, shows from local performers, a 5k, among other details. 

Although it rained, the spirit of the attendees was not dampened. Cheryl Anderson, a spectator, was impressed by the attendance. “I was expecting less people because of the rain but there’s really still a lot of people here, a lot of people listening to the band, which is nice to watch, and a big crowd watching the kids as mannequins,”Anderson noted.  

The town swarmed with livelihood as community members walked around enjoying everything the festival had to offer. No matter the age, everyone could be seen smiling and laughing. The main attraction of the event were the gigantic ice sculptures. The sculptures were created by the DiMartino family from Greensburg, PA.

They start working on the sculptures in the fall and then ship them to State College for the festival. Although most of the sculptures were complete when they arrived, there were a few sculptures that were carved at the event so people could watch. The main ones were located on South Allen St, but there were 90 of all different sizes scattered around town. Each one was sponsored by a local business. Viewers were amazed by the intricacy of the creations. 

“The ice sculptures at First Night were creative and they were unexpected shapes,” said Molly Dell, a high schooler visiting with her friends. 

First Night is not only valued by the spectators, but also by local businesses. Many echoed the sentiment that the event was helpful because it created interest in their businesses.

Ripley Phillips, an employee at Appalachian Outdoors, thought the same. “It’s a great community event and it’s great for downtown businesses and I think it’s just fun to watch everyone get together as a community and celebrate the new year.” 

This year, a holiday market was also featured, showcasing over 50 local artists’ talents in a plethora of modes. Visitors had the opportunity to purchase unique crafts, from woodwork to jewelry. 

Another way that the community was featured was through the variety of performances. All types of music was played, including rock, jazz, ukulele tunes, and even Celtic. Along with the musical numbers, there were also a few performances by theater troupes and comedians. 

For people wanting to get a headstart on their athletic New Year’s Resolution, they could participate in the 5k Resolution Run. 229 runners ran the race, with the winner being 19-year-old Garrison Famiglio. The State College resident finished with an impressive time of 16:44. 

Erin Ruth, who runs for State High’s track and cross-country teams, was excited to see improvement from year to year. “My 5k was not the best time but it was better than last year, a little tiring but most of the course was downhill so it was alright,” Ruth stated. 

Throughout the fog of the night, one thing was clear: everyone was happy. Carolyn Donaldson, a board member who helped organize the event, was pleased with the environment of the event. “It’s a great vibe, a good family atmosphere, everyone’s in an upbeat mood, it’s a great way to kick in the new year,” Donaldson said. 

Due to the positive response, the event will certainly be coming back for another year. Lily Friberg, a spectator, shared her thoughts. “I think it’s just a wonderful time to go out and about with your friends and family and just an overall good wrapping of the year to really celebrate your loved ones around these icy sculptures,” she said. 

First Night provided a chance to reflect on the past year and start anticipating the next one while alongside the people who you care about the most. 

Gallery • 11 Photos

Lacey Sheaffer