Central PA Art Fest, Heritage Days cancel 2021 in-person events

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — There will be no in-person event this summer for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, the Board of Directors announced Thursday citing coronavirus concerns.

Up to this point, Arts Fest organizers would not give a definitive answer on whether the event, normally held in July, would be at least partially in person.

The festival was completely cancelled last year because of the pandemic.

Organizers say that although they’re encouraged by the number of Americans receiving vaccines, the ongoing public health guidance makes it impossible for them to produce the beloved event.

Due to the logistics and work that come with producing the festival, they say they were forced to make a decision sooner rather than later.

“This was an even more difficult decision to make this year than it was last year in the early days of the pandemic” said Renata S. Engel, CPFA board president. “The fact is that as exceptional as our staff and volunteers are, our ability to produce an event of this scale with all of the uncertainty that remains about the pandemic is not possible this year. We have heard from so many of you how important the Festival is to our community and that you want it to return to the streets of State College and on our Penn State campus. And we want that too. We’re committed to making that happen in the future and creating a virtual festival this year. Our enthusiasm for the arts and their important role in our community has only strengthened during this pandemic.”

Organizers say they will now focus on presenting artists and musicians in a virtual festival early July.

Philipsburg’s Heritage Days have also cancelled their event.

For more information on how to participate in the virtual Arts Fest, click here.

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