Everything to know about the People’s Choice Festival: food, live music, parking and more
Festival season is heating up in central Pennsylvania, and the People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania is just around the corner.
The annual “homegrown festival” returned last summer for the first time since 2019, continuing its mission to feature and promote Pennsylvania artists and vendors. This year’s rendition is expected to feature nearly 200 artists, plus dozens of food vendors and a packed lineup of live entertainment between July 13 and 16.
If you’re planning your annual visit or thinking about making the trip for the first time, here’s what you need to know.
When is the festival?
This year’s People’s Choice Festival will run from Thursday, July 13 through Sunday, July 16 on the following schedule:
Thursday, July 13: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 14: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 15: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 16: Noon to 5 p.m.
Directions, parking & camping
Though veteran festival attendees may recall fond memories of People’s Choice at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg, the festival now operates at the Grange Park in Centre Hall.
To get there, head for 149 Homan Lane in Centre Hall off Route 45. That should get you to the fairgrounds’ entrance, where volunteers will collect parking fees and direct you to the next available lot.
Admission to the festival is free, but parking is expected to cost $6, People’s Choice says.
Camping is also available at this year’s festival for guests and vendors, ranging from about $50 to $55 per night. You can make a reservation by calling 814-380-1893. Visit grangefair.com/peoples-choice to read up on camping guidelines.
Unlike past years, People’s Choice will not operate a shuttle service for guests as it did in 2022. The festival’s directors said the loop was used by just about 20 people last summer.
Meet the artists
Hundreds of artists are expected to set up shop at People’s Choice this summer to show off their work.
To browse this year’s participants, visit peopleschoicefestival.com/art and select any category from the website’s drop-down menu. Highlighted mediums include baskets, clay, glass, jewelry, leather, photography, wood and more.
People’s Choice also maintains an online directory of artists who previously visited the festival, including their contact information. You can find it online at peopleschoicefestival.com/art/past-artists.
Food & drink
There’s plenty to eat at People’s Choice if you happen to work up an appetite.
Dozens of food vendors are scheduled to serve this summer’s guests, ranging from typical festival fare to more exotic options. Two food courts will be organized on the east and west ends of the festival grounds, while roughly a dozen “specialty” vendors will operate at individual tents in the east and under one tent in the west.
Centre County locals might recognize a few regional favorites like BBQ by Clem, Rosie’s Pierogies, Idou Coffee Company and The Nutty Bavarian. Several other vendors from across Pennsylvania are slated to serve guests, including Brody’s Barbeque (Punxsutawney), Whisker Biscuits (Stroudsburg), Chocolate Moonshine Bars (Slippery Rock) and TorchBearer Sauces (Mechanicsburg).
You can browse this year’s full lineup of food vendors online by visiting peopleschoicefestival.com/food.
This year’s festival will also highlight 10 winery booths featuring Pennsylvania-based artisans, including some Centre County favorites. The following are slated to host a booth at People’s Choice:
Deep Roots Hard Cider
Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery
Hawstone Hollow Winery
Hungry Run Wine Cellars
Juniata Valley Winery
KingView Mead, Wine, Cider
Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery
Seven Mountains Wine Cellars
Starr Hill Vineyard and Winery
University Wine Company
Entertainment takes the stage
Live music and entertainment will keep People’s Choice guests busy all week long thanks to a stacked lineup of local talent.
Here’s a brief overview of the upcoming People’s Choice live entertainment schedule so far, available online at peopleschoicefestival.com/music. Each act is scheduled to perform at the stage located in the middle of the festival’s layout.
Thursday, June 14
Mike & Tess — 10:30 a.m.
Hops & Vines — Noon
Summers Martial Arts — 1:30 p.m.
Jack Mangene — 3 p.m.
Stephanie & The Wild Hearts — 4:30 p.m.
Velveeta — 6:30 p.m.
Friday, July 14
State College Rock Camp — 10:30 a.m.
Victor And The Icons — Noon
JR Mangan Band featuring Veronica — 1:30 p.m.
Jeff Mamett Duo — 3 p.m.
Pure Cane Sugar — 4:30 p.m.
Best Friend’s Girl “A Tribute to the Cars” — 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 15
The Extra Miles — 10:30 a.m.
County Connection Band — Noon
Donny Burns Duo — 1:30 p.m.
Heather Olson and The Silver Eagle Band “Patsy Cline Tribute” — 3 p.m.
Brad Crum as Elvis — 4:30 p.m.
Green River “The Ultimate CCR & John Fogerty Tribute Show” — 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 16
Centre Hall Council of Churches — 10:30 a.m.
Kristi Jean Band — Noon
The Nashville Music Company — 1:30 p.m.
Joe Bonson & Coffee Run — 3 p.m.
Children’s activities
People’s Choice will feature plenty of options for younger festivalgoers throughout the weekend.
Highlights include the festival’s young artisans sales, hands-on science museum, inflatables, activities tents, face-painting and more. The community tent will feature a rotating lineup of sponsors and activities, including the Centre County Gazette and Nittany Beagles Rescue.
Find more information about People’s Choice children’s entertainment online at peopleschoicefestival.com/kids.
About People’s Choice
People’s Choice can trace its roots back to 1993, when local artists sought to create an alternative to the ever-popular Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, this time housed in nearby Boalsburg. The new event was thought to help accommodate artists who were not included in the State College-based festival.
Since its inception, People’s Choice has grown significantly. It still strives to exclusively feature Pennsylvania vendors and entertainers, now in a new location in Centre Hall.
People’s Choice attracts more than 100,000 guests across each summer’s four-day period, the organization says. The festival took two years off at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, but returned in 2022.
