Beautiful weather, large crowds, children and youth day set the scene yesterday to usher in the 34th Annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.

A large variety of activities, crafts and entertainment were provided throughout the day along South Allen Street and on Old Main Lawn.

One of the day's biggest attractions was the Children and Youth Day Sidewalk Sale, a junior version of the Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition that will begin today and run through Sunday.

Yesterday's sale gave youths, ages eight to 18, a chance to vend their handcrafted wares from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ranging from pottery and tie-dyed shirts to homemade candles, the sidewalk sale showcased a diversity of young artisans with a flair for salesmanship.

Lorie Evensen, a student at State College Friends School, 611 E. Prospect Ave., participated in the sale for the first time this year, hosting a stand for her original jewelry.

"It went pretty well," Evensen said. "I haven't sold everything out yet but I've sold a lot."

Like many of the young artists, Evensen managed to make her fun, although often time-consuming, hobby profitable.

"Some things take a long time, others don't," Evensen said. Earrings seemed to be her most popular item, she said.

Among those in attendance, one popular item was the balloon yo-yo, created by 15-year-old State College Area High School student Paul Fine.

The balloon yo-yo consists of a specially ordered, extra strength water balloon with a rubber band and finger clip attached, Fine said. The simple innovation has become lucrative for Fine in the past five years.

"We came out with 2,000 today and we're almost out," Fine said

With his family helping him handle the constant stream of customers, Fine sold his creation for a dollar each. He said that while they usually hold together about a week, the balloon yo-yos could last much longer.

"I had a lady come up to me earlier today who told me that she still had one from two years ago," Fine said.

In addition to the sidewalk sale, throngs flocked to Allen Street for entertainment and activities.

A number of dance groups performed as well as music groups that often had an interactive atmosphere, inviting children in the crowd to sing along.

Music included traditional ethnic music as well, with Danny Boy performing traditional Irish music and Fiddle Fantastick performing Scottish, Irish and American traditionals.

Workshops and creative activities for children ran throughout the day.

These activities included face painting, storytime and a crafts workshop which allowed children to make animal costumes to wear in the annual Children's Day parade, a procession of youngsters that began at Old Main and continued down South Allen Street.

Children and Youth Day drew in families from across the state. Brenda Casey of Lake Ariel brought her four-year-old daughter Carly for the first time.

"I've been here before on my own but this is my first time here with children," Casey said. "So we came to spend her father's money."

Casey said she planned on spending two days at the Arts Festival while visiting with her sister.

"We're here for the children's events," Casey said.

"We're looking forward to some entertainment and some crafts."