Along with culture, food and people, the 36th annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts brings the need for heightened security.

This weekend, the State College Police Department and Penn State Police Services will be fully staffed.

"Arts Festival is a no vacation week for us," said Clifford Lutz, Penn State Police Services supervisor. "We have the maximum available at every possible shift."

The area police must cover during Arts Festival makes it necessary for officers to work extra hours.

Lutz said no changes in security have been made in reaction to Sept. 11 and the continued threat of terrorism.

One thing about this year's Arts Fest created change for Penn State Police. Starting at 11 p.m. tomorrow, there will be an AfterFest headlined by the Violent Femmes on the HUB lawn. In previous years all acts were finished earlier.

"We will need more personnel than usual at that time," Lutz said. "Usually everything is closed up by 12."

Another concern for police this weekend will be disturbance prevention. Last year the festival went smoothly, with none of the disturbances that marked the 1998 and 2000 Arts Fests.

It is the job of State College Police Department to take care of disorderly conduct off campus, including Beaver Canyon, the site of the previous disturbances. Sgt. John Wilson of the State College police said the police would be doing everything they did last year -- including having horse patrol -- to help keep the peace. They also took an active role in getting the word out.

"We sent flyers to apartment owners with balconies on Beaver Canyon," Wilson said.

State College police issued a similar release on July 8, informing community members of the steps they can take to make sure Arts Fest goes off without a hitch. Some of the suggestions were to maintain control of guests and not to join congregating crowds.

Wilson also said police officers interacting with the community individually and not in packs helps reduce any possible tension there could be between the crowds and officers.

Police said they are hoping for more of what they got last year. Lutz said he feels that there was a specific reason why last year's festival went so smoothly.

"If you had to point out one item, it was the turn out of the community," Lutz said. "They came out and made their presence known and made it a community event, not a party event."

Many local restaurants and bars will also be fully staffed this weekend. Every position from managers to security personnel will be beefed up during the weekend.

Vance McCullough, co-owner of Café 210 West, 210 W. College Ave., said Arts Fest is both fun and intense for the Café.

"It is quite similar to a football game, but there is no break like there is in a football game," McCullough said.

Both police and McCullough expressed the same request for those attending the festival.

"Let's be fun and let's be sensible," McCullough said.

Some students said they didn't mind the increased police presence.

"It's probably a good idea [to have police on horses]," Joe Lyall, (senior-mechanical engineering) said. "I don't know if it will cause immediate awareness but it could help the riot effort."

Some attending Arts Fest didn't even notice the increased presence.

"I haven't really seen that many police and I don't feel that threatened," Matt Carlin, Class of 1988, said.

Some local churches will also be working to curb any rowdiness after hours. Bless the Fest, in its second year, will give church members the opportunity to go into the streets throughout the evenings, offering prayer.

The churches will also be giving out free hotdogs and soft drinks late at night, as well as providing some Christian bands.

Dan Nold, head pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, 1250 University Drive, said he believes the church activities will be one effective way to prevent potential problems.

"People involved in the faith have a lot to offer the community," he said. "Last year we had 300 people from area churches just walking around the downtown area -- sometimes talking but more often just providing a peaceful, prayerful presence."