In 1492, Columbus may have sailed the ocean blue, but he didn't stop there.

By way of his descendents, the Boals, the roots of Christopher Columbus' family tree extend to Boalsburg, a historical village located just five miles east of State College.

On Saturday, Boalsburg will commemorate its link to the seafaring admiral with various Columbus Day activities.

These include a cultural festival during the day and an elegant ball in the evening, open to the public with a $50 ticket.

The Boalsburg Multicultural Festival will be held in the Village Square from noon to 4 p.m. and will feature crafts, music and dance from various world cultures.

"We celebrate the many cultures which have shaped America," said Christopher Lee, director of the Boal Mansion and a descendent of Columbus.

"It's also a celebration of this community's unique connection with Christopher Columbus," he added

The Urban Dance Troupe, Penn State's first official hip-hop dance team, will lend a helping hand to the bash.

"We typically dance hip-hop and reggae styles," Vice President Toya Pratt said. "But we just started to incorporate jazz and contemporary."

The team is scheduled to perform at 3:25 p.m.

"We decided to do it as part of community service," said Secretary Yvelle Lazare, class of 2006. "It should be really fun."

Other activities at the festival will range from Irish violin playing to free wagon rides between the village and the historical Boalsburg Chapel. The Chapel, which was inherited and imported in 1909 by Mathilde Boal, houses such relics as Columbus' admiral's desk.

Lee quoted former Penn State President Bryce Jordan, who spoke at the festival many years ago -- "In America, diversity is not a threat, it is a resource."

"We need to remind ourselves of that frequently," Lee said.

The excitement will commence with an elegant gala at 7:30 p.m. in the Boal Mansion.

Guests will be able to enjoy a hearty helping of hors d'oeuvres, dancing and first person historical interpreters.

Live actors will dress and speak as characters including Columbus and Judge George Boal, who was the founder of the Farmer's High School -- presently referred to as Penn State.

"These are the founders of Penn State, the founders of America and the settlers of this area," Lee said. "And they'll all be there."

With the most significant Columbus connection in all of North America, he said Boalsburg is a must-see for Columbus Day partygoers.

"We appreciate our history," Lee said. "It gives us all a sense of what it is to be an American."