The streets were packed with an overwhelming number of activities, including carousel rides, rock climbing, horse rides, pumpkin decorating, hayrides and crafts. With a dessert contest and a chili cook-off, there was plenty of food to go around.

This was the scene of Downtown State College's 7th Annual Fall Festival, held on South Allen Street Saturday afternoon.

The Downtown State College Improvement District sponsored the event. According to Executive Director Theresa Sparacino, the Fall Festival is part of an image campaign to reconnect the community and to show the other side of State College.

"This event is geared towards families as a way to bring neighbors together," Sparacino said. "And it's free so you can save your money for other things."

The Fall Festival began slowly, having the dessert contest at first, and added more activities each year, Sparacino said.

This year, the new event was the chili cook-off, which had two categories -- restaurants and non-profit organizations.

Chili chef John Hook, CEO and executive director of the State Theatre, was present at the event.

He said the theatre, after being shut down in March 2001, is almost finished with its renovations, which began in September of last year. The theatre will reopen on Dec. 14 as a community-oriented performing center.

"This gives groups with a smaller audience a place to perform, whereas the Eisenhower Auditorium and the Bryce Jordan Center require large audiences, keeping away many performers," he said. The theatre will host a number of local groups including the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra and the Pennsylvania Dance Theatre.

But activities and food were not all the festival offered. A couple of furry friends joined the crowd of participants.

Ed Friedman brought two alpacas along with him to the festival.

Friedman, a Boalsburg local, said he owns 175 acres and houses up to 65 alpacas. These animals were mistaken by many to be llamas, and Friedman explained they are of the same family, only "smaller and cuter."

He also explained that they are sheared once a year for their fleece. Friedman said he shears up to 12 pounds of fleece per alpaca.

The alpacas delighted both kids and adults, causing passing cars on College Avenue to slow for a closer look.

State College local Kathy Ivy brought her daughter to the event. She said they spent a lot of their time enjoying the Tumble Bus, a gym on wheels, throughout most of the afternoon.

"The festival was a very low-key event and great for the little ones," Ivy said.