Though the first Light Step, Right Step Festival and Energy Expo will feature activities, music and guest speakers, the sole purpose of the event is to promote sustainability.
The event will take place at South Allen Street and Foster Avenue from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
State College Borough Planner Meagan Tuttle said that the State College borough and Transition Town State College have partnered together for the past six months to bring the festival downtown.
“Our goal is to promote sustainability initiatives and we wanted to bring together all the organizations around Centre County to celebrate them,” Tuttle said.
The theme for this year’s Light Step, Right Step is focused on alternative energy in State College and Centre County, she said.
Borough Council member Jim Rosenberger said he is pleased to have State College host the event.
“It’s good that our town of State College provides the initiatives to these programs and hopefully it can generate interest in sustainability,” Rosenberger said.
The festival has drawn about 30 organizations to the event, Tuttle said, including businesses of downtown State College and Penn State student groups. He said the businesses would showcase energy, local foods and research done on energy in the region.
State College Borough Manager Tom Fountaine said he is “excited and anxious” for this year’s festival.
“The concept of the kid’s activities and workshops can work to transform downtown in our energy efforts,” Fountaine said. “I hope this will be the first of many festivals to come.”
Guest speakers and demonstrations will be the main focus of the festival, Tuttle said, including Richard Alley, a Penn State geosciences professor. He will be giving the keynote address at 11 a.m. in the municipal building community room, she said.
For the past few years, Alley has worked on documentaries and movies about energy in the world, Tuttle said.
Alley’s documentary, which will also be shown, is focused on what is happening with the environment and carbon in the nation now, and the possible outcomes for the future, Tuttle said.
There will also be many fun activities for children, like making Capri Sun wallet and bicycle workshops, hosted by the Penn State geography department, she said.
Food will be for sale from local businesses including Webster’s Café, Gemelli’s Bakers and Eden View Organics, Tuttle said. Different music groups will be featured in the afternoon, as well she said.
