Things to Do in State College

Hershey Theatre, conceived in 1933 by noted philanthropist and chocolatier Milton S. Hershey, stands as an opulent tribute to the performing arts. Taking architectural cues from Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice, the foyer’s towering arches gleam with golden paint and crystal chandeliers. The blue-and-gold mosaic that leads to the main seating area is the masterwork of two German artists who spent two years on its construction. Once inside the theater, audiences might think they’ve stepped onto the streets of Venice thanks to the atmospheric ceiling, stonework facades, and gondoliers paddling them to their seats.

When the overhead lights go down at Colony Park Lanes, it doesn’t always mean it's time to go home. On Friday and Saturday evenings, it signals the start of Glow Bowling, preparing pin pummelers for a night of heart-pumping beats, black lights, fog, and glow-in-the-dark lanes that lasts until 1 a.m. It's just one of many things that draws families to the 32-lane alley, which also boasts a game room and full lounge with five big-screen TVs. Daytime games invite bowlers to roll strikes under traditional lighting as 180-inch above-lane projection screens play music videos and sports coverage, saving visitors the trouble of interviewing their own bowling balls. The center also welcomes kids for birthday parties that include unlimited frames, pizza or hot dogs, and balloon party favors, and can equip lanes with optional bumpers to ensure youngsters have an even playing field at all times.