Running your own business can be tough. That’s why one store owner is trying to bring more people downtown every month with a new arts festival: The Culture Crawl.
“Our idea is to get people to shop local and shop all the other businesses. A lot of the other businesses really love the idea,” Culture Crawl Founder Tom Tate said.
Tate owns The Branch and The Vine in downtown State College and says owning your own business doesn’t come without some struggle. That’s why he’s trying something new to help his fellow business owners.
“The Culture Crawl is, we’re going to put artwork inside some of the stores downtown, and there’s going to be set up in the middle of Calder Way and eventually Allen Street, and there’s going to be street entertainers,” Tate said.
There are about 15 street vendors and seven Pennsylvania artists attending this month. Restaurants will run food and drink specials since there won’t be food trucks, and it’s all in an effort to keep money local.
“I’m really passionate about downtown. I really love being down here. And like I said, I love the other store owners. I really wanna see people come down here and shop our stores,” Tate said.
The Culture Crawl will be 1-7 p.m. this Sunday.
In honor of Mother’s Day, stores will be handing out flowers to some of the first women in their stores.