This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
What began as a creative solution to increase foot traffic at a tucked away boutique has grown into one of Bellefonte’s most vibrant summer staples. Sunday Fundays, curated by Smith + Front owner Staci Egan, are back and bigger than ever. The event is now hosted in the wide-open outdoor space at Titan Energy Park with help from Brass 16823 and the Brass Factory music crew.
At its heart, Sunday Fundays are all about connection: connecting neighbors to neighbors, shoppers to small businesses and curious foodies to delicious treats.
“I decided to put on these events to kind of help bring awareness to my shop,” Egan said, “But also build a community in Bellefonte that also give small and micro-businesses an opportunity to get awareness as well.”
While the lush green space next to the Gamble Mill was a beautiful launching pad, construction plans pushed Egan to adapt. Enter Titan Energy Park’s south parking lot, which offers a large, flexible space that has allowed the event to grow in both size and scope.
Every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Titan Energy Park, 2022 Axemann Road, transforms into a bustling open-air market packed with food trucks, artisan vendors and live music.
Let’s start with the food, because if your stomach isn’t what gets you out the door, you might be doing Sunday Fundays wrong.
At Bailey’s Waffle-licious, you’ll find golden-brown, handmade waffles loaded with both sweet and savory toppings.
Super Duper Café offers an evolving menu, with the owner switching it up weekly. One week might feature Cuban sandwiches, the next a creative twist on comfort food.
Then there’s the BBQ, because nothing says summer like ribs and pulled pork.
“We try to keep it diverse,” Egan said. “We want every vendor to succeed.”
Need something to sip? Egan says Happy Valley Nomadic Spirits custom drinks have you covered.
“He will make different purees and juices made from local ingredients,” Egan said. “He’s supporting a local farmer, and he makes every single drink from scratch right in front of you.” From mocktails and cold brews, they are both refreshing and artful. If bubble tea’s more your thing, Sips & Giggles is the way to go.
Beyond the food, the vendor lineup is deep and creative. Over 120 vendors have signed up for this season, with each Sunday showcasing a rotating selection of artists and crafters.
You’ll find everything from woodworking and stained glass to homemade soaps and custom handmade birdhouses.
One standout? Blue Fairy Emporium, where repurposed fashion meets wearable art.
“Literally no one else will have it,” Egan said. “She takes different clothes and reworks them into different wearable items.”
There’s also plenty for the kids, with hands-on activities, therapy goats and even petting zoos.
“It’s different every week,” Egan added. “That’s why people keep coming back. They know they’ll discover something new each time.”
Thanks to Brass Factory, live music adds a mellow backdrop of sound to the shopping scene. Performances are mostly acoustic and soothing, perfect for a Sunday browse.
This year’s lineup includes local stars like Ethan Eckenrode, a Roaring Spring native and recent contestant on “The Voice” under coach Adam Levine. Jimmy Mowery, an Altoona native who brings powerful vocals and experience from the show’s 2019 season. Many other regional artists from Centre, Blair, Bedford and Clinton counties are featured throughout the summer.
While the event takes a great amount of work and preparation to put on, Egan says Sunday Fundays are about more than just transactions or showcasing small businesses. They’re about people, stories and rekindling the lost art of community.
“Every single time I’m about to throw in the towel and say this is over, I get an insane amount, like an abundance of people who literally just come in and say, ‘thank you,’” Egan said. “Our community needs this.”
Sunday Fundays run weekly through the summer at Titan Energy Park.
