A craft beverage festival is returning to the State College area for its third year with a new location and an expanded variety of offerings.
The Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest will be held on Sunday, May 24, at Penn State’s Panzer Stadium, home of the Nittany Lion lacrosse teams, the Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance wrote in a release on Tuesday. Hours will be 1 to 6 p.m. for VIP ticket holders and 2 to 6 p.m. for general admission.
The festival previously was held at Beaver Stadium for its inaugural edition in May 2024 then moved to the Porter North lot next to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in July 2025 because of stadium construction.
While Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest will remain beer-focused, it is expanding this year to include wines, ciders and spirits.
“As the craft beverage market continues to evolve, we have heard growing interest from both consumers and producers to expand the festival beyond beer,” said John Schaffer, owner of Antifragile Brewing Company, a founding partner of the Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest. “While our roots will always remain firmly focused on craft beer, adding wineries, cideries and distilleries allows producers to collaborate across categories, diversify our beverage offerings and connect with new audiences.
“These changes not only enhance the festival experience, but also help drive interest in local taprooms and tasting rooms year-round. We are very excited for what this next chapter of Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest will bring.”
In addition to dozens of regional breweries, as well as invited wineries, cideries and distilleries, the festival will include live entertainment and food vendors to be announced.
“Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest is a perfect example of how sports and entertainment come together to create memorable experiences in Happy Valley,” said Eric Engelbarts, executive director of the Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance, also a founding partner of the festival. “By activating a venue like Panzer Stadium and pairing it with live music, local food, and a high-quality festival atmosphere, we are able to showcase State College as a destination for unique entertainment experiences that go well beyond game day.”
Tickets will go on sale March 2, with VIP, general admission and designated driver options. Prices have not yet been announced. In 2025, VIP tickets were $95, general admission $65 and designated driver $20.
To receive updates on vendors, entertainment and tickets, visit hoppyvalleybrewersfest.com.
