Happy Friday, Happy Valley!
It’s a great weekend for summer fun around Centre County. The Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Fair, Gregg Township Fire Company Carnival, Downtown State College First Friday, the Downtown Sidewalk Sale and Street Bazaar, the Golden Basket Finals event, and Legacy Day at Poe Valley State Park are just some of the events happening around the area.
We’ve picked out some of the weekend’s highlights below
There is plenty more around the area for you to enjoy and you can find it all on our calendar page. Explore the weekend’s events and add your own if it isn’t listed. Or see our Bar Tour and Movies pages for more options this weekend or anytime.
MULTI-DAY
Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Fair
Now in its 36th year, the Bellefonte Arts & Crafts fair features family activities, lots of food, plenty of music and entertainment, and more than 90 new and returning artists in a juried exhibition and sale. Check out the fun from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday on High and Allegheny streets in downtown Bellefonte. See parking info, event and entertainment schedules and more here.
Gregg Township Fire Company Carnival
The Gregg Township Fire Company Carnival continues Friday and Saturday at the carnival grounds off of Penns Valley Road in Spring Mills. The festivities include many activities and games, a dunk tank, live music each night at 7 p.m., raffle drawings and prizes, chicken barbecue on Saturday afternoon and garden tractor pulls starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. More info.
FRIDAY
First Friday
Downtown State College’s monthly celebration returns for August from 5 to 8 p.m. Local wineries and cideries are pairing with several participating First Friday merchants for samplings during art exhibitions, activities and sip & shop events. Check out the full lineup of pairings here. Plus enjoy free Vamos! Lion Chariot rides, live music outdoors by John Solo on Allen Street and Carl Ector & Friends on Fraser Street, and a creative event at 3 Dots Downtown, which will turn one of its walls into a giant coloring book. First will also unofficially kickoff this weekend’s Downtown Sidewalk Sale, which continues in full Saturday on South Allen Street.
Ice Cream Social for Dogs
Every Friday in August, from 6-8 p.m., Wiscoy for Animals, 424 W. Aaron Dr., will be serving up dog friendly ice cream as well as the human version of the cold dessert. Meet other dog lovers, make new friends and enjoy Wiscoy’s 24th annual customer appreciation event.
Superhero Super Skate
Cool off and ice skate with superheroes at Pegula Ice Arena’s Superhero Super Skate from 7 to 9 p.m. Get in the spirit, and wear your favorite superhero gear to be entered for a chance to win two tickets to a Penn State men’s hockey non-conference game. Ice skating will take place on the varsity ice.
Concert on the Village Green
Lemont Village Association’s summer Friday night concert series continues with Beaver Avenue Beggars performing at the new band pavilion on the Village Green from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Bring blankets or chairs. Concerts are moved into the Granary building in case of thunderstorms.
Stargazing
Join the Central PA Observers Club for some family-friendly summer stargazing, from 8 to 10 p.m. in Tudek Park. All equipment is provided by club members, but bring your own telescope if you have one. Meet near the large pavilion next to the restroom facility.
SATURDAY
Downtown Sidewalk Sale and Street Bazaar
Participating State College businesses will bring their wares to the 100 block of South Allen Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the annual Downtown Sidewalk Sale and Street Bazaar. Check out a vast selection of accessories, apparel, gifts, home decor, specialty foods and much more, and save on end-of-season merchandise. Corner Brothers, Caryn Dixon and Scott & Jack Mangene will provide live music. Other activities will include face painting, balloon animals (from 1-3 pm), fun games and a visit from Ike the Spike.
Fun on the Beach
Greenwood Furnace State Park will offer a full day of free activities starting at 10 a.m. for Fun on the Beach Day. Kayaking and mountain bike demos, sand castle competitions, a swim across the lake and live music are all part of the fun. See the schedule here.
Book Signing and Discussion
For years, local historian and Civil Conservation Corps enthusiast Bill Marcum has coordinated efforts to celebrate the legacy of the CCC Camp at Poe Valley in Coburn. Ahead of Sunday’s Legacy Day event, Marcum will be signing and discussing his new book, ‘The Foreman’s Boys,‘ from 2 to 4 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 365 Benner Pike. The book details the history of the Great Depression era work camp and the unique tory of how Poe Valley State Park came to be
Willy Wonka Jr.
The delicious adventures of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fantastical tale, presented by Singing Onstage Studios at 3 p.m. in the Penn State Downtown Theatre, 146 S. Allen St. Featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film, in addition to a host of fun new songs, this junior musical is sure to delight. All tickets are $10.
The Golden Basket Finals
The Golden Basket cooking competition returns after a two-year hiatus, culminating in a fun-filled event from 4-9 p.m. on Saturday at the MLK Plaza on Fraser Street. Four finalist chefs who qualified at area farmers markets this week will square off in a ‘Chopped’-style competition and the winner will be crowned by a panel of celebrity judges. Each $25 ticket to Saturday’s final (available online or at the event while they last) includes food with locally-sourced ingredients from State College restaurants and other local vendors. Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks will have beer for sale, and three musical acts will perform, with cooking demonstrations in between. Proceeds will benefit nonprofit Centre County food hub Appalachian Food Works.
Traveling Seeds Release Party
Longtime State College favorite Kris Kehr returns with Matt Cullen and Rick Delong and guest fiddler Jeff Wisor for a 10 p.m. show at Zeno’s to celebrate the release of the new album by the Traveling Seeds. They’ll be followed by Kehr’s former Stone Poets bandmate Dave Mudgett and his band, The Delveratos, for an evening of roots rock.
SUNDAY
CCC Legacy Day at Poe Valley
Bring your picnic lunch, friends and family and head out to Poe Valley State Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a day with local historians and park staff to learn about life in a Civilian Conservation Corps camp while enjoying the lake and grounds. Attendees can share their personal CCC stories with others and learn how events brought about the creation of the CC program that included the construction of Poe Valley State Park. A rare original film featuring the Poe Valley Camp will be shown after lunch. Presentations will be given by local historians Bill Marcum, John Eastlake, and various park staff. A collection of memorabilia and tabletop displays will be on hand and attendees are invited to bring any mementos they wish to share with others. Open for touring at the end of the day will be the site where the camp was erected and the original officer’s quarters building. Free and family-friendly.
Centred Outdoors
This week’s Centred Outdoors guided hike heads to Musser Gap Trail off of Route 45, State College. Musser Gap is a gateway into Rothrock State Forest and participants will learn about current and future work to help keep our drinking water safe while providing recreational access to Rothrock. Guests can expect to walk in the presence of history, learning about the geologic, economic, and social forces that have shaped our area. Hikes are at 2 and 3:30 p.m. and will be held again 5 and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. RSVP and more info.
South Hills Music Picnic
South Hills School of Business and Technology, 480 Waupelani Drive, continues its summer concert series with Little German Band performing German polkas, waltzes, marches and folk tunes, plus a mix of American dance and novelty tunes, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Grounds open at 5 p.m. and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic, blankets and chairs. Refreshments and light picnic fare also will be available for purchase.
Summer Sounds from the Gazebo
A seasonal staple in Bellefonte, Summer Sounds from the Gazebo in Talleyrand Park continues with the country foot-stompin’ strains of Denny Taylor & The Misfits at 7 p.m. Lawn chairs or blankets are suggested.
