Fall Festivals and Halloween Events on Tap Around Centre County

It’s October, and that means it’s time to celebrate fall with festivals and Halloween events around Centre County.

Local farms are a popular destination for festivities, but community members looking for ways to enjoy the season have plenty of other options as well.

Here’s a look at what’s coming up around the area:

Penn State Student Farm Harvest Festival
5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7

The Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State, located at the intersection of Big Hollow and Fox Hollow roads, will welcome guests for fresh food, live music and fun activities.

Acoustic rock duo Hops & Vines will provide live music and attendees can enjoy farm-fresh fall produce, warm apple cider, hot chocolate and more. Mini pumpkin painting is free for Penn State students with ID and $1 for non-students. Visitors can also plant their own succulents (free for PSU students; $5 for non-students. Festival-goers can also use an antique apple peeler to peel fresh apples and add cinnamon-sugar.

Limited grass and surface lot parking is available. Blue buses will run from the Curtin Road pull-off near Berkey Creamery to the farm from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendees who bike to the festival will receive a Student Farm sticker.

Haunted Valley
7:30-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8

Free and open to the public, Lion Ambassadors explore the haunted history of Penn State and State College with lantern tours around campus and downtown, starting out at the Hintz Family Alumni Center.

The evening also includes a variety of fall-themed foods and activities.

Way Fruit Farm Fall Festival Weekends
3-7 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays in October

Way Fruit Farm, 2355 Halfmoon Valley Road, Port Matilda, hosts fall festivities on Fridays and Saturdays in October. Guests can walk or enjoy a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch. Outdoor food vendors will be on hand weekly and The Way Cafe will be open with a limited festival menu.

Each weekend will feature live outdoor music and other events. This Friday and Saturday will include cider-making and an antique tractor show. Oct. 15-16 features a Harvest Craft Show and Oct. 22-23 will have professional pumpkin carving with Eric Jones.

Check the Way Fruit Farm Facebook page for updates.

Wasson Farm Fall Fest
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, and Sunday, Oct. 10

Wasson Farm, 2545 Shingletown Road, State College wraps up its Fall Fest weekends this Saturday and Sunday. Hayrides to the pumpkin patch are $8 and include one pumpkin. The festival also includes a corn maze, animals, games, barrel trains ($1), apple butter, baked goods, homemade soups, homemade ice cream and apple cider slushies.

Hawstone Winery, Fetterolf Family Maple Syrup, Sweet Temptations by Terri and Big Bill’s BBQ will be among the vendors on hand this weekend.

The Arboretum at Penn State Pumpkin Giveaway for Jack-o’-Lantern Contest
1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10

The Arboretum at Penn State will give away about 1,000 pumpkins while supplies last for its pumpkin-carving contest, part of the annual festival to be held Oct. 15-16, when they will be on display. Entrants are also welcome to use their own. Jack-o’-lanterns can be registered for the contest from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 at the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens’ Overlook Pavilion.

A judging panel will award ribbons for the top three jack-o’-lanterns in each of seven entry categories as well as for best in show, best Arboretum theme, best Penn State theme and best pop culture theme. Winners will be announced on Oct. 16.

See contest rules here.

The Arboretum at Penn State Pumpkin Festival
Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct.16

The Arboretum at Penn State’s Annual Pumpkin Festival features a pumpkin-carving contest (see above), lighted jack-o’-lantern display, live music, activities and food vendors.

During the day on Oct. 15 and 16, the public can explore seasonal displays throughout the gardens, including fall-themed planters and groupings of varied gourds, one of which is a towering, tiered arrangement at the pavilion.

Hundreds of lighted jack-o’-lanterns will be on display until 9 p.m. and food vendors will be on site both nights.

Oct. 15 will feature live music by Lilting Banshee, a trio playing traditional Celtic songs from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

From 3 to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 16, attendees can enjoy a magician, strolling musicians and activities. Western Range will perform Texas swing, honky-tonk and rockabilly from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Downtown State College Pumpkin Pursuit
Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 16

Children can pick out a free mini pumpkin with take-home decorations and crafts at the following Downtown State College locations on Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 16

The Makery, 123 S. Fraser St.: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Growing Tree Toys, 202 S. Allen St.: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Schlow Library, 211 S. Allen St.: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Makery and Growing Tree Toys will be offering unique craft activities.

In conjunction with the event, The State Theatre will offer free screenings of “Happy Halloween, Scooby Doo!” at 5 and 6:45 p.m. on Oct. 15. Free tickets are available at thestatetheatre.org.

Harner Farm Haunted Flashlight Maze
7-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15; Saturday, Oct. 16; Thursday, Oct. 28; and Friday, Oct. 29

Harner Farm, 2191 W. Whitehall Rd., State College, in partnership with Delta Zeta sorority, hosts a Haunted Flashlight Maze with $8 admission to benefit the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

Flashlights are required and participants must enter the maze by 9 p.m.

Hot dogs, cider and hot cocoa will be available.

University Wine Company Fall Harvest Festival
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16

University Wine Company, 540 Misty Hill Drive, State College, will host its inaugural Artisans and Crafter Fall Harvest Festival, featuring wine, vendors, food trucks and music.

Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16

Howard Fire Company’s 10th annual Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival is a day of fun at Bald Eagle State Park.

Attractions include craft and food vendors, hay rides, mini punkin chunkers for the public to launch and, of course, large trebuchets and cannons shooting pumpkins into the lake.

Admission and parking are free. Donations are welcome and benefit the Howard Volunteer Fire Company.

Central PA Tasting Trail Oktoberfest
Noon-9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16

The Central PA Tasting Trail’s 13 member craft beverage makers and four regional breweries will be part of the first Oktoberfest at Grange Park in Centre Hall, which will include tastings, all-day live music and food vendors.

Tickets are $30 or $15 for designated drivers and under 21. Children under 12 are admitted free.

The day will kick off with the inaugural 5k Beer Run at 10 a.m.

Eight bands will perform throughout the day.

Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat
4-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17

State College Assembly of God, 2201 University Drive, hosts its free annual Fall Fest with a trunk-or-treat, fire trucks, hayrides, mazes, giant slides, food and more for families and kids of all ages.

Registration is required in advance by going to scassembly.org/fallfest or stopping by the church office.

State College YMCA Trunk or Treat
5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22

The State College YMCA, 677 W. Whitehall Rd., is partnering with the Centre County Youth Service Bureau to host a Trunk or Treat event with activities, games and treats from local organizations.

The event will be held on the hockey rink side of the parking lot at the State College YMCA and parking will be available at the South Hills lot. Registration is not required.

Masked in the Maze at Penn’s Cave
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24

Penn’s Cave, 222 Penn’s Cave Road, Centre Hall, hosts a children’s fall fun event. Kids ages 2 to 12 who visit wearing a costume will receive a free passport to enter Prospector Pete’s Miners Maze. Prizes are awarded each hour for the best maze time.

Halloween Trunk or Treat & Car Parade
4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26

Juniper Village at Brookline, 1950 Cliffside Drive, State College, welcomes community members to decorate their vehicles in a theme and take part in a Halloween parade across the rehabilitation and skilled care facilities campus. Following the parade, participants are encouraged to open their trunks for trick-or-treat. To drive in the parade and/or have a vehicle in trunk or treat, please email [email protected].

A vehicle in the parade is not required to participate. Families are encouraged to bring their children to trick or treat. No reservation is required for trick or treating.

Halloween Costume Parade
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26

Centre Region Parks and Recreation hosts the 75th annual Halloween Costume Parade in State College. The parade forms at 6:30 p.m. on the 100 block of South Burrowes Street and step-off is at 7 p.m. Costume judging of more than 10 different costume categories takes place at Memorial Field with cash prizes and candy treats being provided by the State College Lions Foundation. Check www.crpr.org/special-events for updates on costume categories.

All-Sports Museum Trick or Treat Night
6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 27

The Penn State All-Sports Museum, located on the ground level of Beaver Stadium, partners with the Penn State Student Athlete Advisory Board to offer their 12th annual Trick or Treat Night. Guests will be greeted by student-athletes handing out candy in front of the All-Sports Museum on Curtin Road. This event is free and open to the community, though donations are appreciated.

In the event of inclement weather, the rain date is scheduled for Oct. 28.

Good Shepherd Catholic Church Fall Festival
9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 30

Church of the Good Shepherd, 867 Gray’s Woods Boulevard, Port Matilda, will host a Fall Festival featuring a wide variety of items and crafts for sale, plus a raffle for gift baskets. Lunch will be available.

Talleyrand Fall Fest & Annual Halloween Parade
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30

Bellefonte Sunrise Rotary will the Fall Fest and Halloween Parade in Talleyrand Park, with kids games and activities, inflatables, hayrides, vendors, food and a craft beverage tasting tent.

See our Fall Festival and Halloween Guide for an ongoing calendar of events.