It’s hard to beat fall in Happy Valley, with football weekends back on the calendar, fall foliage at its peak, and fun for the whole family to enjoy. One of the best parts of autumn in Happy Valley has been growing around us all summer long. It’s harvest time for the 1,000+ farms that share Centre County with us, and that means it’s time for fall festivals and farm-to table food picked at its peak. And Happy Valley Agventures is here to help you add some agriculture related fun to your fall weekends.
“Our ridges and valleys, especially in the fall, are just absolutely beautiful,” Happy Valley Adventure Bureau Public Affairs Director Lesley Kistner says. “And these agritourism destinations and agribusinesses are located along some of the most picturesque corridors in the county. Just the experience of the drive makes it worth coming to Happy Valley on a fall weekend.”
Here are a few of her top picks to make your fall adventures even more fun — and delicious!
FALL EVENTS
Way Fruit Farm (2355 Halfmoon Valley Road, Port Matilda; wayfruitfarm.com) is a favorite destination for locals, especially in the fall. Weekends in October feature craft shows, hayrides, a professional pumpkin carver, food trucks, and much more.
Fall Fest Weekends at Wasson Farm (2545 Shingletown Road, State College; facebook.com/WassonFarm) are not to be missed, often featuring their famous chicken barbeque, hayrides, and their famous homemade ice cream. Check out their Facebook page closer to the time for details. Pumpkins, flowers, and cozy vibes all come together at the Fall Market at Rooted Farmstead (138 Scott Ave., Bellefonte; rootedfarmstead.com), which they call “A beloved event that is your one-stop shop for all things fall, featuring local vendors with artisan goods, festive décor, and tasty treats.”
Happy Valley Vineyard and Winery (576 S. Foxpointe Dr., State College; thehappyvalleywinery.com) will feature a vineyard walk in early September, and plans to have opportunities to help harvest the grapes that produce their award-winning wines. Check their facebook page for more details in September!
Save the date for Sunflower Season at The Heirloom Farmer (7447 S. Eagle Valley Road, Port Matilda; theheirloomfarmer.com) from Aug. 29-Sept. 14 — a great place to take selfies, senior pictures, or a family portrait. The destination is staged with cool photo props — past years have featured a couch, table, and chairs, and even a piano.
The Penn State Arboretum Pumpkin Fest (H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens, The Arboretum at Penn State; arboretum.psu.edu) is a community favorite event featuring pumpkin carving, food trucks, lighted jack o’ lantern displays, music, and activities for all ages. Pumpkins are picked up (for free) before the event, carved, then brought back to be displayed. There are age-group awards for best in show and a handful of other fun themes. This year’s date hasn’t been announced as of press time — this is one you’ll want to check on at the end of summer!
If you like anything Pennsylvania Dutch, you won’t want to miss the Dutch Fall Festival in Aaronsburg (Wert Memorial Park and surrounding streets in Aaronsburg; hainestwp.org/dutch-fall-festival) on Oct. 4-5. This two-day fest features crafts, art, antiques, produce, and of course, traditional PA Dutch foods. You can enjoy homemade sticky buns, ham pot pie, cider, soups, and their famous apple dumplings. Educational demonstrations are part of the event as well as a free children’s activity tent. You don’t need a big festival to enjoy one of Happy Valley’s cutest new agventures:
The Mini Whinnies at Quarter Acre Wood (10842 S. Eagle Valley Road, Port Matilda; mini-w-horsemanship.weebly.com) offers birthday parties, lessons, mini day camps, and events like “Paint and ponies watercolor workshop.” Check out their website for an updated event listing!
EXPLORE A TRAIL
Looking for ice cream or artisan cheese while you are in town? Happy Valley Agventures put together the Dairy Delight Trail, which highlights local makers. This scenic trail winds through local farms and creameries where visitors can indulge in hand-dipped ice cream, savor farm-fresh cheeses, and sample an array of locally crafted dairy delights. It’s the perfect blend of countryside charm, agricultural discovery, and unforgettable flavors — all straight from the source.
Goot Essa (351 Wise Road, Howard; gootessacheese.com) Famous for its cave-aged, handcrafted cheeses, and rich homemade fudge.
Kinfork (4657 Brush Valley Road, Madisonburg; kinfork.com) A family farm offering whole milk cheddar cheese, pasture-raised beef, and seasonal produce. Don’t miss the hand churned ice cream and new café!
Nittany Meadow Farm (227 Nittany Meadow Farm Lane, Boalsburg; nittanymeadowfarm.com) Centre County’s only goat-only dairy, known for its fresh goat milk, yogurt, and artisanal cheeses.
Penn State Berkey Creamery (119 Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building, University Park; creamery.psu.edu) A legendary stop for iconic ice cream and a wide range of dairy products.
Nittany Valley Creamery (5565 Jacksonville Road, Howard) Serving up farm-fresh ice cream, cheese, yogurt, and milk straight from the source. (Note: this Amish-owned establishment is cash or check only.)
Wasson Farm Market (2545 Shingletown Road, State College; facebook.com/WassonFarm) This seasonal ice cream stand is a local favorite. Blueberry, mint chip, very berry, and peanut butter fluff are among the flavors, which reflect in-season produce. (Note: cash or check only.)
Meyer Dairy (2390 S. Atherton St., State College; meyerdairyfarms.com) Offering over 40 seasonal and limited edition ice cream flavors, along with freshly glass-bottled milk, heavy cream, and eggs. Unique Central Pennsylvania flavors include teaberry, butter crunch, grapenut, maple walnut, and lemon custard.
DISCOVER THE FRESH FROM THE FIELD TRAIL IN HAPPY VALLEY
Savor the best of Centre County’s vibrant agricultural scene with the Fresh from the Field Trail — a flavorful journey through 16 unique destinations. From pick-your-own flower farms and farm-to-table dining to gourmet goods and freshly churned, cow-to-cone ice cream, this trail celebrates everything grown, crafted, and produced in Happy Valley.
Get started by downloading the free mobile passport at happyvalley.com/freshfrom- the-field-trail. Check in at participating stops using GPS and collect points along the way. Points can be redeemed for exclusive Fresh from the Field merchandise — like a fun commemorative sticker, colorful wine tumbler, absorbent car coaster, or handy trail tote bag. Plus, many trail locations offer special discounts and deals for passport holders, making it even more rewarding to explore!
DELICIOUS FALL FLAVORS
The only thing better than enjoying local fruits and vegetables at their very freshest is enjoying them in a chef-made dish. Head over to one of our amazing field-to-fork restaurants to enjoy seasonal food that you will dream about until next fall.
RE Farm Café (1000 S. Fillmore Road, State College; refarmcafe.com) famously says that you can see the farm where your food is grown from the table where you sit. Tucked away in a gorgeous spot near the State College Airport, this restaurant is the epitome of seasonal dining, making local meats, cheeses, pasta, and produce the star of the show.
Pine Grove Hall (101 E. Pine Grove Road, Pine Grove Mills; pinegrovehall.com) went through a transformation not too long ago, opening a sister restaurant, Flour & Stone, for its upscale, intimate boutique dining option (see below) and leaning into its “upscale casual” roots and live music. Offerings like pizza and sandwiches get an always-fresh, always-seasonal twist as PGH works closely with over 25 local farmers and purveyors.
Flour & Stone (125 E. Pine Grove Road, Pine Grove Mills; flourandstone.com) is the newest field-to-fork dining experience in Happy Valley, featuring a Mediterranean and Italian-inspired menu. Each dish shows off the freshest local ingredients of the season, with wine and cocktails to complement your meal. Flour & Stone is a sister restaurant to Pine Grove Hall, which is next door.
Choose a dining experience unlike anything you’ve had before at the Nittany Valley Benefit Dinner held on Saturday, Sept. 20, from noon to 7 p.m. at 125 Fire House Lane, Howard (in Hublersburg). The event features all the fixings of a traditional Amish wedding meal with creamy mashed potatoes, homemade bread with a delicious strawberry jam, a chicken and filling mixture (Amish “roast”), and much more! For tickets, call Sylvia at (814) 810-7959 or Dorothy at (814) 810-8664.
Whether you go to one of Happy Valley’s hallmark fall festivals, plan a date night at a field-to-fork destination, or spend a lazy Saturday sampling as many ice creams as you can eat (we won’t tell!), Kistner says that you are joining a bigger movement toward wellness.
“Happy Valley Agventures destinations offer a variety of authentic experiences, which I think all of us are craving right now.” T&G
Cara Aungst is a freelance lifestyle and business journalist who writes about people, events, and how Happy Valley ideas change the world.
