The weekend of Sept. 29-Oct. 1 is packed with activities around Centre County, including fall festivals, Oktoberfests, fairs, concerts and more.
Check out some of the weekend highlights below. For more fall events, visit our guide, and see what’s happening year-round on our community calendar.
• Way Fruit Farm Pumpkin Patch Opening and More
Friday, 4-7 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
2355 Halfmoon Valley, Port Matilda
On Friday and Saturday, the pumpkin patch will be open with wagon rides or walks to the field, and you can pick your own apples. Food trucks and 30 local crafters will be on site. Saturday will include historical demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., outdoor yoga from 10 to 11 a.m., first responders meet and greet with vehicles from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and informal storytelling about the history of Way Fruit Farm and Halfmoon Valley.
• Friday in the ‘Fonte
Friday, 5-9:30 p.m.
Downtown Bellefonte
Downtown Bellefonte’s monthly celebration will feature live music with Anchor & Arrow, artisan and small business vendors and a Chalk the Walk activity in front of the courthouse from 5 to 8 p.m. Callanish will perform Celtic music from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Talleyrand Park, followed by a showing of the Pixar classic “Toy Story.”
• Haunted Valley
Friday, 7 to 10 p.m.
Starting at Hintz Family Alumni Center, University Park
Penn State’s Lion Ambassadors explore university legends and lore with lantern tours around campus. Visitors can also walk through a haunted house in the University House, the oldest remaining building on campus. Final tours will depart at 9:30 p.m. Those interested in tours can register online. (Registration does not guarantee a tour time.)
• Philosophy of Hope Concert
Friday, 7 p.m.
The State Theatre
130 W. College Ave., State College
Ken Baxter leads a supergroup of more than a dozen musicians in this unique concert benefiting the Jana Marie Foundation. Tickets are $33 and $15 for students.
• Milesburg Car Show
Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Market Street, Milesburg
Rescheduled from last week, the car show will include kids activities, food, vendors, entertainment and, of course, beautiful cars, trucks and bikes.
• Harner Farm Fall Fun Days
Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, noon-4 p.m.
2191 W. Whitehall Rd., State College
Games, activities and prizes for all ages, plus food concessions featuring homemade goods will benefit the Starkey Hearing Foundation and American Society for Deaf Children.
• Wasson Farm Fall Fest
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
2545 Shingletown Road, State College
The second of three Wasson Farm Fall Fest weekends includes $8 wagon rides to the pumpkin patch (pumpkin included in price, cash or check only), as well as a corn maze, straw tunnel, animals and $2 barrel train rides. Apple butter, Amish baked goods, homemade ice cream and apple cider slushies and floats will be available for purchase.
• Rooted Farmstead Fall Market
Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
138 Scott Avenue, Bellefonte
The family farm’s seasonal festival includes dozens of local small business vendors, food, games, workshops and live music, with Connor Gilbert performing at 1 p.m.
• Patton Township Children’s Safety Fair
Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Target parking lot
315 Colonnade Boulevard, State College
A free annual event to build trust through positive experiences with police officers, fire fighters and EMS, the fair includes kids activities such as bounce houses, face painting, ladder truck rides, junior fire fighter activities, fun with police cars, kids workshop, a chance to explore heavy construction equipment, games and prizes. It also features kid fingerprinting, a burn trailer demo, child safety seat inspections, school bus and seat belt safety and Centre County 911 and Centre LifeLink EMS stations
• Great Insect Fair
Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Snider Ag Arena, University Park
The fair returns for the first time since 2019, with opportunities to see a wide variety live insects, learn about insect-borne diseases, take part in fun activities, visit with vendors and check out high-tech equipment used in entomology.
• Landscaping by Meyer Fall Day
Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
2943 Benner Pike, Bellefonte
Enjoy a bounce house, glitter tattoos, hayrides to a pumpkin patch and a fall photo op set up. For your fall decorating needs, mums, pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks and straw bales for sale.
• Downtown State College Fall Festival
Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
200 block of South Allen Street, State College
The 22nd annual festival will feature pony rides, a fun house, photo station, balloon animals, free pumpkin for kids, a pumpkin-decorating activity, live music, food vendors and more.
• Walker Township Fall Festival
Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
816 Nittany Valley Drive, Bellefonte
• Pop Up Ave
Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
100 block of South Fraser Street, State College
The curated outdoor maker and vintage market will host more than 40 vendors from across Pennsylvania, live music, food offerings and a beer garden.
• Multicultural Unity Fair
Saturday, noon-4 p.m.
State College Municipal Building
243 S. Allen St., State College
Experience and celebrate the various cultures in the local community through performances, information booths, food, games and children’s activities.
• Alpaca Party
Saturday, noon-3 p.m.
Ten Thousand Villages State College
1341 S. Atherton St., State College
Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Ten Thousand Villages State College will have live alpacas for visitors to feed, pet and take photos
• Uncork Happy Valley
Saturday, noon-3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m.
Nittany Valley Sports Centre
177 Champion Drive, State College
A spinoff of ABC 23 and FOX 8’s popular Uncork the Alleghenies wine festival in Altoona, the first Uncork Happy Valley will feature two sessions showcasing more than two dozen wineries. Tickets are $30 in advance or $40 day-of and include free souvenir wine glass, reusable shopping bag, caricatures, photo booth, live entertainment and food samplings. Lunch and dinner options will be available, and designated driver tickets are $10.
• Millheim Oktoberfest
Saturday, noon-5 p.m.
Millheim Fire Company grounds
103 North Street, Millheim
Enjoy German food, beer and music at the 11th annual festival benefiting the Millheim Fire Company.
• Oktoberfest at Boalsburg Heritage Museum
Saturday, 3-7 p.m.
304 E. Main St., Boalsburg
The Little German Band plays on the lawn while festival-goers enjoy German food and beverages. $50 per person, $15 for children over 10, free for 10 and under. Proceeds benefit the museum.
• Haunted-U
Saturday, 5:15-8 p.m.
Thomas Building, University Park
A free, fun and educational community science night lets kids of all ages and their families see and experience science with a Halloween twist. The event includes science demonstrations, Halloween activities and “haunting” lab tours provided by Penn State faculty and students.
• Dogs in a Pile
Saturday, 8 p.m.
The State Theatre
130 W. College Ave, State College
Jersey-bred band Dogs in a Pile brings its merger of funk, jazz, rock and psychedelia to The State Theatre, joined by special guests with local ties The Roof. Tickets are $18 in advance, $21 day-of-show.
• Arboretum Pumpkin Giveaway
Sunday, 1-3 p.m.
Overlook Pavilion
Arboretum at Penn State
Pick up free pumpkins on Sunday and pre-register for the Arboretum’s jack-o’-lantern contest which will be held during the Pumpkin Festival Oct. 6-7.
