Happy Friday, Happy Valley!
Thousands of visitors will descend on the area this weekend as Penn State football opens its 2019 season on Saturday. And while the Nittany Lions and the surrounding fun may be the star attraction, that’s not all that’s happening this Labor Day weekend.
You’ll find art exhibits, concerts, comedy, Friday in the ‘Fonte, Crickfest, the State College Spikes’ home finale, and much more around the region.
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.
FRIDAY
Friday in the ‘Fonte
The last Friday of each month, celebrate downtown Bellefonte’s shopping, dining, arts and craft beverage with specials, activities and more. Check out this month’s lineup of events, spotlight businesses and participating vendors here.
Gallery Talk
Join Palmer Museum of Art at 12:10 p.m. as assistant director and curator Joyce Robinson discusses the museum’s first special exhibition of the fall season ‘The Web of Life: John Biggers and the Power of Pedagogy.’ The show spotlights the work of artist John Biggers in relation to two important mentors, artist Charles White and famed art educator Viktor Lowenfeld.
Running Home
A free public screening of the documentary ‘Running Home,’ which tells the story of humanitarian, accomplished middle-distance runner and coach Tony Ruiz, will be held at 4:30 p.m. in the cinema at Penn State’s Carnegie Building. The film was produced by an award-winning team from Penn State’s John Curley Center for Sports Journalism.
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.
High School Football
It’s week two for Centre County high school football teams and State College is playing its first home game of the season against New Jersey’s St. Augustine Prep. With Memorial Field undergoing renovations, the game will be played at the South Track field and this week’s kickoff is at 6 p.m.
In other local games, Bald Eagle visits Philipsburg-Osceola at 7 p.m. in a game originally scheduled to be played at BEA (moved because of track installation at the field). Bellefonte hosts Huntingdon at 7 p.m. at the new Rogers Stadium. Penns Valley heads to Clearfield.
Concert on the Village Green
Lemont Village Association’s final summer Friday night concert of the year features Tussey Mountain Moonshiners on the Village Green from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Brazilian Munchies will be on hand. Bring blankets or chairs. Brazilian Munchies food truck will be on site. Concerts are moved into the Granary building in case of thunderstorms.
Penn State Soccer
The Nittany Lion men’s soccer team kicks off the season with a 7 p.m. showdown at Jeffrey Field against Stanford.
Penn State Volleyball
The No. 8 Penn State women’s volleyball team opens the season by hosting the Penn State Classic in Rec Hall. After Holy Cross vs. Wichita at 5 p.m., the Nittany Lions take on Hofstra at 7:30 p.m.
Boeing, Boeing
The final show of the season for Nittany Theatre at the Barn, ‘Boeing, Boeing’ is a Tony Award-winning comedy set in the 1960s, when Bernard is juggling relationships with three airline stewardesses and his timid friend Robert gets caught in the middle of his lies. The final performance is 7:30 p.m. at the Barn in Boalsburg. Tickets.
Movie on the Mountain
Enjoy a movie under the stars as the summer Movies on the Mountain at Tussey Mountain presents the Disney’s ‘Dumbo.‘ Admission is free. Gates open at 8 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk. Popcorn and candy will be available, as well as hot dogs, and other great food you won’t find at regular movie theaters. Soda, beer, and other beverages also are offered. Bring a blanket or lawn chair.
Joel McHale
Comedian Joel McHale, best known for his work on ‘Talk Soup’ and ‘Community,’ will visit Penn State’s Eisenhower Auditorium for an 8 p.m. show, with opening act J.F. Harris. Sponsored by Penn State’s Student Programming Association. University Park student tickets are available at Eisenhower, Bryce Jordan Center, or the Penn State Downtown Theatre, or by calling 1-800-ARTS-TIX. Remaining tickets will be available to the general public at the door.
SATURDAY
Mountainback Discovery Training Series
For runners interested in training on the Tussey Mountainback 50-mile relay and ultramarathon course, or just some beautiful runs on rolling forest roads, this staged series of weekly runs covers the 12 legs of the relay, one or two at a time, starting at 8 a.m. Saturday with leg 1 of the course. Meet at the Tussey Mountain parking lot. Details here.
Huddle with the Faculty
Glenn E. Sterner III, assistant professor of criminal justice at Penn State Abington, will kick off the 27th year of the Huddle with the Faculty lecture series by discussing ‘What is the Opioid Crisis, and What Does it Mean for Me and My Family?’at 9 a.m. at the Nittany Lion Inn. Free admission.
Penn State Volleyball
The No. 8 Nittany Lion women’s volleyball team plays a Penn State Classic doubleheader, taking on 10 a.m. and Wichita State at 8 p.m. in Rec Hall.
Football’s Back
You probably don’t need a reminder that Penn State football opens the 2019 campaign at 3:30 p.m. against Idaho. Lots open at 8 a.m. Fan Fest on Curtin Road starts at 11 a.m. Live entertainment will take place on the stage near the Beaver Stadium south tunnel, with Velveeta performing at 11:30 a.m. Former Nittany Lion Jordan Hill will be available to visit with fans from noon-1 p.m. near the south tunnel Team arrival is approximately 1 p.m. at the south tunnel, with players handing out footballs signed by the captains and head coach James Franklin to fans lined up on Curtin Road. Oh, and don’t forget that new parking and traffic system.
Smokey Bear’s 75th Birthday Party
Greenwood Furnace State Park in Huntingdon hosts a birthday party at 7:30 p.m. in the campground amphitheater for the bear who has been telling us about preventing wildfires for 75 years. Learn about Smokey’s birth, see a classic Smokey Bear film, and enjoy cake and ice cream as Smokey joins the party.
SUNDAY
Crickfest
Join Penns Valley Conservation Association for the 17th Annual Crickfest, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Coburn Park in Coburn. Enjoy live music and food throughout the day, as well as duck races, a kids creativity tent, farm animals and pony rides, bottle rockets, a silent auction, workshops and more. Proceeds benefit PVCA’s environmental education programs within the Penns Valley Area School District and community.
Exhibit Opening Reception
Bellefonte Art Museum, 133 N. Allegheny St., hosts its September First Sunday Art Opening Reception from noon to 4:30 p.m. See what’s on display this month here.
Raise the Roof
Lemont Village Association will host a ribbon-cutting event from 2-6 p.m. for the new band pavilion on the Village Green, with live music, food, drinks and entertainment. Ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 3:45 p.m. Donations are appreciated.
Spikes Home Finale
The State College Spikes wrap up the home schedule with a 6:05 p.m. first pitch against Williamsport at Medlar Field. It’s THON night, plus Bark in the Park, and Kids Day, with pregame catch on the field at 5:30 p.m., post-game kids run the bases and, for the first 250 kids 12 and under, a voucher good for a free hot dog, chips and small soda. After the game enjoy one last fireworks show for the year at the ballpark.
Trombone Concert
Penn State’s Trombone Studio performs ‘A Tribute to J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding,’ two jazz trombone legends, as part of Trombone Labor Days, at 7:30 p.m. in Esber Recital Hall, Music Building I.
