By The Connect Crew | August 12, 2026
There is still plenty of summer left in Happy Valley, but you can feel the shift.
Penn State Summer Commencement takes place this weekend. Ag Progress Days wraps up this week, and the Centre County Grange Fair is just around the corner. Before long, students will be returning and the fall semester will bring its familiar change of pace to State College.
For now, make the most of August, with live music, community events, outdoor movies, baseball, and Penn State sports starting up.
Community
Tonight, Stirred Not Stuck brings a community gathering to Pine Grove Hall. Penn State’s Student Farm will also bring its Feed the People Market Stand to the HUB-Robeson Center.
Woodward Cave, which celebrates its 100th anniversary on Saturday with Woodward Cave Day. You can also stop by Schlow Library for its August Casual Puzzling and Puzzle Swap. That evening, the Jana Marie Foundation hosts Shine On, combining a concert with Caryn Dixon and a glow golf tournament.
The Penn State Student Farm presents Growing Together Farm to Table on Tuesday.
Live Music & Entertainment
Tonight, Live After 5 returns to downtown State College, and Jerry Zolten hosts Deep Cuts: The Story of Rock and Roll at Manny’s.
On Thursday, Grammy-winning bluegrass musician Dan Tyminski brings his band to The State Theatre. Tyminski is known both for his longtime work with Alison Krauss and Union Station and as the singing voice behind “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow.” Dead Star also performs Thursday at Pine Grove Hall. Tussey Mountain WingFest Finals presents Felix and the Hurricanes and Velveeta.
Friday brings Secret Planet: Sruti and Akshay at Manny’s and Concerts on the Village Green in Lemont with Mary Madigan, Ian Marshall and Joe Pillot. Happy Valley Improv also presents What’s Next: An Improvised West Wing Experience.
On Saturday, Manny’s welcomes Dawn Drake and ZapOte with The Green Path.
On Sunday, Jazz on 16 Strings takes the stage at the South Hills Summer Music Picnic, Jonny Bull performs at Summer Sounds in the Gazebo in Bellefonte, and Papertown Trio plays Pine Grove Hall.
The Great Outdoors
Tonight, Black Moshannon State Park hosts a Partial Solar Eclipse program.
Canoe Creek State Park offers a Smith Hillside Walk on Saturday.
On Sunday, Canoe Creek offers both a Beaver Pond Trail Hike and a History Hike exploring the area’s historic limekilns.
Closer to State College, DCNR foresters will discuss Forest Fire Management in Penns Woods at Musser Gap, including the use of prescribed burning.
Or end the weekend around a fire at Rhoneymeade Arboretum in Centre Hall during its Community Campfire and S’mores.
Sporting Events
Penn State’s fall sports calendar is beginning to wake up.
The Penn State men’s soccer team hosts Syracuse for a preseason scrimmage on Friday at Jeffrey Field.
The State College Spikes return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday against the Williamsport Crosscutters.
On Tuesday, Penn State field hockey hosts Bucknell for a preseason scrimmage at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
Arts & Ideas
Tonight, the Palmer Museum of Art hosts Yoga and Mindfulness at the Palmer.
Thursday brings Benjamin Franklin and the Revolution at Home, a talk by Carla J. Mulford at the Bellefonte Library. The Palmer also offers Sensory-Friendly Hours that day.
On Friday, artists from Dreaming American Futures take part in a Community Artist Conversation at the Palmer Museum of Art.
If you have been meaning to see Maytag Virgin, this is your last chance. The production enters its final weekend at The Attic at The State Theatre, with performances Friday through Sunday.
Kids & Family
Family Skate Night takes place at Pegula Ice Arena this evening.The State Theatre hosts Read It, Watch It: Ice Age, Dawn of the Dinosaurs this afternoon. The Arboretum at Penn State also offers a Discovery Drop-In in the Children’s Garden.
Childhood’s Gate programming continues throughout the week with Troglo Who? on Thursday, Milkweed and Monarchs on Friday, PA Paleo on Monday, and Recycling Fun on Tuesday.
Friday night offers two outdoor movie choices. Movies Under the Stars screens Zootopia 2 for free at Sidney Friedman Park, while Movies in the Garden presents The Sandlot at The Arboretum at Penn State.
On Saturday, the Centre Hall Area Branch Library hosts LEGO Day.
On Tuesday, it’s Back To School Bingo at the Bellefonte Library.
On the Horizon
One of Centre County’s biggest summer traditions is almost here. The Centre County Grange Fair opens Friday, August 21, at Grange Park in Centre Hall and continues through August 29.
Also coming up, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys perform Thursday, August 20, at The Attic at The State Theatre.
Summer isn’t over yet, but Happy Valley is getting ready for what’s next. Enjoy the quieter pace while you can. Between the Grange Fair and the return of students, things are about to get a whole lot busier.
