By The Connect Crew | June 24, 2026
The final full week of June brings extra people into Happy Valley, with Penn State alumni returning for WE ARE Weekend and incoming first-year students and their families beginning to arrive for summer session.
You’ll also find plenty of outdoor programs, family activities and music on the calendar. And, if you haven’t checked it out yet, make time to enjoy East End Social while you can!
WE ARE
WE ARE Weekend 2026, happening Friday and Saturday around University Park, includes tours and events around campus. It also overlaps with a familiar shift in State College, as incoming first-year students and their families begin arriving for Penn State’s summer session.
On Sunday, Pine Grove Hall hosts Happy Valley United: Insider Exclusive, a free in-person conversation with Penn State football student-athletes hosted by Jim Galanti and Chris Buchignani.
Live Music, Concerts & Performances
Bluegrass music fans can head to Centre Hall for the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival, happening today through Sunday at the Grange Fairgrounds.
Live After 5 is tonight at MLK Plaza, a free downtown concert series that has become an easy midweek way to enjoy local music outside.
Tussey Mountain WingFest ’26 continues Thursday with Round 3, featuring the J.R. Mangan Band and Completely Unchained, a Van Halen tribute band.
Also on Thursday, Paul Leskowicz Quartet performs at Pine Grove Hall.
On Friday, Sips & Sounds Downtown returns to Sidney Friedman Park. At The State Theatre, Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, and Antonio Sánchez bring together banjo, Colombian harp, and jazz percussion for one of the most distinctive concerts of the week. Other options include Dirk Quinn Band at Pine Grove Hall, the Lemont Village Association Summer Concert Series featuring the Nittany Valley Wranglers, and Secret Planet // Thee Marloes with Elijah Snyder at Manny’s.
On Saturday, Pine Grove Hall hosts La Fiesta Band and Manny’s presents Fred Frith with Teiku.
Sunday brings two outdoor concert options. The South Hills School of Business Summer Picnic Concert features Deacons of Dixieland. In Bellefonte, Summer Sounds 2026 continues at the Talleyrand Park Gazebo with Western Range, featuring Texas swing, honky tonk, and vintage rock.
Theatre, Comedy & Improv
The Arboretum at Penn State becomes an outdoor stage this week with Would I Lie To You?, presented by Firefly Rep and Penn State Centre Stage. Running tonight through Sunday, the performance features scenes and original songs about Shakespeare’s liars, schemers, and deceivers in a family-friendly outdoor setting.
Happy Valley Improv offers a Family-Friendly Improv Show today at Schlow Centre Region Library, and then the Happy Valley Improv Comedy Show Friday night at The Blue Brick Theatre.
East End Social also has a free Pop-Up Cabaret planned for Friday evening.
Outdoor, Wellness & Recreation
Today, Bald Eagle State Park hosts Women’s Kayak Fishing Basics, a program introducing participants to kayak fishing, water safety, gear, lake habitat, and basic fishing skills. Centred Outdoors takes you on a Forest Therapy Walk at Rhoneymeade.
Then on Thursday, Centred Outdoors leads a guided outing at Bilger’s Rocks, and Spring Creek Trout Unlimited hosts a Social Fishing Gathering at Spring Creek near McCoy Dam.
Friday includes a Native Edible Plants Walk at the Arboretum and the start of the Hawthorn Botanical Gathering at Rhoneymeade, a two-day event focused on medicinal plants of Pennsylvania.
Saturday brings several outdoor options, including the Happy Valley Lavender Farm Open House, and the Pennsylvania 52 Hike Challenge: Shingletown Gap Lower Trail.
On Sunday, Black Moshannon State Park offers Pontoon Boat Rides, while Centred Outdoors leads a Tussey Mountain Trail Guided Outing. Shaver’s Creek hosts Community Fishing Days at Lake Perez.
The Mom Walk Collective also meets Sunday morning at East End Social for a free community walk through Penn State’s campus.
Namaste
The Arboretum at Penn State also offers Yoga in the Gardens this evening.
Or try Paws for Cause: Puppy Yoga at Harvest Fields on Saturday or Boal City Brewing with Yoga Lab on Sunday.
Kids & Family
On Thursday, Schlow Centre Region Library hosts a K-9 Demonstration and kids can take part in Nature Sketching at the Arboretum.
On Saturday, it’s Discovery Day at Snetsinger Butterfly Garden and the 21st Annual Touch-A-Truck Event at State College Alliance Church.
Baseball & Watch Parties
The State College Spikes are home this week at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. They face Mahoning Valley Friday through Sunday, with Fireworks Night on Saturday, and then host Aberdeen on Tuesday.
Soccer fans can also catch a USA World Cup Game Watch Party at East End Social.
Food, Drink, Trivia & Social Nights
For a more casual night out, Pine Grove Hall hosts Trivia Night on Wednesday, and Big Spring Spirits in Bellefonte hosts Seinfeld Trivia on Thursday.
Mount Nittany Winery has a Sip ’n Paint: Patriotic Patio Lights class on Thursday, and Happy Valley Live hosts Karaoke Night on Friday.
On Sunday, East End Social hosts Mocktail Night with The Press. Monday brings Crafts & Brews at Boal City Brewing and Cornhole at Voodoo Brewery. Tuesday includes Trivia Tuesdays at Happy Valley Live.
Allen Street Grill hosts its June Beverage Class, A Vacation in Spain, on Monday, with Spanish wine, cider, a gin and tonic, sherry, and Iberian meats and cheeses.
Arts, History & Creative Experience
On Thursday, Schlow Centre Region Library hosts American Folk: Old Time in the Current Times, an educational concert with Ben Traverse and band exploring traditional American folk music and how it continues to evolve.
For creative experiences, try Papermaking with Penn State Libraries Conservation Center at The Arboretum on Friday. All ages are welcome at Community Nature Journaling at the Happy Valley Lavender Farm on Saturday.
On Sunday, try a Goat Stained Glass Class at Nittany Meadow Farm or Sensory-Friendly Hours at the Palmer Museum of Art.
That same day, Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village hosts the Curtin Village Ownership Celebration, marking the ownership transfer to The Roland Curtin Foundation.
Community Conversations, Learning & Local Gatherings
Tonight, Changemaker Collective hosts Clocked Out: Work, Wealth & Real Conversations, and the League of Women Voters of Centre County presents Spotlight PA Presents: Local News Matters! at Calvary Harvest Fields.
The Centre Hall Area Branch Library Book Sale takes place Friday and Saturday on the library lawn during Centre Hall Town-wide Yard Sale weekend.
The Nittany Amateur Radio Club Field Day and Open House takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Pleasant Gap Fire Company.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead to the Fourth of July weekend, Central PA 4th Fest and the Firecracker 4K Run-Walk are coming up on July 4 with Arts Fest not far behind.
As always, event details can change, and some events require tickets, registration, or limited seating, so be sure to check with the venue or organizer before heading out.
Connect Happy Valley will soon offer a new Event Calendar experience to make it easier to find what is happening across the region. Keep an eye out for that and more updates coming to the platform soon.
