10 things every Centre County resident should do before the end of summer

It’s almost the end of July, which — unfortunately — means that summer is drawing to a close.

Officially, summer ends on Sept. 23. Unofficially, Penn State and a number of local schools start up toward the end of August. But, luckily, there’s still plenty to do in and around Centre County.

From summer staples like Grange Fair and WingFest, to summer landmarks like Meyer Dairy and the Arboretum, there are still lots of places to visit and boxes to check off before football crowds flood downtown State College. So here’s our list of things every resident should do before summer (un)officially ends:

1. Attend the finals of WingFest 2023, and debate Centre County’s best wings.

Centre County’s annual chicken wing championship never ends the debate over the area’s best wings — but it sure does get it started. Every Thursday, from June 2 through Aug. 3, Tussey Mountain hosts several wing competitors with attendees’ weekly top vote-getter moving on to the finals. And that final takes place Aug. 10, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and closing at 10 p.m. This year’s final features two live bands, OK Otter at 6 p.m. and Who’s Bad (Michael Jackson Tribute) at 8 p.m. Even if you hate wings, this event is still worth a visit between the beautiful views and live music. Plus, there are other concessions there like Doan’s Bones BBQ, Rosie’s Pierogies and Rita’s Italian Ice. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for those ages 7-16, and free for those 6 and younger.

2. Go to Meyer Dairy and the Penn State Berkey Creamery, then debate the better ice cream.

It’s the age-old county question: Meyer Dairy or Berkey Creamery? Well, allow us to interject: Why not both? Each ice cream shop boasts its die-hard fans and, regardless of whom you think is best, it’s clear both of those venues are pretty darn great. (And the chocolate milk and other dairy items aren’t too bad either.) Whether you feel like Death By Chocolate at Berkey Creamery or Meyer Dairy’s Cow Tracks, or any of the dozens of flavors or milkshakes, there’s a little something for everyone. After all, how many communities boast two ice cream locations that can trace their roots back to before 1890?

3. Walk around The Arboretum at Penn State.

If the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens don’t offer the most picturesque scenes in Happy Valley, they certainly can’t rank far behind. Some 10 acres of land are jam-packed with themed garden spaces, while another 14 acres feature walking paths and rolling meadows. More than 180,000 individual plants — and more than 1,100 species — dot the Arboretum, while the no-admission space offers several events every week, such as story circles and garden tastings. It doesn’t matter how often you walk through the Arboretum, or take in the sights from a nearby bench, it’s still just as relaxing as the first time. (The new Palmer Museum of Art, which will be right next to the Arboretum, will open next spring and will offer something else worth visiting next summer.)

4. Hike Mount Nittany, and take a selfie from a scenic overlook.

If you don’t mind breaking a sweat to see some breathtaking views of the Penn State campus and surrounding communities, take a few hours to experience these classic hiking trails. The Blue Trail is about 4.6 miles round trip, while the White Trail is 3.5 miles. But, if you simply want to scope out the hiking favorite Mike Lynch Overlook (Trail Marker No. 3), it’s about 0.6 miles away — meaning you’d just need to take a 1.2-mile loop to see a birds-eye view of Beaver Stadium and other local landmarks. Between nature and wildlife, this trip is guaranteed to put you in a better mood. The trailhead address is 500 Mount Nittany Road in Boalsburg.

5. Explore the Central PA Tasting Trail, and find your favorite beer/drink.

There are now 15 members of the Tasting Trail, meaning there are now 15 different places to stop for county-made beers, wines, ciders and spirits. Let’s quickly run through them here. More of a wine person? Well, you’ve got Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery, Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery, Pisano Winery, Seven Mountains Wine Cellars and University Wine Company. Love cider? There’s J.L. Farm & Cidery 814 Cider Works, Keewaydin Cider Mill and Titan Hollow. Distilleries? Try Barrel 21 Distillery and Big Spring Spirits. Beer? Antifragile Brewing Co., Axemann Brewery, Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks, Otto’s Pub & Brewery and Robin Hood Brewing Co. Lots of these locations have weekly goings-on over the summer. Plus, if you’re set on visiting them all, consider getting a $35 “passport” that encourages you to stop at each location (for a unique sampling and “possibly a little memento”) and then exchange the completed passport for a hooded sweatshirt, one that can’t be purchased and only “earned.”

6. Take one loop around the Grange Fair.

Whether you’re interested in farming, fair food or live music — which should include just about everyone — the Centre County Grange Fair at Grange Park is a rite of passage. It is the nation’s last remaining tenting fair, and it serves as the unofficial end of summer, with schools reopening either in the middle of the fair or right after it. With tractor pulls, free concerts and a scheduled event virtually every hour it’s open, it’s impossible not to sense the excitement — or increased traffic — once the Grange Fair begins. This year, it’s Aug. 17-26 with $8 daily admission ($25 weekly) and $7 daily parking ($25 weekly). We’re already looking forward to seeing what the popular fair food is for this year’s iteration.

7. Catch a foul ball at a State College Spikes game — or at least catch some fireworks after the game.

OK, OK. We get it. Catching a foul ball isn’t easy. But, on the bright side, kids have the opportunity to run the bases for most Friday-Sunday games — and, for adults, there are plenty of promotions to make you smile, too. (Looking at you, $1 beer nights.) Tickets start at $8, and it’s worth checking out what else is on tap this summer. For example, you can bring your dog to the ballpark for “Bark in the Park” nights Aug. 9 and 29. Fireworks are also scheduled for July 29, Aug. 3, Aug. 19, Aug. 26 and Aug. 31. (Frankly, we’re holding out for the LaVar Leap Bobblehead Giveaway on Aug. 19.)

8. Go bird-watching at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center.

Yes, construction is ongoing around the nature center, with a new welcome pavilion and Phase 2 of the education building set to be completed by year’s end. But, despite the work, it bears repeating that the nature center’s grounds, boardwalk and trails remain open — and, yes, the 62-acre preserve remains beautiful. Nearly 200 bird species have been identified at the nature center, according to eBird.org, from double-crested Cormorants to Blue Jays to bald eagles. So, with the construction, there’s a lot to look forward to in the future — but there’s also still a lot to enjoy right now.

9. Visit a farmers market, and embrace fresh produce.

With more than 1,000 farms in Centre County — based on the latest agriculture census in 2017 — the area is inundated with fresh food and local livestock. We’re sure not complaining. Officially, there are at least seven farmers markets in Centre County, but we’re going to highlight two of the biggest: the North Atherton Farmers Market (10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays at the Home Depot parking lot) and the Boalsburg Outdoor Farmers Market (2-6 p.m., Tuesdays at the PA Military Museum parking lot). Prices might be a little higher than the local supermarket, but it’s hard to beat local farmers who raise their animals ethically and without hormones. Plus, who doesn’t want to support a local/small business? (Staff picks: Pole Cat Hollow Farm for sausage, Crumbkowski for bakery items, and Kreider Tomatoes for ... well ... tomatoes.)

10. Catch a movie at The State Theatre — or drive a little farther to a drive-in.

We have choices in Centre County. On noon Wednesdays, children’s movies like “The Mighty Ducks” and “A Bug’s Life” are being shown at the State Theatre. (The original “Predator” movie from 1987 is also showing at 7 p.m. Sunday.) There are also plenty of live music acts and other events at the State Theatre worth checking out. But, if that’s not your vibe, you can always stop at local movie theaters UEC State College 12 and UEC College 9 — or you can drive just under an hour from State College to watch a double-feature at two different drive-ins, Woodland’s Super 322 Drive-In and Mifflintown’s Midway Drive-In Theater. (“Barbie” is playing at both drive-ins this week.)