Penn State football will not be playing this week, which typically entails a boring weekend. However, this year is different. This year, a bye week gives you a much-needed break from the miserable season of college football happening here in Happy Valley.
The last bye week came after the Villanova game, when everyone was preparing for the Ducks to come to town and the vibes were high. Since then, we’ve experienced four straight weeks of losses.
With that being said, we must come to terms with the fact that things other than football are happening in State College this time of year. Enjoy this break from our football program and use it to embrace the autumn atmosphere in central Pennsylvania.
Here are a few things to do in State College that you would probably skip if it were a game weekend.
Rhoneymeade Fall Festival
Get into the fall spirit with a fall festival just 15 minutes off campus. This Saturday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., there will be live music, crafts such as pumpkin painting and jewelry making, and animals brought by Centre Wildlife. Hosted by the Rhoneymeade farm, they recommend bringing blankets and chairs to soak up the view of their beautiful property.
Trip To Pittsburgh
Itching for a tailgate? Well, if you’re a Steelers fan like many Penn Staters are, and you have a car, which many Penn Staters do, go take a trip to Pittsburgh to fulfill those tailgating needs. The Steelers are hosting the Packers for Sunday Night Football, and if you’re yearning for more disappointment from Pennsylvania football, this is just the activity for you.
Take A Nap
You’ve been craving it all week; just do it.
Pumpkin/Apple Picking
There are plenty of pumpkin and apple picking farms nearby, but Wasson Farm comes highly recommended. It’s a family-owned farm located ten minutes off campus, which also doubles as a fall festival on the weekends.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wasson Farm offers hayrides to its pumpkin patch, a corn maze, farm animal interaction, and locally sourced food items. It’s the ultimate day away from college football, but don’t forget your cash because they don’t accept credit or debit cards.
Watch Other Penn State Sports
Sure, Penn State football isn’t playing Saturday, but they are not the only team that resides in Happy Valley. Go out this weekend and find your new favorite fall sports team to support.
Catch the No. 6-ranked women’s ice hockey program, facing off against Lindenwood in a two-game set this weekend. Friday’s game will be at 2 p.m. and Saturday’s at 1 p.m., both at Pegula. Men’s ice hockey also has a two-game set this weekend, with games against Stonehill on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m., both at Pegula.
Sunday boasts three home games. To start your day, women’s soccer hosts Ohio State for a White Out game on Jefferson Field at 1 p.m. Men’s basketball will play an exhibition game in the Bryce Jordan Center at 2 p.m. Then, make your way over to Rec Hall, where women’s volleyball has a Big Ten matchup against Rutgers at 7 p.m.
Walk Around Downtown
Grab some friends and enjoy the local scene in downtown State College. Visit Irving’s for a local breakfast and coffee that you can enjoy while exploring the shops on Beaver Avenue. Support local vendors at the farmer’s market that occurs every Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Locust Lane. If you choose to explore on Saturday, you’ll get to see hundreds of people dressed as bananas for the Banana Bar Crawl, so plan accordingly.
Spooky Movies At State Theatre
‘Tis the season for scary movies, and what better place to watch than the downtown theatre? State Theatre will have showings on Friday night and all day Sunday to get you in a spooky mood for the upcoming Halloween festivities.
The 1922 masterpiece “Nosferatu” will have a showing this Friday at 8 p.m., and then you can cap off your bye weekend with a movie marathon on Sunday. The theatre will show “The Addams Family” at 12:15 p.m., “Hocus Pocus” at 3 p.m., and The Exorcist at 7 p.m.
Run THON’s 5K
THON is hosting its annual 5K this weekend to help raise money for THON 2026. The race, sponsored by PNC Bank, will be run in State College on Sunday at 11 a.m. Registration is still open, and not only will you be supporting a great cause, but you’ll be sweating out your hangover for said cause.
Take advantage of this rare, football-less, and stress-free weekend, folks, because football’s schedule isn’t getting easier, and neither are ours.
Sean is a junior broadcast journalism major at Penn State University, also studying for a sports studies and kinesiology minor. He is a diehard Philly sports fan and writes about it for PhillySportsReports. If you want to see impulsive and uncensored Philly sports tweets, follow him on X/Twitter @seanregenye.
