Events Spring
Penn State students think of the spring semester as the one that starts in January. Officially, the season of spring begins in the second half of March, so let's split the difference. For our purposes, we'll optimistically say that spring starts in the middle of February with the ultimate cure for winter-induced cabin fever, THON, Penn State's Dance Marathon, and ends with The Big Spring Festival in late May.
Thon
Time: Middle of February
Location: Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State Campus
Description: Thon is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, affectionately known as THON, is a yearlong effort to raise funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer that culminates in a 46-hour dance marathon in the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State's Campus.
Maple Harvest
Time: Middle of March
Location: Shaver's Creek
Description: Learn about the maple sugaring process — both in colonial times and the present day. At the festival you can learn how to identify and tap sugar maple trees and visit the Sugar Shack to see sap transformed into syrup, watch costumed interpreters demonstrate sugaring techniques used by Native Americans, pioneers, and modern-day farmers, enjoy live music and storytelling, see live birds of prey and reptile shows, and savor all-you-can-eat pancakes and maple syrup!
Orchid Show
Time: Early April
Location: Penn State Ag Arena
Description: Enjoy thousands of beautiful and exotic orchids during the Annual Central Pennsylvania Orchid Show at the Snider Ag Building at Penn State University. Bring your camera for amazing shots of rare and native orchids and pick some up from the vendors to grow your own!
AAUW Used Book Sale
Time: Middle of May
Location: Penn State Ag Arena
Description: The AAUW assembles a huge and popular used book sale every year to benefit the non-profit and associated local programs. Tens of thousands of used books are organized by theme, culled for quality, and priced to sell.
Big Spring Festival
Time: Third Weekend of May
Location: Talleyrand Park, Bellefonte
Description: Celebrate Bellefonte’s bountiful supply of water from the Big Spring with entertainment, free water sports, crafts, fish stocking of Spring Creek courtesy of Elk Creek Hatchery of Millheim, and more.
Boalsburg Memorial Day Celebration
Time: Memorial Day, Last Monday of May.
Location: Boalsburg, PA
Description: Boalsburg is claimed by some to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. Situated on and around the grounds of the Pennsylvania Military Museum, the Boalsburg Memorial Day Celebration remembers the sacrifices so many have made for our freedoms.