Despite a cold, rainy graduation weekend, summer break is finally here. Are you one of the lone stragglers that has chosen to stick around in State College for this summer?

With no more classes to worry about or club meetings to attend, it’s time to explore State College and learn a little more about what it has to offer. With that said, let’s take a closer look at what there is to do in State College this summer.

Try New Establishments

Whether they’re new to downtown or just “new” to you, trying new places should be one of your priorities this summer. It’s never crowded, so you might actually have a shot at making it into Country Night at Pickles on Tuesdays.

Antifragile Brewing Company opened its doors last month on E. Calder Way, and Lupita’s, an authentic Mexican restaurant, opened a new location on W. Beaver Ave. Raising Canes is expected to open in June, too.

Try A New IM Class

The IM Building still hosts group exercise classes during the summer. If you want to hit the gym and try something new while not having to fight the crowds, now is the time. Summer Session I can be a bit slow, but once Summer Session II picks up, more classes will become available. Also, don’t forget to check out Campus Rec’s summer hours before working up a sweat.

Go To The Farmers Market

Who doesn’t love fresh produce, flowers, and a tasty treat? Centre County has quite the selection of farmers markets during the summer. Downtown State College’s market will run every Tuesday and Friday, North Atherton’s on Saturday, and Boalsburg’s on Tuesday. A full list can be found here.

Take An Art Class

The Center for Arts and Crafts is another resource on campus still offering classes. Most classes begin in mid-May and run through mid-June, and students receive a discount on classes. Try out your pottery, painting skills, or even stained glass skills. If you don’t feel like being on a schedule, the Center offers a take-home art box for DIY creations.

Visit The Arboretum

Summer is the prime Arboretum season, as everything is in full bloom. If you’re looking for some community service, you can even become a volunteer. A full calendar of Arboretum events can be found on its website.

Arts Fest

Nature is healing.

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of Arts, better known as Arts Fest, will make its full in-person return after it was canceled the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event is slotted for July 14 to 17. As always, downtown State College will be filled with beautiful art…and probably plenty of drinking opportunities.

Venture Outside Of Downtown

As a student, it’s easy to be confined to the bubble that is downtown State College. However, the rest of State College and the surrounding towns have plenty of neat things to offer, too. Tussey Mountain will eventually host its WingFest, Bellefonte has a beautiful park and shops, and there’s plenty of hiking to do within a 30-minute radius.

If you’re looking to get outdoors, check out Colyer Lake, Bald Eagle State Park, Black Moshannon State Park, or anywhere in Rothrock.

Hit Up The Breweries

Every student plans on going to Voodoo, but few actually go during the school year. As mentioned above, the summer is the best time to leave downtown State College. There are plenty of breweries in and around State College, so why not try them all? You can go to Voodoo, Happy Valley Brewing Company, Otto’s, Axemann, Liberty Craft House, and now, Antifragile. If distilleries are more your thing, try out Big Spring Spirits.

Attend A Spikes Game

The State College Spikes will begin their baseball season in less than a month. The team plays at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, and it’s actually really fun to watch a game, drink some beer, and eat a glizzy. You can check out the schedule and buy tickets here. Last year’s $2 Tuesdays were a movie, to say the least.

Attend An Event At The State Theatre

The State Theatre offers tons of cool concerts and movie showings over the summer. Its calendar is frequently updated with new artists and films, so it’s always helpful to keep tabs on that. So far, you can see Shawn Colvin, Madeleine Peyroux, Steve Earl & The Dukes, and more this summer.

Music Festivals

There are shockingly tons of small festivals in Centre County during the summer. I mean, who doesn’t love live music? On Saturday, May 14, the Birdie on the Mountain Charity Music Festival will take place at Tussey Mountain. Local favorites like Anchor&Arrow, Caledonia, and Joe Tombasco will perform.

Enjoy The Lack Of Lines

I shout this from the rooftops every time I talk about summer in Happy Valley, but the lack of lines is the best part about State College summers. Chick-Fil-A? No line. Dunkin’? No line. Your favorite bar? No line.