On Saturday morning, families flocked to downtown State College to celebrate the start of autumn. South Allen Street hosted the 22nd annual Fall Festival full of games, prizes, and pumpkins. Fraser Street hosted the return of “Pop Up Ave,” where vendors lined the street with vintage clothing, hats, jewelry, candles, and more.

Our photographers took a trip downtown to check out the fall fun.

Children enjoyed horseback rides and face painting as part of the Fall Festival.

Some parents helped their kids pick out the perfect pumpkin. The pumpkins were then decorated at an arts and crafts table with everything from paint, glitter, and stickers at the disposal of the crafty designers.

Other vendors were sharing hugs and making caricatures and puppets. There were smiles on the faces of all ages as they enjoyed the activities and community on Allen Street.

There were even some activities for kids to release some energy as they ran around a playground.

Pumpkins were aplenty, and the feeling of fall wasn’t lacking in downtown State College Saturday.

One street away, vendors set up for the first “Pop Up Ave” since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Racks of curated vintage clothing were available for purchase, including tons of Penn State-themed vintage finds.

Besides clothing, there was jewelry, scrunchies and ties, bucket hats, candles, and more for folks who made their way to Fraser Street.

With the picturesque fall foliage beginning to make its way into Happy Valley, the Fall Festival and “Pop Up Ave” proved that fall in State College is truly the best time of year.