The Outdoor Adventure Expo, a free-admission event organized and hosted by Downtown Bellefonte, Inc., highlights the easily accessible natural assets and resources of Bellefonte and the surrounding area by bringing together a dynamic showcase of more than 60 vendors and organizations. This year’s expo is scheduled from noon-5 PM on May 21 at Talleyrand Park.

In March, SpringBoard opened up its 2023 grant program as a way to serve and empower the Centre County small business community. This year, two grants will be awarded: one to a new business (younger than one year) or entrepreneur with a business idea, and one to a small business that has been operating for one or more years.

From a competitive pool of nationwide applicants, the Safe Routes Partnership has selected Downtown Bellefonte Inc. to join Safe Routes to Parks Pennsylvania Activating Communities, a technical assistance program focused on improving safe and equitable local park access.

Riffles and Runs wants you to know that you can come home again. Their guest list is evidence of that.

Come on out to The Queen this February and March! Tune in for nights of mystery and excitement as well as a romantic two-night weekend stay during the month of February.

The community is invited to Open Coworking hours from noon to 4 p.m. with a kick-off party from 4 to 6 p.m. on February 8 at its new location at 221 West High Street, #1300, Bellefonte, PA 16823. Come join the party to learn more about SpringBoard with cocktails and snacks by The Cakeshop by Tati and Gourmet Girl.

Since 1988, the Centre County Historical Society (CCHS) has annually recognized individuals and organizations for their outstanding work in preserving and interpreting Centre County history. Historic preservation and advocacy projects from around the county will be featured on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Match Factory in Bellefonte, home of the American Philatelic Society. Light refreshments will be available.

There are a small handful of places where I’ve traveled that have the ability to both energize and subdue the mind, heart and soul. Bellefonte, Pennsylvania is at the top of my list. I’ve spent a fair amount of time here, fishing different spots along Spring Creek from Benner to Milesburg, and a few eateries, and some cool bars in between. It’s the kind of place that has appeal for just about anyone. When you come here and see the Victorian architecture, small bars, unique eateries and eclectic shops, it actually makes the heart beat slower. I swear it does.

Many of us dream of wandering in the kind of charming, provincial communities we see on holiday cards at this time of year, but one needn’t travel overseas to London, Brussels, or Paris to make that vision a reality. While the “wilds” aspect of the PA Wilds gets much of the focus in our modern tourism industries, the storied towns that comprise the PA Wilds are just as worthy of a visit, offering guests the chance to unplug, reset and experience the holidays in places that welcome strangers and foster a genuine sense of community during the time of year that we crave it most.