Porter Township Gears Up for 2nd Annual Harvest Festival and Commemoration of Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Company’s 75 Years of Service

By Emily Wright

PORTER TOWNSHIP, PA  – Porter Township is preparing for its second annual Harvest Festival, set for Saturday, October 7, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the parade lineup commencing at 10:30 a.m. at the Porter Township Community Center and ending at The Porter Township Recreation Park. After a successful first year, the festival is back and ready to bring the community together for a day of fun and celebration.

The event is coordinated and put on by the Porter Township Recreation Board, with the Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Company sponsoring the parade at 11:30 a.m. to kick off the festivities. The parade celebrates the fire company’s 75th anniversary of providing service to Porter Township. 

This partnership with the fire company also extends to the food vendors, with the fire company being the main food vendor in addition to Cogan’s Concessions. This year the fire company will be serving a mouthwatering menu of pulled pork sandwich platters, pulled pork nachos, hot dogs, hamburgers, hot sausage, and fries.

The festival will take place at the Porter Township Recreation Park, located at 35 Washington Avenue, Mill Hall, PA, and there will be no admission fee. This year, the park has undergone some improvements, including the addition of pickleball courts that were repurposed from the old tennis and basketball courts. The festival serves as an opportunity to showcase the updated park and promote Porter Township.

Attendees can expect a variety of activities and vendors at this year’s festival. The event will feature local craft vendors offering unique and handmade items, an on-site honey vendor, and the renowned Sugar Waffles from Cogan’s Concessions. Additionally, a local farm will offer a selection of pumpkins, gourds, and fall decorations. 

A joint effort by the Porter Township Recreation Board and the Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Company, the festival marks the 75th anniversary of the Fire Company’s service, while also serving as a community event that highlights recent updates to the recreational park and bolsters local businesses. Ryan Gates, Vice Chairman of the Porter Township Recreation Board, emphasized the importance of supporting the community. “We want to draw people into Porter Township to promote the area along with our recently updated park, which now features a pickleball court where the former tennis and basketball courts were.”

He added that the festival vendors are all locally sourced in an effort to support small businesses in the community. 

In addition to the parade and vendors, there will be plenty of activities for families and children to enjoy. Attendees can participate in pumpkin painting and scarecrow making, browse through crafts, and take a ride on the barrel train, among other activities. This year, a DJ will be providing music and setting the festive atmosphere for attendees to enjoy.

As the festival enters its second year, there is already great anticipation and interest. The organizers hope for a fantastic turnout and are excited to build upon the success of the inaugural festival. Vice Chairman Gates expressed his gratitude to the board members for their time and effort in coordinating the event. The Porter Township Recreation Board consists of Rich Brungard (Chairman), Cathy Gates, Chris Eldred, and Kassy Hardy.

The second annual Porter Township Harvest Festival promises to be a day filled with fun, entertainment, and support for local businesses and organizations. Whether you’re looking to enjoy delicious food, browse through local crafts, or participate in family-friendly activities, this festival has something for everyone. Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, October 7th, and come out and be a part of the celebration of community at the Porter Township Recreation Park.

• Lineup for the parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Porter Township Community Center, located at 216 Spring Run Road, Mill Hall, PA. The parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. 
• The festival will begin at the conclusion of the parade, which ends at The Porter Township Recreation Park, located at 35 Washington Avenue, Mill Hall. (Located off of Exit 173 Off I-80 Lamar). Festivities will conclude at 5:00 p.m.