What's Happening in Indiana County: Week of October 19, 2026

Happy Monday, neighbors!

The leaves are near their peak, Halloween is closing in, and this is the final full week of October: the Pumpkin Festival at Reeger's Farm wraps up its season this weekend, Downtown Indiana Trick or Treat fills Philadelphia Street with little ghosts on Saturday, and IUP football heads to the Coal Bowl. There is also some big news for the county to chew on, so let's get to it.

Here is what I am watching across Indiana County this week.

Happening This Week

The Indiana County Farmers' Market gathers Saturday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to noon in the S&T Bank parking lot at South 8th and Church Street.

Only two Saturdays remain, October 24 and the Halloween finale on October 31, so this is your last easy chance to stock up on local produce, flowers, baked goods, meats, eggs, and honey. A crisp October market morning is one of the best parts of living here.

The Pumpkin Festival at Reeger's Farm returns for its fourth and final weekend on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 755 Laurel Road in Shelocta.

Admission is free, with a $2 hayride out to the pumpkin patch and corn maze, barnyard animals, children's activities, and food on site. The last hayride leaves at 3:30 p.m., so give yourselves time to wander. If you have not made it out yet this fall, this is the last chance until next year.

Evening in the Stacks, the Indiana Free Library's annual fall fundraiser, takes place Friday, October 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 845 Philadelphia Street. This year's theme is "Set Sail," inspired by Homer's The Odyssey, with food and fun supporting the library's Annual Fund.

Downtown Indiana Trick or Treat is Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to noon, starting at IRMC Park, with local businesses along Philadelphia Street handing out candy to the little ghosts and goblins of Indiana.

Crimson Hawks volleyball hosts Clarion at 6 p.m. Friday, October 23, at the Kovalchick Complex, a big PSAC West matchup in front of the home crowd.

Then on Saturday, Crimson Hawks football travels to California, Pennsylvania, for the 17th annual Coal Bowl against Cal U at 5 p.m. It is a road game, and it doubles as Cal U's Homecoming, so the Hawks will be playing in a loud building. Radio coverage is on U92.5 FM.

For the off-road crowd, the Jeep Mudding Open Ride Day at The Lannding runs Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 13531 Route 422 Highway East in Penn Run.

And for those who like their October a little spookier: Scary Harry's Haunted Trails, "Sinister 2026," is open Saturday, October 24, from 7 to 11 p.m. at 1681 Pierce Road in Homer City. Tickets are $25 and available online at scaryharrys.com. It is Indiana County's own horror attraction, with five indoor haunted houses connected by a wooded trail.

Looking Ahead

A few dates in the weeks ahead are worth putting on the calendar now.

• White Township's curbside leaf collection begins Monday, October 26, so start raking those golden leaves to the curb.
• The Indiana County Farmers' Market finale is Halloween morning, Saturday, October 31, from 9 a.m. to noon, the last market of the 2026 season.
• Trick-or-treat and Halloween festivities are on everyone's minds across the county, so keep an eye on your local borough or township for this year's official hours.

Event details can shift, so it is always worth a quick check of the Visit Indiana County PA calendar or the Downtown Indiana PA events page before you head out.

Community News

IUP fell to No. 7 Slippery Rock 42-26 on Saturday, October 17, in the 100th meeting of the rivalry. No. 19 IUP played host at George P. Miller Stadium in front of a big crowd but could not keep pace in the second half. The Crimson Hawks now sit at 5-2 overall and 2-2 in PSAC West play, and they turn the page quickly to the Coal Bowl at Cal U this Saturday.

Amazon's data center plan took a big step forward. Amazon Data Services filed a preliminary land development plan in early October for a 36-building data center campus at the Homer City Energy Campus, spanning roughly 1,100 acres across Center and Blacklick Townships. It would be powered by the natural gas plant under construction on the site, and officials project it could support roughly 1,500 to 2,000 jobs. On October 14 and 15, Indiana County officials voted to advance Amazon's wastewater and stormwater permit application to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, while stressing that the vote did not approve construction. It is early, but this is the kind of project that could reshape the local economy for a generation.

IUP announced its third consecutive year of enrollment growth. Preliminary fall 2026 numbers show total enrollment around 9,067, up about one percent, with a persistence rate of 70 percent, the highest since 2015. It is a quiet vote of confidence in this community and its university.

White Township was awarded a $248,500 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for work at the Rec Complex, helping keep one of the county's most-used recreation spaces in good shape.

Jimmy Stewart was honored with a star in the second class of the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame. Our hometown actor keeps making us proud, and it is a lovely reminder of the legacy Indiana sent out into the world.

A health note worth repeating: confirmed measles cases in Indiana County had climbed to 24 as of early October, part of a larger statewide outbreak. If you have questions about vaccination or possible exposure, reach out to your health care provider or the county health office. Looking out for one another is what small towns do.

A Quick Real Estate Note

The most recent market data continues to tell a steady story for Indiana County. Zillow's latest county figures put the typical home value around $170,600, up about 7.7 percent year over year, with homes going under contract in roughly 11 days.

For the 15701 ZIP code specifically, the typical home value is around $207,100, up about 7.9 percent year over year, with homes going under contract in about 8 days. Demand is still moving quickly on well-priced homes, even as we head into the slower season.

With the leaves at their best and Halloween around the corner, this is a lovely time to walk the borough, catch the trick-or-treating on Philadelphia Street, and picture your next chapter here.