What's Happening in Indiana County: Week of October 5, 2026

Happy Monday, neighbors!

October is here in full color, and this is shaping up to be one of the biggest weekends of the fall: IUP Homecoming is Saturday, the Pumpkin Festival at Reeger's Farm rolls into its second weekend, Homer City hosts its Harvest Festival, and the farmers market keeps its Saturday morning rhythm going.

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

Happening This Week

The Indiana County Farmers' Market gathers twice this week: Wednesday, October 7, and Saturday, October 10, from 9 a.m. to noon in the S&T Bank parking lot at South 8th and Church Street.

The market runs through the end of October, so there is still time to stock up on local produce, flowers, baked goods, meats, eggs, and honey. A bright October Saturday at the market is one of my favorite ways to start a weekend.

The Pumpkin Festival at Reeger's Farm returns for its second weekend on Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11, 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.

The Homer City Harvest Festival takes over In-Town Park at 131 East Wiley Street in Homer City on Saturday, October 10, hosted by the Homer City Community Garden & Learning Center.

It is a family-friendly day celebrating the season in one of the county's friendliest small towns. Times and activities for 2026 are posted on the garden's website as the date approaches, so peek at homercitygarden.com before you head over.

And the headliner of the weekend: IUP Homecoming on Saturday, October 10. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. on Philadelphia Street, with this year's theme celebrating Pennsylvania's place in America's 250th anniversary, all part of the America250PA Indiana County series.

Crimson Hawks football hosts Lock Haven at 2 p.m. at George P. Miller Stadium to cap the day, with the Crimson Huddle pre-game tailgate and alumni gatherings all over campus. It is the kind of Saturday that reminds you why this town feels like a community.

Looking Ahead

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

• Visio Duplex Art Exhibition, on view through October 17 at the University Museum at IUP in Sutton Hall on South Drive, featuring local artists Janice Trusky Clay and Beth Yoe Fiddler.
• Evening in the Stacks, the Indiana Free Library's annual fall fundraiser, Friday, October 23, an evening at the library supporting programs for readers of every age.
• Downtown Indiana Trick-or-Treat, Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to noon at IRMC Park, for the little ghosts and goblins of Indiana.

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 announced its third consecutive year of enrollment growth. After two years of increases, this fall's numbers keep the momentum going, a strong sign for the university and for the whole community that thrives around it.

Crimson Hawks football moved into the top 10. Ranked No. 9 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, IUP's first top-10 appearance since 2018, the team improved to 6-0 with a 46-44 double-overtime win at Edinboro on Saturday. They bring that undefeated record into Homecoming this week.

IRMC reached a milestone in joint replacement care. Indiana Regional Medical Center marked its 1,000th MAKO robotic-assisted joint replacement surgery, a sign of the advanced care available right here in the county.

One seasonal note: archery deer season opened across Pennsylvania this week, and the county's woods are full of hunters enjoying the crisp October mornings. A good reminder that game lands and trails see a lot of activity this time of year, so be aware and be neighborly out there.

A Quick Real Estate Note

The latest market data continues to tell a steady story for Indiana County. Zillow's most recent 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 borough of Indiana itself, the typical home value sits around $173,200, up about 2.7 percent over the past year. Paired with IUP's third consecutive year of enrollment growth, demand for housing in and around the borough continues to look strong.

If you are thinking about buying, selling, or investing, this Homecoming weekend is a lovely excuse to walk the borough and picture your next chapter here.