What's Happening in Indiana County: Week of September 28, 2026

Happy Monday, neighbors!

October is nearly here, and Indiana County is sliding into full harvest season. The farmers market keeps rolling toward its final Saturdays of the year, the Pumpkin Festival opens its first weekend at Reeger's Farm, and IUP continues to make headlines for how it is investing in rural healthcare and athletics.

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

Happening This Week

The Indiana County Farmers' Market gathers twice this week: Wednesday, September 30, and Saturday, October 3, from 9 a.m. to noon in the S&T Bank parking lot at South 8th and Church Street.

With the market running through the end of October, there is still time to stock up on local produce, flowers, baked goods, meats, eggs, and honey from its dozen-plus vendors. These bright autumn Saturdays are one of my favorite rituals of the season.

The Pumpkin Festival at Reeger's Farm opens its first of four October weekends on Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 755 Laurel Road in Shelocta.

Hayrides, the pumpkin patch, a corn maze, and barnyard favorites make it a classic fall family outing, and it returns every weekend through the month. Weekend one is a wonderful way to welcome October.

The Visio Duplex Art Exhibition remains on view through October 17 at the University Museum at IUP in Sutton Hall on South Drive.

This fall's show features works by local artists Janice Trusky Clay and Beth Yoe Fiddler, and it is a lovely, quiet afternoon stop on campus.

And if you are looking for something active: the Indiana County Canine Adventure is running all season, a self-guided, dog-friendly trail adventure on the Hoodlebug and Ghost Town trails that lets you explore the county's fall color with a four-legged co-pilot.

Looking Ahead

A few dates in late October and early November are worth putting on the calendar now.

• Indiana Free Library's Evening in the Stacks fundraiser, Friday, October 23, a night at the library supporting its programs for readers of every age.
• Historic Lantern Tour of downtown Indiana, Saturday, October 24, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., a guided evening walk through the stories of our streets as part of the America250PA Indiana County series.
• Downtown Trick-or-Treat, Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to noon, for the little ghosts and goblins of Indiana.
• Downtown Indiana Wine & Spirits Walk, Friday, November 6, from 5 to 8 p.m., a 21+ evening stroll through downtown businesses sampling wines, spirits, and ciders, with tickets available online or at the Welcome Center.

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's College of Osteopathic Medicine entered a clinical training partnership with Clarks Summit State Hospital, announced this week with Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh.

The agreement is designed to train future physicians for rural areas like ours, and it is another sign of IUP's growing footprint in Western Pennsylvania healthcare.

IUP football improved to 4-0 with a 35-7 home opener win over Seton Hill at Miller Stadium on Saturday. The No. 11-ranked Crimson Hawks are giving fans plenty to cheer about this fall.

IUP field hockey stayed unbeaten at 5-0 and climbed to No. 7 in the NFHCA Division II coaches poll, a strong start for one of the country's top programs.

Over in Homer-Center schools, the district received a Staunton Farm Foundation grant to fund a school mental health counselor, a welcome investment in the wellbeing of local students and families.

A Quick Real Estate Note

The latest countywide market data keeps telling the same steady story: demand remains strong and homes are moving quickly.

Average home values countywide sit around $170,600, up about 7.7 percent year over year, and homes go under contract in roughly 11 days. The 15701 borough ZIP remains the hottest pocket, with average values around $207,100, up about 7.9 percent, and homes there going under contract in about a week.

Two local land-use stories are worth flagging for anyone watching housing: Indiana Borough took steps this month toward finalizing its Zoning Ordinance Update Project, and White Township supervisors took first steps on a proposed RV park ordinance amid resident questions. Decisions like these shape what gets built and where, so they are worth following.