After last year’s hiatus, the Downtown Bellefonte Inc. Outdoor Adventure Expo is back from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with all things outdoor recreation on display in Talleyrand Park.
The free event brings together community members, vendors, nonprofits and others to celebrate the wealth of outdoor fun to be had in and around Bellefonte. In 2019, the event welcomed approximately 1,500–2,000 attendees with more than 45 vendors and 12 workshops and this year the event is even bigger.
One of the biggest new additions to this year’s expo is a partnership with Historic Bellefonte Inc. for an all-day music festival, according to event chair Melissa Hombosky. Taking place from noon to 7 p.m., the festival will feature Triple-A Blues Band, Mama Corn, Cone of Silence and Tommy Wareham.
This year’s event also will have many first-time vendors, not only limited to the outdoor adventure industry, but also including local artists, makers and food and beverage vendors.
“We have local outdoor gear vendors like Hevel Supply Co., RepresentPA, Sisters’ Sunflowers and Tubular Gear — and we can’t forget about Appalachian Outdoors and Freeze Thaw Cycles. Bellefonte staples like Jabebo and Tussey Mountain Outfitters will share demonstrations on their Bellefonte-based businesses,” Hombosky says.
“We also have a full day of workshops and demonstrations that can walk people through anything from the history of Talleyrand Park to fly fishing. Tussey Mountain Outfitters will be there with kayaks so people can spend some time on Spring Creek.”
All of the event workshops are free and many are open to attendees of all ages. Event organizers expect more than 50 vendors for this year’s expo. Vendor support helps act as a fundraiser for Downtown Bellefonte, Inc., where the mission is partially to help promote all of the outdoor fun to be had in the area — and the businesses that make that fun possible.
“The mission of Downtown Bellefonte Inc is first to support our current downtown merchants and recruit new businesses into our community. Secondly, we want to attract visitors to our town and let them know that Bellefonte really is the gateway to the Pennsylvania Wilds,” Hombosky says. “Not only do we have this Class A fishing stream, but we also are close to kayaking, hiking, biking and amazing campgrounds. Bellefonte also has amazing bed and breakfasts that can aid you on your adventure and give you all the inside tips to finding the right fit for you…”
Of course, putting together an event of this size requires a fair amount of manpower, so Downtown Bellefonte Inc. is looking for volunteers to help with tasks such as assisting attendees in finding workshops, children’s activities and aiding vendors.
“If it’s like years past, this event is very low-key and easy on volunteers,” Hombosky notes. “People who attend want to learn more about the outdoors and just need a little guidance on how best to find what they are looking for.”
Attendees who enjoyed the 2019 expo will notice a few changes to the event. Vendors will be spaced out to allow for social distancing and masking is recommended for all unvaccinated attendees, even with the event’s outdoor venue.
More information about the event and sign-up for available volunteer opportunities can be found at downtownbellefonteinc.com/events/outdoor-adventure-expo/.
“The Outdoor Adventure Expo is a full day of sharing what makes Bellefonte and Happy Valley so unique. Adventure is literally at our doorstep and we want to celebrate all the businesses and nonprofits that support the mission to get outdoors,” Hombosky says.
“It’s no secret that outdoor activities spiked during COVID, and we think that an event like this will inspire people to get outdoors more than ever. The goal of this event is to share what is special about this place we call home.”
