With August fast approaching and major events like 4th Fest and the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts come and gone, some people may think that summer is winding down. However, I’ve found that late summer happenings in the Centre Region can be just as much fun, if not more, than the higher-profile festivities. Following are a few highlights of upcoming goings-on.

Tussey Mountain Amphitheatre, 301 Bear Meadow Road, Boalsburg, will host a WingFest from 5:30 to 10 p.m. every Thursday through Aug. 30. Each week, several local restaurants bring their favorite wings and fight to win the popular vote. The winner each week moves on to the finals to be held Aug. 30. Beer is available, and local bands provide entertainment. Bryan & Bennett will open for J.R. and Natalie Band on Aug. 2. For more information, visit www.tusseymountain.com/wingfest.php .

For the second year in a row, the State College Micro- Brewers Expo will be held at Tussey Mountain Ski Resort, with proceeds benefiting Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer. This year’s expo will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 11 and will feature more than 50 breweries, a VIP session, educational seminars and food vendors. Live music will be provided by Ernie Halter and Royal Benson.

The original motto of the expo, which was held at The Penn Stater Conference Center & Hotel for 13 years, was “Drink Less, Drink the Best.” According to the event’s website, the organizers continue to uphold that motto while adding a new slogan, “Good Beer, Good Music, Great Cause!”

For more information, visit www.statecollegebrewexpo.com. The Lemont Village Association continues to hold free concerts from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Fridays on the Village Green. Harmonica virtuoso Richard Sleigh is tonight’s featured performer. For more information, visit www.lemontvillage.org.

Dog days of summer

Finally, summer is not just for human enjoyment, but for canine as well. Wiscoy for Animals, 424 W. Aaron Drive, State College, will be having its 17th annual Ice Cream Social for Dogs from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday nights in August (weather permitting). Yogurt-based ice cream is provided for dogs, said Wiscoy employee Amy Lake, while “people ice cream” from Snyder Valley Farm will be available for owners. In addition, raffles for Wiscoy items will be held, with all money going to the Clearfield County Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Philipsburg.

“It’s a nice, relaxing, fun kind of evening,” Lake said.

For more information, call Wiscoy at 231-8711 or email amy@wiscoypet.com.

Store hosts PAWS fundraiser

Also, Freedom Wireless, a new store in the Nittany Mall, will host “Wireless for Whiskers,” a fundraising event for Centre County PAWS, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The store will be selling dog and cat treat bags, as well as homemade baked goods and barbecue sauce. All proceeds, donations and any donated pet supplies will go to Centre County PAWS, a non-euthanasia animal shelter in College Township.

“We wanted to come up with a way to give back to the community,” said Amanda Hary, a Freedom Wireless employee.

Stephanie Koons writes this weekly column featuring news from the Centre Region. Contact her at 235- 3927 or skoons@centredaily.com.