APIDA festival, ‘Mojofest’ and more on tap in Happy Valley this weekend
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mojofest debuts in Centre County at Tussey Mountain with two stages and tickets from $30.
- Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live has three shows at Bryce Jordan Center on April 18–19.
- APIDA Festival shuts down Fraser Street Saturday afternoon with performances and vendors.
As warmer weather finally moves into Centre County, residents may find themselves wondering how they’re going to fill their sunnier weekends, and the upcoming weekend has a number of eclectic options.
While festival season is around the corner, there are two early-season ones to check out, in addition to other events. We’ve highlighted four events below. To see full calendar listings, visit www.centredaily.com/events.
Mojofest Music Festival
Where: Tussey Mountain, 301 Bear Meadows Road, Boalsburg
When: 2-10:30 p.m., Saturday, April 18
What: Mojofest is a Woodstock-inspired, multi-genre music festival that will make its debut in Centre County this weekend. There will be two stages at the event, with various local and national-touring artists playing a mix of indie, rock and country, along with DJ performances.
Attendees will also be able to enjoy a selection of food trucks, vendors and art exhibits on the festival grounds. Tickets for the festival start at $30 for general admission, $45 for a VIP ticket, $144 for an eight-ticket bundle and $180 for a 10-ticket bundle. Parking is free on-site.
More information is available on the official Mojofest website and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau website.
Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American Festival
When: Noon-5 p.m, Saturday, April 18
Where: Fraser Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza in downtown State College
What: The fourth annual Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American (APIDA) Festival will take place this weekend, which, according to a State College Borough press release, will bring “lively performances, vibrant music and flavorful cuisine” to town.
Fraser Street will be closed most of Saturday afternoon while the festival takes place. More than two dozen vendors from State College and the Centre Region will line the street and offer a number of different goods, including soaps, candles, creams, art and more.
Community groups and performers from different genres will be present at the event, and headliners this year include the Steel Dragon Dancers, Sangat, Indian American singer-songwriter Sudha Mokkapati and Kalanikethanaya, the Sri-Lankan Dance and Music School of New Jersey.
Student-led groups from Penn State like Raaga, the Penn State Filipino Association, RAM Squad, Penn State Natya, Penn State Writers Organizing to Represent Diverse Stories and the Society for Indian Music and Arts, will also showcase their talents for guests, along with students from Mount Nittany Middle School and Park Forest Middle School.
Festival organizers will bring in Fatema’s Kitchen and Silver Spoon for food options, and participating organizations will also partner with a handful of local restaurants for fundraising efforts.
The festival is free for all, and parking will be available in the streets and parking garages near the event. Volunteers are still needed for the event, and those interested should visit the event’s volunteer sign-up page.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire
When: 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 18; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 19
Where: Bryce Jordan Center, 720 Curtin Road, University Park
What: The Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire event is returning to the Bryce Jordan Center this weekend and will, according to the event’s website, feature “even more flames, more glow and more high-octane action” than last year’s show.
Seven Hot Wheels-themed monster trucks — including one that’s making its live debut — will look to entertain the masses with a high-flying, “gravity-defying” show.
Tickets for the three shows start at $39.20, and can be purchased on Ticketmaster. Parking is available in the lots surrounding the BJC. More information is available on the BJC’s website.
Earth Day at Black Moshannon State Park
When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, April 18
Where: Black Moshannon State Park, 4216 Beaver Road, Philipsburg
What: Black Moshannon State Park will host a park beautification day/cleanup Saturday in honor of Earth Day, which falls on April 22.
Volunteers at the cleanup will participate in projects like painting, trail maintenance, pavement sealing, litter pickup and winter debris removal. Lunch will be provided at 1 p.m. following the cleanup, and a free campsite is available for that weekend to those that volunteer for the full timeframe.
While the event is free to attend, registration is required, and can be completed at the DCNR event volunteer page. Parking is available on-site.
ClearWater Conservancy’s 30th annual Watershed Cleanup Day will also be held Saturday at locations across Centre County, though the registration window has passed.