STATE COLLEGE — Sips and Sounds, hosted by the Downtown State College Improvement District, returned for a second year of craft beverages, food and live music on Friday, June 28.
The event featured craft vendors from the Central PA Tasting Trail, a central Pennsylvania route comprised of craft beverage producers — including wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries — that offer tastings and experiences in the region.
This year’s event featured 814 Cider Works, Antifragile Brewing Co., Axemann Brewery, Barrel 21 Distillery, Big Spring Spirits, Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery, Otto’s Pub & Brewery and University Wine Company. Happy Valley Nomadic Spirits and Moody Culture Kombucha provided alcohol-free options.
In addition to drinks, food was also available from Auntie Anne’s, Belle Springs, Dulce Luca, El Jefe’s Taqueria, Juana’s Venezuelan Cuisine, Real Taste 570, Sunset Slush Happy Valley and Twisted Whisk Catering.
“It’s a cool atmosphere. Coming here, being able to listen to live music, have friends and families just relaxing and enjoying drinks and food, it is just cool,” said Matthew LeClair, 814 Cider Works owner.
814 Cider Works, established in 2019, has made ciders for the last five years, often hosting live music at its 3392 Shingletown Road location, in addition to attending community events.
“You see a lot of local faces, a lot of friendly faces, and it just brings the community together. It’s a cool way — especially with Ironman being this weekend and having new faces as well, seeing the people that might not get out to your establishment or may be from out of town — to bring the community closer together, and celebrate different things with summer.”
While 814 Cider Works has a wide range of cider options, LeClair recommended trying their special seasonal cider, ’Merica. Made from cranberry, blueberry and a white cider, it is served both on draft and in slushy form.
This year’s event aligned with a busy tourism weekend for Centre County, with the Ironman 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley drawing in visitors from across the country and around the world on Sunday, June 30.
“My husband is competing this weekend (in Ironman). We went to Penn State and come to town for (football) games, but we don’t always get to explore as much as we would like when we are here. We have our favorite places we visit,” Mari Lafferty shared. “I was excited to see this happening now so I could try some places I haven’t been to yet.”
Lafferty shared she enjoyed the strawberry margarita from Big Spring Spirits, which launched a new tequila in February, according to the team serving at the booth.
“I’m going to try something from Antifragile next — don’t tell my husband,” Lafferty joked. “I told him we could go in person when he is done with the race and doesn’t have to worry about training for a while.”
In addition to the sips, a variety of sounds were put on by Mystery Mochine, DJ Elbow Knee Knee and Anna Pearl Belinda and Sam Christensen. Funding for the event was made possible due to a grant from the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and the Centre County Board of Commissioners.