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Local groups preview Bellefonte events for 2025, from Easter egg hunt to Civil War weekend
Summary
Representatives of HBI, BHCA and the chamber told council about planned community events including an April Easter egg hunt, summer car cruise, a revived arts-and-crafts show and an extensive Civil War Weekend set for June 6–8; BHCA said it won a $12,500 grant to fund new programs and is recruiting younger board members.
Representatives of several Bellefonte community organizations briefed the borough during the work session about planned public events for 2025 and ongoing organizational transitions.
Pat McCool, serving as acting president of HBI, listed a schedule of family- and holiday-focused events including an April Easter egg hunt (April 19), a June cruise (June 13–14), an Arts & Crafts fair (Aug. 1–2), an Oct. 25 Halloween parade, Santa House (Nov. 29–Dec. 21) and Victorian Christmas (Dec. 12–14). “It will definitely happen,” McCool said of the arts-and-crafts event; HBI is still finalizing chairs and task assignments.
Joseph Griffin, president of the Bellefonte Historic and Cultural Association (BHCA), summarized a broader slate of cultural programming and an organizational reset. Griffin said BHCA recruited about 40 members, restructured bylaws, created committees and won a $12,500 grant from the Happy Valley Venture Bureau to pilot new programs including a busker series and other cultural events. “What we're really trying to do is to bring music into the streets of Bellefonte,” Griffin said. He also outlined plans for a multi-part Civil War Weekend scheduled for June 6–8 that will include talks at the American Philatelic Society, an encampment, author talks, a possible reenactment band and living-history demonstrations.
A chamber representative reported that the chamber board is reorganizing and seeking a president and vice president; the chamber’s recent Blues Breaker event drew about 25 attendees amid cold weather. The representative said the chamber is rebuilding membership and will consider rehiring staff once revenue stabilizes.
Why it matters: the series of events contribute to downtown foot traffic and the borough’s cultural profile; BHCA said some events could produce economic impact if they attract visitors from outside the region.
Additional notes: - BHCA said some signature ideas, such as a barbershop quartet competition and a proposed Bellefonte Bicycle Day, are still exploratory; Griffin said the group would continue to consult county tourism partners. - Griffin said some longstanding volunteers are of advanced age and that recruiting new board members was necessary to sustain programming. - Council members offered operational suggestions (parking overflow agreements with nearby landowners for the cruise, coordinating event permits with public works) and thanked volunteers.
Ending: Organization leaders said they will follow up with borough staff on permits, parking, advertising and coordination; BHCA plans to work with Happy Valley on promotion.
