First Hockey Match in Beaver Stadium
First Hockey Match in Beaver Stadium
We’re Winning at Winter, and No One Does Four Seasons Like Happy Valley
Let’s be honest, we’re crushing it.
While others are dreaming of warmer weather, Happy Valley is out here winning at winter. From packed trivia nights and buzzing brewpubs to snowy hikes, ski runs, and full house crowds cheering for Penn State sports, the energy is real.
And this is just the start. In Happy Valley, we don’t just survive the seasons, we celebrate every single one.
Now, with Spring Break and Daylight-Saving Time both landing on March 8, it’s the perfect moment to fill your calendar with connection, creativity, and pure local joy.
Slow the Pace: Where to Find Music, Art, and Meaning This Week in Happy Valley
Whew!
Are you still tired from last weekend?
After a sports-heavy few days, this week shifts the spotlight to performing and visual arts across Happy Valley. Listening rooms, concert halls, and performance spaces take center stage, offering plenty of chances to slow the pace and lean into something creative or reflective. Sports are still here this week, holding their place at the end.
The co.space: An Ongoing Experiment in Connection, Community, and Becoming
Over a decade ago, we started an experiment in downtown State College.
It began with a few simple questions:
What might be possible if people were more intentional about how—and who—they lived with?
What if housing wasn’t just a place to land at the end of the day, but a place that actively shaped who you were becoming?
What if we could retain creative young professionals in our town—through a unique housing model—who were passionate about making Happy Valley an amazing community to call home?
Those questions became the seed of the co.space.
The Four Who Honored October in January
Mark Wimmer ’94 drove from Boston. Seven hours each way.
Brian Laird ’89 and Steve Brown ’90 came from Pittsburgh.
Steve Balkey ’88 was the local. The boots-on-the-ground logistics lead. The quiet cruise director who knew where to go, when to arrive, and how to make the weekend work.
All four were student-athletes under legendary Penn State coach Harry Groves. Distance runners with three competitive seasons; Cross Country, Indoor Track and Outdoor Track and field. Full school year competition, full commitment. They learned delayed gratification, time management, and how to show up when your body tells you to quit.
That was 35+years ago.
This Week’s Connect Happy Valley eLetter
Click image below to open email link, or view the PDF.
Snow Day!
Snow Day in Happy Valley.
Cornhole for a Cause: Where Every Toss Makes a Difference
Picture this: It is a brisk February day, you’re indoors at the spacious Nittany Valley Sports Centre, and over 40 competitors are locked in friendly battle. Bags flying, boards thudding, cheers erupting. But here’s the best part: every single toss is helping neighbors in need.
Welcome to the Centre County Cornhole Classic, happening Saturday, February 7th, where bragging rights meet community impact in the most fun way possible!
Your Weekly Guide to Getting Out in Happy Valley
Winter Storm Fern dropped a serious blanket of snow across Happy Valley this weekend. If plans were canceled or changed, we hope you stayed safe, enjoyed the quiet beauty of the storm, and maybe leaned into the slower pace for a day or two.
Now it’s time to unbury.
