Hallmark Moments Await: Shop Small, Shop Local, Celebrate Downtown
Downtown State College is alive with excitement, and the holiday spirit fills the air. Lights twinkle spectacularly along Allen Street and beyond, creating Hallmark-style magic you cannot replicate with an app. It’s a feeling only those who come can experience.
Connect Happy Valley: The Warmest Welcoming Valley
In the heart of Pennsylvania, nestled among ridges and rich traditions, lies a place where hospitality isn’t just practiced—it’s lived. Welcome to Happy Valley, where every visit feels like coming home.
On November 5, the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB) brought together more than 300 hospitality leaders, community partners, and public officials for a moment that captured the essence of our valley. The 2025 Hospitality Awards weren’t just a ceremony; they were a celebration of belonging. The message that rang loud and clear: it’s not only about drawing visitors to our valley, but also about making sure they never feel like strangers.
Stop On By: Celebrate Local Makers & Science at the 6th Annual Rivet Winter Market in State College
This weekend, take a break from the usual and step into a celebration of creativity, curiosity, and community. The 6th Annual Rivet Winter Market returns on Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1224 N. Atherton Street, and you’re invited to stop on by for a weekend that’s anything but ordinary
The Little Engine That Does
The State Games of America, coming to Penn State July 24–August 2, 2026, will bring more than 8,000 athletes and thousands of fans to Happy Valley. Tens of thousands of room nights and millions in visitor spending are expected. For the Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance (HVSEA), the small nonprofit that helped land the event, it is proof that measurable, visitor-driven growth works.
The Fight to Stay Open: Why Local Restaurants and Venues Need Us Now More Than Ever
They feed our community, create our culture, and carry quiet burdens. Bubba’s Eggs, Steaks and Shakes is the latest to show up for us. By Greg Woodman We’ve all seen the hashtags and window signs: Shop Local. Eat Local. Love Local. But real support for locally owned restaurants, retail stores, and music venues cannot live […]
Purple Pinkie Pale Ale is Coming to Happy Valley!
Have you asked yourself how you can make a difference in the lives of kids across the globe without leaving Happy Valley and while having fun doing it?
Well, the members of the State College/Downtown Rotary Club are here to help! During October, you can enjoy ice cream and beer while doing good around the world during the second annual Pints Against Polio.
In Search of Solace in Happy Valley
From deafening crescendo to devastating collapse, the arc of ultimately unfulfilled anticipation that held Happy Valley in thrall throughout this past weekend will, for better or worse, define more than the rest of Penn State’s 2025 football season and quite possibly many more to follow.
Music That Connects Us: Manny’s Celebrates Two Years of Secret Planet with a Week of Global Sounds
At Manny’s Live Performance Space, something magical is about to happen. From October 4–9, Manny’s will celebrate the two-year anniversary of Secret Planet with a week-long series of concerts that bring the heartbeats of the world to our little corner of Central Pennsylvania.
A Celebration of Creativity: The First HappyValley Maker Faire
Last weekend, something truly extraordinary happened at Axemann Brewery. The first-ever HappyValley Maker Faire brought together curious kids, seasoned engineers, creative artists, garage inventors, and everyday tinkerers for a hands-on, high-energy celebration of creativity and community. As someone who has spent a career in business and marketing, I have seen my fair share of expos and trade shows. But this was different. This was alive. It was a living network of community and connection, a space where people didn’t just attend—they belonged.
