Pennsylvania Small Business Week Is Your Excuse to Get Out and Explore Happy Valley
April 29, 2026 From downtown State College to Bellefonte, Boalsburg, Pleasant Gap, Philipsburg, Milroy, and beyond, this week is a great reminder to support the places that make Happy Valley fun. Pennsylvania Small Business Week runs May 3 through May 9, and it feels like the perfect excuse to get out and enjoy more of […]
From Graduation Season to Small Business Week, Happy Valley Has Plenty Going On
Graduation is on the horizon in Happy Valley, and you can feel it all over town. Sunny days bring students out for cap-and-gown photos as friends gather at favorite campus landmarks.
You also know the end of the year is getting close when it’s time for Movin’ On, Penn State’s annual student-run music festival at the IM Fields.
Add in the start of National Small Business Week with a packed lineup of live music, makers markets, performing arts, sports, and local history events, and there is plenty to keep an eye on this week.
Happy Valley Hacks: What We Stirred Up in Month Four
People came to Happy Valley Hacks on Sunday because they wanted connection. Some were new and felt boxed in by Penn State. They did not know how to get away from campus, where to go that felt like “real town,” or how to meet people who were not students or coworkers. Others had been here for years and realized they had never actually told anyone the small things that make their life here work. That mix of newcomers and long‑timers shaped everything that followed.
So Much Happening This Week in Happy Valley: Here’s Where to Start
If your head feels like it’s spinning a little this week, you’re not alone. It’s one of those weeks where you could easily fill every night without trying.
What stands out, though, is how much of it connects back to Penn State. Living here means we have direct access to a variety of high quality events on campus. On any given week, that can mean everything from stadium events to classical concerts and enriching talks. This week is a good example of just how much that adds to the rhythm of the area.
HAPPY VALLEY UPCOMING EVENTS
Current listing of events in Happy Valley.
Christmas in Philipsburg is Epic
A billboard on the western edge of Philipsburg greets Route 322 motorists with a photo of Santa Claus exiting a bright yellow helicopter. The message above it: “Christmas in Philipsburg is Epic!”
Situated on the banks of the Moshannon Creek, Philipsburg is unlike any other town in Centre County. It’s an old coal town that still mines some coal. It’s a working-class town that’s still a little scrappy. It’s a town of deep history and immense heart. And it’s definitely a town of characters.
And so goes Philipsburg’s Christmas celebration.
December in Happy Valley: Your Guide to the Best Events of the Season
As the semester winds down, it’s the perfect moment to step outside, connect with friends, and enjoy what’s happening around Happy Valley. From live music and holiday traditions to theatre, sports, and New Year’s celebrations, December is packed with can’t-miss moments that showcase the warmth, creativity, and heartbeat of our region.
Gratitude in Our Blue-White Zone
In our blue-white zone, gratitude is more than a sentiment. It’s a way of life. While Happy Valley is celebrated for its scenic beauty and Penn State pride, the true soul of our community shines through in our everyday expressions of thankfulness and the many ways we practice it together.
A Place Time Might Have Forgotten, Until the Dreamers Moved In
Over the past decade, something remarkable has been happening in Pine Grove Mills. What was once a quiet crossroads of farmland and forests has transformed into one of Centre County’s most inspiring stories of local entrepreneurship, food, and culture. It’s all driven by neighbors serving neighbors. It began in 2013, when the beloved Watkins Dariette […]
