Connect Happy Valley Survey Results
What Our Community Values—and How to Get Involved
What People Value Most
Survey responses consistently highlighted five core elements of life in Happy Valley:
East End Social: Summer 2026 Pop-Up Park and Vote for State College
State College, Pennsylvania has been nominated for Best Small College Town in the USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards!
Fun vibes. Unexpected dining. Local shopping. Arts, culture, and community. Sound familiar?
Now it’s up to all of us.
A Full Week of Music, Arts, and a Few Standout Finds
It’s another full week across Happy Valley, with a strong mix of live music, community events, and a handful of experiences that feel a little different from the usual routine. While the schedule is always busy, this week offers a particularly nice balance between performances, family-friendly options, and interactive events.
Here are a few highlights to help you plan your week.
What Would You Miss Most?
March 18, 2026 We asked a simple question. If you moved away tomorrow, what would you miss most? The responses told a clear story about Happy Valley. People don’t just live here. They belong here. It Starts with the People Many answers began the same way. The people. Friends who became family. Neighbors who know […]
March 18-24: Something for Everyone in Happy Valley
Happy Valley doesn’t have a shortage of things to do. It has a shortage of ways to be in two places at once. It’s a good problem to have!
Whether you’re into live music, theatre, the outdoors, or sporting events, there’s plenty to get out for this week.
How It’s Made in a Blue White Zone
The other day, the TV show How It’s Made stopped me in my kitchen. One segment showed the Fisher Space Pen being assembled for use in space. Another walked through Dutch clogs carved from poplar, dried, and finished by hand. Slow. Precise. Weirdly soothing.
Then I caught myself wondering. Does anyone under 30 care how a space pen works or how clogs are made? Do they even know these things exist?
Why People Love Happy Valley
Survey responses reveal the people, places, and experiences that make this region unique
Last week Connect Happy Valley asked readers a simple but powerful question.
If you moved away from Happy Valley tomorrow, what would you miss most?
The responses tell the story of a region that offers something rare: a place where community, culture, outdoor beauty, and shared traditions come together in everyday life.
Many readers began with the most important reason of all: the people.
Spring Energy Returns to Happy Valley
Now that the unofficial holiday that shall not be named has come and gone, Happy Valley can celebrate “real” St. Patrick’s Day, bringing a little extra spirit to the calendar. With students returning from break and kicking off 55 Days of Café, it’s another sign that spring is on our doorstep.
But the week isn’t just about shamrocks and beer. A major youth wrestling tournament comes to town, Pegula Ice Arena hosts multiple postseason hockey games, and spring sports continue to ramp up across campus. Add in live music and a few creative community events, and the calendar is anything but quiet.
Here’s a look at some highlights.
An Ungovernable Weekend
Just over a week ago, Penn State students raised over $18 million for children with pediatric cancer. This past weekend, the same students threw the biggest party of the year: State Patty’s.
State Patty’s Day doesn’t exist on any official calendar; no university office or borough council created it. No administration would ever pass its blessing on such an event. You can’t even credit a specific group of students for creating it. Both the borough and the school have tried to end the tradition, but it has never even made a dent.
