Be inspired to get up and dance as you are transported to Spain, Romania, and beyond! The Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra opens the season in Spain with Manuel de Falla’s comedic Three Cornered Hat Suite, followed by American composer Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs featuring baritone soloist Michael Hanley. Hungarian composer Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances will immerse you in the folk music of Transylvania, and this concert ends with Schubert’s energizing Symphony No. 3. Get ready to tap your feet and cheer with this season opener.

If you thought that Downtown State College closes down once football season starts, you thought wrong! There are still plenty of events to attend during the month of September!

The 12-voice strong ensemble Chanticleer will project a collective vocal smile with a performance of “Sing Joyfully” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

You can see a display of Kevin Reilly's amazing photograph illustrations at The Happy Valley Store, 204 West Beaver Avenue, State College, Pennsylvania. Now on display through December 31, 2024.

The talented staff and performers of the Millbrook Playhouse will take the
Courtyard stage, belting out unforgettable numbers that will have you singing
along. It's a night of nostalgia, laughter, and toe-tapping tunes – the perfect
way to extend your evening at the theater!

Nestled within the lush expanse of The Arboretum at Penn State, the new Palmer Museum of Art blends art, architecture, and nature and is a must-see for visitors to Happy Valley. This state-of-the-art facility, designed by Allied Works and complemented by the landscape architecture of Reed Hilderbrand, invites visitors on a journey that seamlessly blends the indoor and outdoor space into one unique experience.

Here in Happy Valley, we have a rich arts community with creations waiting to be discovered. Local opportunities abound in Centre County to view both historic pieces and modern creations while receiving inspiration for your very own works of art. Whether you enjoy walking beside a building mural, taking a garden stroll with marble statues, or gallery hopping with local art at your fingertips (without making fingerprints, right?), something is inspiring about spending a weekend taking in the arts.

By day, James Tierney is an educational consultant, math tutor, and communication coach. By night, he’s a member of the Happy Valley comedy and experiential event scenes. It’s safe to say that he spends most of his waking hours practicing improvisational techniques.

Art enthusiasts often marvel at everything from brushstrokes on a wall mural to thread patterns in an intricate quilt, and rarely does it stop there. The desire to create is universal, whether with words, brushes, hands, or lens. Thankfully, Happy Valley has several outlets for you to do just that.