By all measures, The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau has expectations that 2023 will be a banner year for sports, leisure and business visitation to Happy Valley.

UNIVERSITY PARK (Thursday, Jan. 5) — Singers from Penn State, local high schools and a historically Black university will celebrate the influence and inspiration of human-rights champion Martin Luther King Jr. The event, “A Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

Since 1988, the Centre County Historical Society (CCHS) has annually recognized individuals and organizations for their outstanding work in preserving and interpreting Centre County history. Historic preservation and advocacy projects from around the county will be featured on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Match Factory in Bellefonte, home of the American Philatelic Society. Light refreshments will be available.

There are a small handful of places where I’ve traveled that have the ability to both energize and subdue the mind, heart and soul. Bellefonte, Pennsylvania is at the top of my list. I’ve spent a fair amount of time here, fishing different spots along Spring Creek from Benner to Milesburg, and a few eateries, and some cool bars in between. It’s the kind of place that has appeal for just about anyone. When you come here and see the Victorian architecture, small bars, unique eateries and eclectic shops, it actually makes the heart beat slower. I swear it does.

Many of us dream of wandering in the kind of charming, provincial communities we see on holiday cards at this time of year, but one needn’t travel overseas to London, Brussels, or Paris to make that vision a reality. While the “wilds” aspect of the PA Wilds gets much of the focus in our modern tourism industries, the storied towns that comprise the PA Wilds are just as worthy of a visit, offering guests the chance to unplug, reset and experience the holidays in places that welcome strangers and foster a genuine sense of community during the time of year that we crave it most.

Tussey Mountain Ski and Recreation has a new addition. Tussey Bär & Kitchen offers Tussey guests excellent food and drinks combined with a setting that provides an opportunity for fun and adventure that transforms seasonally.

First Night State College will once again provide central Pennsylvania with a great way to mark the passing of the old year and the ringing in of the New Year. This alcohol-free community celebration of the visual and performing arts will take place in downtown State College on December 31, 2022.

Lyndsey Greenland, General Manager of Rolling Rails Lodge, is the recipient of the 2022 Happy Valley Hospitality Excellence in Lodging Leadership award.

This year's Winter Market is brought to you by Downtown Bellefonte Inc and will feature over 70 makers and craftspeople from around the region. The event will be held on Sunday, December 11, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Talleyrand Park in Bellefonte, at the tail end of the community’s popular Bellefonte Victorian Christmas event.