If you’re planning your trip to Happy Valley, you may not realize that you’ll also be intersecting with one of Pennsylvania’s most remote parts of the state — the Pennsylvania Wilds. Bellefonte and Philipsburg, two beloved Happy Valley communities, offer the perfect base camp for exploring the PA Wilds — an outdoor lover’s dream. These two communities act as the “welcome mat” to some of Pennsylvania’s most breathtaking public lands, connecting visitors to adventures in nature, rich wildlife, and small-town charm.

Philipsburg's Mid-Century Christmas event will kick off on Saturday, December 14 at 10 a.m. as merchants open their shops to celebrate the holidays in style. The rest of the day is chock full of special appearances by such seasonal luminaries as the Grinch, Rudy, and Rudolph, and yes, the Jolly Old Elf himself, who will be paraded down Front St. in a 1951 International Harvester firetruck. There will also be special musical performances, wreath and window-decorating contests, vintage cars parked along the street (bring yours if you have one!), a showing of It's a Wonderful Life at the majestic Rowland Theatre, a tree-lighting ceremony, and a mid-century-themed bash with live music by Elvis (you can't get much more mid-century than the King!) at Dead Canary Brewing to cap off the festive day.

Nestled in the heart of Happy Valley, Philipsburg, offers a perfect blend of history, charm, and local flavor. This hidden gem is a delightful destination for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the unique culture and scenic beauty of Central Pennsylvania.

Happy Valley has its fair share of amazing golf courses – but did you know, the region is also seeing a local boom in popularity of disc golf? Played with a flying disc instead of clubs and golf balls, disc golf is soaring to new heights across the country – where the Professional Disc Golf Association estimates that between eight million and 12 million Americans have played disc golf and that over half a million play regularly.

Viva Rowland Theatre! Viva the Valentine's Day Dinner and Movie tradition! And Viva Las Vegas!

Philipsburg is distinctive in many ways: the town’s forefather, Hardman Philips, was exiled to “the wilderness town” after taking part in a duel in England. Before that, Hardman’s brothers, Henry and James, both of whom died young, “lured” settlers to the unimproved lands by good old-fashioned false advertising.

Eric Rusnak is making his hometown of Philipsburg an even better place to live, work, and play. Get ready to delve into the heart of his efforts, exploring the impact of his work and the positive changes he's bringing to Happy Valley.

If you visit Philipsburg and make your way to the new Moshannon Valley Heritage Center (we highly recommend that you do!), you’ll inevitably run into Tom Laird. He is, after all, a lifelong Philipsburg resident, original member of The Cold Stream Beach Bums, and can regale you with stories of old dams, forgotten ruins, hollows and hills of the area. “It sings to me,” he says.

We Are Inn
Owner and Chef Pat Romano is a long-time Penn State super fan who built his Philipsburg inn and restaurant with his family around the theme of the university. His love for his family, career, Penn State, visitors and patrons is evident in all his work, and is one reason he received the inaugural Peter Walker Spirit of Hospitality Award by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau in fall 2022.