Happy Valley winters got a little happier with the addition of an ice-skating rink in historic Bellefonte’s picturesque Talleyrand Park. Now visitors have another activity to enjoy along the banks of Spring Creek, just a short walk away from downtown’s cafes, restaurants and shops.

The Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County and The Makery of State College are pleased to announce the opening of “The Makery at the Museum”, a dedicated, delightful children’s art studio on the second floor of the Bellefonte Art Museum.

Before moving to Happy Valley in 2019 — and becoming President and CEO of the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau — Fritz Smith served in leadership in tourism with Visit Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Over the years, his career took his family from New York City to Philadelphia to Baltimore to Washington, D.C. And when he and his wife Leslie decided on a move, he says that they were drawn to Happy Valley as a chance to slow down and enjoy a life that he says was “a bit less hectic, less expensive, less loud and dirty.”

The Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra’s second season concert “Dance Together” takes place on Sunday, January 30th at 3pm. Penn State faculty member, Anthony Costa, joins the PCO as soloist for Copland’s Clarinet Concerto.

After a challenging year, Happy Valley, PA is well-positioned to become a premiere four season destination across visitation segments.

King Financial Partners is once again honored to sponsor the beloved holiday classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, at The State Theatre. It’s a Wonderful Life showtimes are Monday, December 20th through Thursday, December 23rd at 7:00 pm.

Greg Guise puts a new meaning on the term ‘active retirement.’ After graduating from Penn State and working as a videographer in Detroit and then in Washington, D.C. for 40 years, he’s back in Happy Valley. And when I call him, he’s climbing Rattlesnake Mountain to install communications gear for the amateur radio community. It’s “just a way of giving back,” he says just before he drives out of cell phone range. When he calls back, he tells me just why community is so, so important. Read on.

Local author and historian Rebecca Inlow wants to tell you about Philipsburg, and specifically about its movie palace The Rowland Theatre. A longtime volunteer for the theatre, Inlow has authored the book “The Rowland Story: Beauty from Ashes,” a labor of love that took 3 ½ years to complete (you can buy a copy at the theatre, or at Shindig Alley on the corner of Front and Pine in Philipsburg). She says it was worth it all to discover “little pieces of history that you can find around every corner.”

Duke Gastiger has been part of the Happy Valley food landscape for more than 50 years. His culinary footprint started when a friend asked him,“If you could buy any bar in State College, which one would it be?” “The All-American Rathskeller, of course,” he answered, and when he found out it was for sale, he bought it. In the years after that, he also debuted Spats Café and Speakeasy on College Avenue, then in 2019, he and his wife Monica pioneered a new culinary experience: RE Farm Café.