July 20th is National Pennsylvania Day, and for the last two years, America250PA has partnered with Natural Food Group in support of Feeding Pennsylvania to staff food banks across the Commonwealth. Thus far, with the help of several EPIC volunteers, America250PA has packaged over 17,000 boxes of food, prepared 958 meals, sorted over 9,000 lbs of produce & frozen food, and filled over 400 volunteer shifts.

As the organizer of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association annual conference, I was stuck indoors while the rest of the attendees got to enjoy the outdoor adventures that Happy Valley has to offer. As the conference concluded, I breathed a sigh of relief of a job well done. The major duties of organizing the event were in the rearview mirror, and the weight of responsibility was lifted by the members, who continually remarked about how much they enjoyed the event that took place in Happy Valley.

Don't miss the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration happening this weekend in Downtown State College! Community members are invited to an Art Exhibition that opens on Friday, June 16 and Juneteenth Block Party in downtown State College on Saturday June 17, 2023. Hosted by State College Chapter of the NAACP, in partnership with the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, the Downtown State College Improvement District, and the State College Borough. The Block Party begins at NOON and will showcase live performances by a wide range of musicians, poets, dancers and more. There will be food trucks, an array of Black vendors, and fun activities throughout the day for kids and adults.

When Ezra Nanes and his wife Mieke moved from New York City to State College so he could pursue his MBA at the Smeal College of Business at Penn State, he never imagined what would come next. Thirteen years later, Mieke has a thriving physical therapy practice, they’ve added another child to their family, and they’ve fallen in love with Happy Valley, Pennsylvania.

The American Philatelic Society will unveil the new museum exhibit, “A Philatelic Memorial of the Holocaust,” in a public open house. The event will be on June 11, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

Get ready for an exhilarating event this Saturday - the State College Pride Parade and Festival! Come and immerse yourself in a joyous celebration that embraces the vibrant diversity of Happy Valley. The streets will come alive with an explosion of colors, music, and infectious energy as the community unites to honor and uplift the LGBTQ+ community.

The Historic Bellefonte Cruise, one of the area’s great summer traditions, returns this Father’s Day weekend, June 16th and 17th. Come for the signature blend of antique and classic cars and motorcycles, and stay for the live music, delicious food, and fun activities for the entire family.

With just a few weeks left before Happy Valley Restaurant Week kicks off, June 16–25, both local gourmands and restaurants alike are looking forward to 10 packed days of culinary fun throughout the region, and for good reason. With new restaurants participating in the event for the very first time (like the newly opened, French-inspired diner in downtown State College, Oeuf Boeuf et Bacon), an extended event timeline (up from seven days in past years to 10 days for 2023), and near-endless ways chefs can show off their chops via limited-time, event-only menu offerings of their choice — well, let’s just say there’s a whole lot to look forward to.

“We never intended to stay here,” Troy Weston and Melissa Hombosky said about their move to Happy Valley in 2002. “We just forgot to leave.” There seems to be a little more to the story than forgetting to leave.