As the semester winds down, it’s the perfect moment to step outside, connect with friends, and enjoy what’s happening around Happy Valley. From live music and holiday traditions to theatre, sports, and New Year’s celebrations, December is packed with can’t-miss moments that showcase the warmth, creativity, and heartbeat of our region.
Here are the highlights of the next few weeks, and a link to explore the full Connect Happy Valley events calendar.
Arts, Theatre & Holiday Traditions
December brings a wave of beloved holiday performances and community favorites:
• “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jr.” — Dec 4, Millbrook Playhouse
A joyful, family-friendly production perfect for kids and adults alike.
• “Death of a Salesman” — opening Dec 5, FUSE Productions
A powerful and intimate staging of the American classic at 140 Kelly Alley.
• Bellefonte Victorian Christmas — Dec 6–7
Two days of carols, horse-drawn charm, historic tours, and the unmistakable magic that fills Bellefonte every year.
• Winter Craft Market — Dec 6–7
One of the region’s largest juried markets returns with two full days of artisans, makers, and holiday shopping.
• Nittany Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” — Dec 13–14, Eisenhower Auditorium
The timeless holiday story returns with refreshed choreography, new costumes, and breathtaking performances.
• First Night State College — Dec 31
Ice sculptures, live music, community art, performances, and the famous midnight countdown.
Live Music: A December Packed With Sound
Nowhere shines brighter musically in December than Pine Grove Hall, Manny’s, Elk Creek, and our local stages.
At Pine Grove Hall:
- Love Salad — Dec 4
- Prolix Quartet & Smash Tacklers — Dec 7
- Catherine Dupuis & Tommy Wareham — Dec 11
- Lord Forest (Upstairs) — Dec 12
- Groove Society (Downstairs) — Dec 13
- Hops & Hymns — Dec 14
- Guitar Brothers Farewell Show — Dec 14
- Charlie Brown Christmas Jazz — Dec 18–19 (4 shows)
- Mckenna Blake Holiday Show — Dec 20
- Jackson Pavlik — Dec 26
- Stephen Liu Trio — Dec 27
- Eric Ian Farmer & Friends — Dec 28
- New Year’s Eve with Groove Society — Dec 31
These shows reflect everything Pine Grove Hall stands for: world-class acoustics, intention, and community.
At Manny’s Performance Space:
- Midstate & 3:46 Sunrise — Dec 4
- Asylum Music Presents — Dec 5
- A.38 and Viscous — Dec 7
- El Mantis + DM Lane + Little Blue — Dec 12
- Bitchin Bajas + Luisa Mei + YY Dee — Dec 14
- Dauber + SVFP + Suburban Downgrade + OBAT — Dec 16
- Vinyl Spin w/ Josh Ferko & Jerry Zolten — Dec 19
This is the region’s DIY heartbeat — gritty, creative, energetic, and real.
Elsewhere around the region:
- Dailey & Vincent (Bluegrass), State Theatre — Dec 5
- Billy Price Band, Elk Creek — Dec 13
December is stacked.
Penn State Highlights
• Penn State Wrestling vs Lehigh — Dec 7, Rec Hall
• Penn State Fall Commencement — Dec 21, Bryce Jordan Center
• Women’s Hockey vs Cornell — Dec 30, Pegula
• Men’s Hockey vs RIT — Jan 2, Pegula
Whether you’re celebrating student achievement or cheering on the Lions, campus energy stays high through the holidays.
Jazz, Holiday Music & Seasonal Performances
Some of the region’s most cherished traditions return:
- School of Music Mosaic — Dec 7
- Holiday Pops Concert — Dec 13
- Charlie Brown Christmas Jazz (4 shows) — Dec 18–19
These annual performances bring together generations of families, students, and alumni.
Ringing in the New Year
There’s no shortage of ways to close out 2025:
• First Night State College
• New Year’s Eve with Groove Society at Pine Grove Hall
• Downtown specials, live music, and celebrations
Happy Valley embraces the turning of the calendar with the perfect blend of art, music, community, and connection.
Explore the FULL calendar
We’ve built out a complete, designer-ready list with more than 50 events spanning Dec 3–Jan 2.
