June 17, 2026
Twelve of us met at Pine Grove Hall on Sunday, June 7, and turned a regular summer evening into a shared Happy Valley story session. We ate, talked, and covered the walls with tip cards spelling out specific summer routines people already use in this place.
The mix in the room mattered. Long-timers named the trails, shows, and spots they count on once the students leave. Newer folks kept asking, “Would I know how to do this if I arrived last week?” That question pulled out details. Names, cross streets, times, where to park, what to ask for when you get there.
From that pile of cards, three tips rose to the top as easy entry points into a Happy Valley summer:
- Happy Valley Improv – Friday shows
Weekly improv shows at 7 pm at the Blue Brick Theatre on Calder Way, BYOB for ages 21 and up. It is a low-pressure way to land in a room full of locals who chose to be downtown on a summer night, laughing at the same thing.
- Meyer Dairy Ice Cream
Meyer Dairy, at 2390 S. Atherton St., is a long-running local dairy with hand-dipped ice cream and glass-bottled milk from a family farm dating back to 1887. Participants called out more than 40 flavors (that can be mixed), including Central PA staples like Teaberry, Butter Crunch, Grapenut, Maple Walnut, and Lemon Custard. One person shared their favorite move: a strawberry milkshake with hot fudge. It is the kind of place where people bring visiting friends first and explain the town while they stand in line.
- Kayaking on Spring Creek – Tussey Mountain Outfitters
Tussey Mountain Outfitters in Bellefonte offers rentals and 1–4 hour guided kayak trips on Spring Creek, starting from their shop at 308 W. Linn St., with a paddling park just out back and shuttle service available, typically around $55 per person. It is close enough for a half-day, far enough that it feels like a small escape, and practical for people who do not own gear but want to be on the water.
The strongest feeling in the room was that summer here is easier when someone hands you the local layer. By the time the last card went on the wall, twelve neighbors had turned their habits into something a newcomer could use on their first June weekend in Happy Valley. Follow Connect Happy Valley to find out what we are doing at the next Pine Grove Hall event to make living in Happy Valley easier and better.
Melissa Hicks is a learning designer, facilitator, and consultant who helps people and organizations get “unstuck” through small experiments, reflective conversations, and design thinking–inspired practices. When she’s not working with faculty or community groups around Happy Valley, you can sometimes find her singing at the piano bar at the American Ale House, doing morning workouts with her basset and feral cats, or listening to just one more podcast.
