Hockey for Everyone: The Power of Partnership Between Penn State Varsity Hockey and the State College Coyotes
On January 18, 2026, Hockey Valley will once again host one of its most meaningful events, the 4th Annual Sled Hockey Classic. More than a game, the Classic has become the primary fundraiser for the State College Coyotes sled hockey team and a powerful symbol of what happens when able-bodied and adaptive athletes come together with a shared love of sport.
Happy Valley = Tailgate: A Year-Round Invitation to Gather
As we close out 2025 and enter the stillness of the season, we offer this wish:
May this time of year slow us down just enough to remember what truly matters.
The laughter of family. The presence of friends. The quiet joy of gathering. Not because we have to, but because we get to.
Sydney Sweeney, Nittany Mall, and the Question We’re Avoiding
The American Eagle store at Nittany Mall is closing.
That news lands at the same moment the brand is riding one of the biggest awareness waves of the year. A national campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney. Massive reach. Cultural relevance. Constant attention.
Here’s the part that should give us pause. In just a few months, a casino is opening in that very same mall. You could hardly ask for a stronger magnet for foot traffic.
If awareness and proximity were enough, this store should have been positioned to benefit.
Instead, it’s shutting down.
Penn State Students Help Power a Shared Solution to Happy Valley’s Longstanding Calendar Challenge
For years, people across Happy Valley have been trying to solve the same frustrating problem.
“Oh, I wish I had known about that event.”
Or worse, spending an hour searching through eight different calendars just to plan a decent date night.
From alumni and retirees to students, local business owners, and longtime residents, the sentiment is universal. Great events happen every week, yet too often people hear about them only after the seats are empty and the moment has passed.
What to See, Do and Experience in Happy Valley
It is December 10. Finals are wrapping up. Lights are twinkling across Centre County. The energy in Happy Valley feels both nostalgic and electric. Whether you are a student squeezing in winter memories before heading home, a local building traditions or family returning for the holidays, this is one of the best weeks of the year to get out and enjoy the region.
With so much happening, it helps to have a curated list. Here are some of the best picks this week and next, the experiences worth bundling up for.
An Open Welcome Letter to Matt Campbell
Dear Coach Campbell,
Welcome to Happy Valley. You’ve got a lot of your plate, so I’ll summarize everything below with the hope that one day you’ll find a few moments to go back and read the rest: Learn to love this place, and it will love you back.
That’s the short version. For the good of the order, I’ll now offer a lengthier primer for what awaits as you assume leadership of Penn State football, a journey I hope may eventually lead you to understand, to your core, a passage like this:
“And here, in this lovely, intriguing spot called Penn State, each of us staked our own special, precious and eventful life. Penn State is a benediction to all of us who have graced these beautiful halls and malls.”
HAPPY VALLEY UPCOMING EVENTS
Current listing of events in Happy Valley.
Christmas in Philipsburg is Epic
A billboard on the western edge of Philipsburg greets Route 322 motorists with a photo of Santa Claus exiting a bright yellow helicopter. The message above it: “Christmas in Philipsburg is Epic!”
Situated on the banks of the Moshannon Creek, Philipsburg is unlike any other town in Centre County. It’s an old coal town that still mines some coal. It’s a working-class town that’s still a little scrappy. It’s a town of deep history and immense heart. And it’s definitely a town of characters.
And so goes Philipsburg’s Christmas celebration.
Penn State Found Its Center Again
When Matt Campbell was introduced as Penn State’s new head football coach, something larger than a hiring announcement took place. The room did not feel like a press event. It felt like a recalibration. A return. A moment when Penn State aligned again with the values that define us.
The language spoken that day was not marketing copy or hype.
It was values.
