State College
Around State College
Illustration made for Popchat
Metro area · Pennsylvania · 159k people
State College
Locals say Happy Valley · “Happy Valley”, “Lion Country”
Where the mountains meet the gridiron.
Penn State blue (light)Penn State blue (official)
Welcome to Happy Valley, where the mountains meet the campus and the community feels like family. Whether you're here for the football, the outdoors, or the creamery, you'll find a warm welcome and plenty to do. Come for the game, stay for the valley.
Clubs for State College
No clubs for State College yet.
The room
One room for everyone around State College. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around State College. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Beaver Stadium Home of Nittany Lions football, one of the largest stadiums in the US.
- Penn State University Park Campus Historic buildings, green spaces, and the iconic Old Main.
- Palmer Museum of Art Art museum on campus with rotating exhibits.
- Discovery Space Interactive science center for kids and families.
- Old Main Historic administrative building and symbol of the university.
- State Theatre Historic performing arts venue in downtown State College.
- Outdoors Hike Mount Nittany
- Outdoors Walk the Arboretum trails
- With kids Explore the Arboretum at Penn State
- With kids Visit Discovery Space
- Evenings Catch a concert at Bryce Jordan Center
- Evenings Bar hop on College Avenue
- Locals love Mountain trails
- Locals love College-town bars
Through the year
- Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts July Four-day arts festival with juried exhibits, live music, and food.
- Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair August One of the largest agricultural fairs in the region, with rides, livestock, and food.
- Penn State Football Home Games September–November Beaver Stadium hosts legendary tailgates and whiteout games.
- Blue-White Game April Annual spring scrimmage that draws thousands of fans to Beaver Stadium.
- People's Choice Festival July Open-air arts and crafts festival in Boalsburg with live entertainment.
State College has four distinct seasons: cold snowy winters, mild springs, warm summers, and crisp falls. The best time to be out is fall for football and foliage, and spring for mild hiking weather. Best: Fall is ideal—crisp air, football Saturdays, and colorful foliage.
Talk like a local
- “Happy Valley”
- The nickname for the State College area, derived from the valley's beauty.
- “We Are”
- The famous Penn State chant, often shouted at games.
- “Nittany”
- Refers to Mount Nittany or the Nittany Lion mascot.
- “Blue-White”
- The spring football scrimmage, named after the school colors.
Getaways
- Raystown Lake (near Huntingdon) Boating, fishing, and hiking on a large reservoir.
- Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum Learn about the Horseshoe Curve and railroad history.
- Bald Eagle State Park (near Lock Haven) Lake swimming, camping, and birdwatching.
- Lewistown Historic District Walkable downtown with antique shops and the Juniata River.
Local flavour
Teams
- Penn State Nittany Lions NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- Penn State Creamery ice cream Made on campus since 1865; flavors like Peachy Paterno and Alumni Swirl are local icons.
- Hoagies A Pennsylvania staple for subs, popular in college-town delis and tailgates.
- Grilled stickies Sweet grilled rolls, a local breakfast treat.
Where people go
- College campus The sprawling Penn State campus defines the town's rhythm.
- Mountain trails Mount Nittany and Rothrock State Forest offer hiking and outdoor escapes.
- Creamery The Berkey Creamery is a beloved institution for ice cream and cheese.
- College football stadium Beaver Stadium, one of the largest in the country, anchors fall Saturdays.
Heritage and traditions
State College and the surrounding Happy Valley are proud of their blend of a world-class university with a close-knit rural community, where the Nittany Lion spirit and a love for the outdoors define everyday life.
This time of year in State College
- Football tailgating Fall A pre-game ritual for home games, with grills and games in the parking lots.
- Penn State Homecoming October A week of events culminating in a parade and football game, alumni return to campus.
Say it like a local: “Happy Valley” — The nickname for the State College area.
Festivals
- Boalsburg Memorial Day Parade May One of the oldest Memorial Day observances in the country, with a parade and ceremony at the war memorial.
- Central PA 4th Fest July A community fireworks show and festival on the Fourth of July at the university's athletic fields.
- Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Festival September A juried show of local artisans in the historic downtown.
- Philipsburg Heritage Days June Celebrates the town's railroad and mining history with living history and music.
- Pleasant Gap Fire Company Carnival Summer A classic small-town carnival with rides, games, and food.
- Penn State Homecoming October A week of events culminating in a parade and football game, alumni return to campus.
Landmarks with a story
- Boalsburg Historic District A village with 19th-century homes and the birthplace of Memorial Day.
- Bellefonte Historic District Victorian-era architecture and the Centre County Courthouse.
- Centre Furnace Mansion An 18th-century ironmaster's home that played a role in the founding of Penn State.
- Pennsylvania Military Museum A museum dedicated to Pennsylvania's military history, located in Boalsburg.
- Boal Mansion and Columbus Chapel A historic home with a chapel that contains relics from Christopher Columbus.
- Centre County Courthouse A 19th-century courthouse in Bellefonte, an architectural landmark.
Food traditions
- Fire company chicken BBQ Volunteer fire departments host chicken dinners as fundraisers, a beloved local tradition.
- Whoopie pies A Pennsylvania Dutch dessert of cream-filled cake sandwiches, found at bakeries and fairs.
- Apple cider donuts Fresh from local orchards, a seasonal favorite during apple picking season.
- Soft pretzels A Pennsylvania staple, often enjoyed with mustard, from street vendors and stores.
Music and arts
- Penn State Blue Band The university's marching band, known for its pre-game and halftime shows.
- State College Community Theatre A community theater group performing musicals and plays.
- Nittany Valley Symphony A community orchestra performing classical and pops concerts.
A little history
- 1855 Farmers' High School (now Penn State) was founded.
- 1864 First Memorial Day observance in Boalsburg.
- 1874 Centre County Grange Fair begins, one of the oldest agricultural fairs.
- 1919 First American Legion post established in Boalsburg.
- 1800s Iron furnaces in Centre County fuel local industry.
Rivalries
- Penn State vs Ohio State Big Ten football showdown every year.
- Penn State vs Michigan Another heated Big Ten rivalry.
- Penn State vs Pitt In-state rivalry with a long history.
- Game day Tailgating at Beaver Stadium
- Game day Nittany Lion Shrine photo
- Outdoors Cross-country skiing at the Penn State golf course
- Outdoors Birdwatching at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center
- With kids Visit the Boal Mansion
- With kids Explore the Pennsylvania Military Museum
Locals speak with a fairly neutral American accent, but you'll hear 'pop' for soda and references to 'Happy Valley.' They often say 'Penn State' as a local touchpoint.
Only here
- The first Memorial Day was observed in Boalsburg in 1864.
- The Centre County Grange Fair is one of the oldest continuous agricultural fairs in the US.
- Penn State's Berkey Creamery is one of the largest university creameries.
- Mount Nittany is the namesake of the Nittany Lion mascot.
New here? A few tips
- Get used to the hills and cold winters; dress in layers.
- Learn about Penn State football and join the tailgating fun.
- Try the Creamery ice cream—it's a local institution.
- Explore the many trails and parks; the outdoors are a big part of life.
- Be prepared for heavy traffic on home game days.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Part of State College area
Nearby
Every areaLewistownPennsylvaniaLocal rooms for Juniata Valley.HuntingdonPennsylvaniaHeart of the Juniata ValleyDuBoisPennsylvaniaWhere the mountains meet the small townLock HavenPennsylvaniaWhere the river meets the mountain, and the pace slows down.Juniata CountyPennsylvaniaWhere the Juniata winds through quiet farmland.AltoonaPennsylvaniaWhere the rails climb the AllegheniesSelinsgrovePennsylvaniaQuiet river town with a heart of farmland.LewisburgPennsylvaniaWhere the river meets the spirit of a college town.
State College, PA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.