BY Chiluvya Zulu, DEIB Director, State College Borough; Jess Whitley, Assistant Manager, State College Borough; Lesley Kistner, Public Relations Director, Happy Valley Adventure Bureau; and Elton Hayes, Community Engagement Manager, State College Borough
To those outside of the Centre Region, the “Happy Valley” moniker likely evokes images of Penn State football and scenes of the 107,000-plus seat Beaver Stadium awash in hues of blue and white.
While these scenes offer a glimpse into life here, they represent but a small sample of the 365 days during which visitors to the Borough of State College and Central Pennsylvania explore and enjoy the many attractions the area offers.
Tourism and cultural arts have always been essential to the vibrancy and economic prosperity of local communities. The Borough and its surrounding municipalities are fortunate to have a strong relationship with key stakeholders in both areas.
The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB), Centre County’s official destination marketing organization, and the Happy Valley Sports and Entertainment Alliance (HVSEA), among others, remain committed and supportive of expanding cultural and arts endeavors. In fact, many of the Borough’s events and festivals are funded by HVAB’s annual Tourism Grant Program, conducted in partnership with Centre County Commissioners.
The results of that commitment reinforce the idea that, although State College is widely known for Penn State University and football weekends, visitors discover a vibrant community where the arts and events thrive, offering a window into the community itself.
In 2024, the HVAB and the HVSEA commissioned a study to benchmark the impact that arts, culture, and entertainment have on the State College and Centre County economies.
EConsult Solutions conducted the study, which quantified the current economic impacts from arts, entertainment and cultural events; associated visitor activity; employment; and operations of the county’s creative industries. The study uncovered that annual patronage at Centre County arts and cultural venues, festivals, and events amounted to 897,000 unique visitors in 2023.
Arts and cultural venues such as Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center and Eisenhower Auditorium, the State Theatre (Borough of State College), among others, accounted for 722,000 of those visitors. Events and festivals like the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Boalsburg’s People’s Choice Festival, and Philipsburg Heritage Days drew 175,000.
The study also found that arts, culture and entertainment, including Penn State activities and ancillary visitor spending, generated nearly $181 million in direct annual spending and a total economic impact for Centre County of $282 million.
Penn State University’s Palmer Museum of Art, which moved to a new campus location in 2024, features more than 11,000 artworks. Its exhibits and galleries attract thousands of visitors both locally and from the commonwealth.
Rhoneymeade Fest enters its sixth year as one of the most popular and anticipated summer events. The free music festival not only attracts scores of visitors to Downtown State College but also draws artists from around the globe. The multi-day event offers interactive workshops, live music performances, and art installations, and it continues to underscore the region’s vibrant music scene.
State College is home to The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, one of the most acclaimed arts and crafts showcases in the country, that attracts more than 125,000 visitors from the country as one of the nation’s top-ranked juried art fairs. As 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, the five-day event remains an economic driver for the region. More than 300 vendors from around the nation line downtown streets with tents to exhibit and sell their handiwork, while live entertainment and food trucks.
The weeklong Centre Film Festival attracts local and global filmmaking talent each fall. Under the leadership of Creative Director and Penn State Associate Professor of Film Production Pearl Gluck, the Centre Film Festival prides itself on sharing multigenerational stories that highlight the creative ingenuity and the human spirit on the big screen. The Centre Film Festival is truly a collaborative town-and-gown effort, as Penn State students and community partners join Gluck in producing a week-long celebration of film and conversation.
The State College Downtown Improvement District (DSCID) also shares a strong partnership with the Borough. The organization actively promotes opportunities for tourists to make the most of their visit to State College. The DSCID-led Art Walk is just one example, as it offers an interactive way to view the many murals and artworks scattered throughout downtown.
Later this year, the DSCID, in collaboration with Penn State’s Palmer Museum of Art, will celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday by installing imposing murals from the Palmer Museum of Art’s American Collection on structures in the Borough.
Diversity is one of the Borough’s cornerstone values, and many of its festivals and events reflect this commitment to inclusion and recognition of different cultures. These gatherings attract visitors from Pennsylvania and beyond to celebrate identity, heritage, and belonging.
The Borough’s Juneteenth Celebration Weekend, which commemorates the day (June 19, 1865) that marked the symbolic end of slavery in the United States, has grown into one of the Borough’s premier events. Juneteenth Celebration Weekend in State College features an art exhibition, live performances, and a lively downtown block party that brings together artists, musicians, local vendors, and families. The weekend combines celebration with reflection.
State College Pride, hosted by Centre LGBT+ in partnership with the Borough and other local organizations, draws thousands of locals and visitors. A vibrant parade through downtown kicks off the event, followed by a festival at Sidney Friedman Park with performances and information stations from local organizations. Local storeowners participate in an annual PRIDE Storefront Competition, and community members vote for their favorite display.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Penn-State-student-led APIDA Festival in April will highlight Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American Heritage Month. The spring festival features food, music, cultural performances, and community storytelling.
Downtown State College comes alive during Hispanic Heritage Month with the Happy Valley Latin Festival, a lively, tourism-supported event that celebrates Latino and Hispanic cultures. This festival showcases the cultural contributions of the region’s Latino community while inviting residents and visitors to experience the energy and traditions of Latin-American culture.
Again, the numbers show that investment and partner buy-in in the Borough’s arts and culture scene drive strong tourist demand and produce positive economic impacts on the community.
The 591-seat State Theatre on Downtown State College’s College Avenue is a premier destination for live shows in the Centre Region. The State Theatre attracts local and national acts. When it’s not hosting bands, its state-of-the-art projection system casts classic and newer films for viewers across its 29’x40’ stage.
While State College takes pride in sharing its unique festivals, events, and outdoor offerings with those who visit Centre County, the fun isn’t limited to the arts.
HVSEA in 2025 brought talented cyclists from around the country to compete in the State College Criterium. The event transformed several downtown streets into a closed-road circuit, as cyclists competed for national rankings. Race organizers have already tabbed State College as a location in 2027.
In June, the IRONMAN 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley will return for its fourth installment in State College. The competition this year carries the designation of the North American Championship. According to HVSEA, IRONMAN generates several million dollars for the local economy.
Special Olympians, their families and volunteers spend time in State College each year for the Summer Games, which are held at various venues on Penn State’s University Park campus. In 2026, State College is expected to welcome approximately 6,000 athletes from around the country for the State Games of America.
Whether listening to the unique sounds of a Colombian band at Rhoneymeade Fest, marveling at thought-provoking paintings at the Central Pennsylvania Festival for the Arts, or competing in a high-stakes event, the Borough of State College and its community partners offer something for everyone.
Article from the April 2026 Municipal Reporter | Tourism
