Things to Do State College
There are so many things to do in State College, Pennsylvania, from attending a special Penn State event with family and friends to hiking and biking through the area’s numerous state parks and forests. The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center offers comfortable accommodations just minutes from all the best activities and attractions in the area. Take a look at our events calendar and view other local events to help plan your next visit to Happy Valley.
Penn State is a destination for sports fans, with exciting competition and entertainment happening year-round. Cheer on the Nittany Lions in everything from baseball to basketball, golf to gymnastics, and, of course, football! Visitors can always find exciting competition and entertainment on campus.
Get the latest on upcoming games and matches, tickets, and more.Â
Whether it’s your first or last time dropping off your student—or somewhere in between—we can help make the transition from your home to ours a little more comfortable. Need help picking up toiletries or navigating through a busy campus? Our guest services team can get you where you need to be so your only stress will be the “goodbye.”
Fall is the best time of the year in Happy Valley, and Parents and Families weekend is filled with activities for alumni, students, and families. Check in with your student, reunite with old classmates, or just enjoy the crisp, autumn air on campus. The beautiful colors on the trees surrounding the hotel are just another perk of your stay and a way for us to say “Welcome back.”
We can’t think of a better way to spend a winter weekend than witnessing the largest student-run philanthropy effort in the world. Since 1977, THON has raised more than $125 million for the Four Diamonds Fund— and the fight against pediatric cancer—at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. You don’t want to miss the passion and excitement as the totals for the year are revealed at the 46-hour dance marathon. Admission to the event is free, and we provide complimentary transportation to and from the Bryce Jordan Center during the event.
Fly fishing, mountain biking, hiking, golf, ice-skating—there are countless fun things to do in Pennsylvania’s great outdoors. Explore Bald Eagle and Black Moshannon State Parks. Go swimming or play sports at one of the Centre Region’s 45 municipal parks. Take a full- or half-day bicycling tour featuring beautiful routes, gourmet lunches with beer or wine tastings, and wine pairing dinners with Happy Valley Bike Tours. Or spend the day fishing for trout at Spring Creek, arguably one of the finest wild trout streams in Pennsylvania.
Street painting, outdoor concerts, art exhibits, incredible food, and more await you at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in July. Bring the family, meet up with friends, and reunite with fellow Penn State alums for five days of fun during this State College event.
