Happy Valley to host national ‘State Games of America' for the first time. What to know

A number of sporting events from the State Games of America will be held around Penn State’s campus from July 24 through Aug. 2, 2026. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com

An estimated crowd of more than 7,000 amateur athletes, coaches and families is expected to descend on Happy Valley starting Friday for the biennial “State Games of America,” a 10-day, Olympic-style sports festival that welcomes competitors from at least 45 states.

The event is organized by the National Congress of State Games, a nonprofit member of a U.S. Olympics/Paralympics council. Each participating state sends its top-3 winners in each event to the national competition, which is held around Centre County this year and was last hosted by San Diego, California, in 2024.

“Our goal was to bring this event to Happy Valley because it’s such a large-scale national event that brings people from every state — and it’s also benefitting our local hospitality industry,” local official Meghan Boyle told the CDT. “They’re coming over a two-week period, so that gives them a chance to check out what we have to offer in Happy Valley.”

Two local partner organizations, Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB) and Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance (HVSEA), have helped organize this year’s edition of the State Games of America. According to Boyle, who serves as HVSEA’s director of event operations, the area is expected to benefit from an economic impact that exceeds $5 million.