Ah, spring break is finally here. The time where people go to extravagant locations to have fun and get rested up before the second half of the semester begins. Some head to Florida, Cancún, or any other tropical location imaginable. Others just relax in the comfort of their own homes.

However, some don’t plan on going to tropical locations or home. Instead, they stay in State College to bear the cold weather and try to have some snowy spring break fun.

For those of you that are staying on campus for spring break, here’s what will be going on in State College during the next week:

Support Penn State Hockey

While many students will be leaving State College for the break, the hockey team will be staying on campus to face off against Michigan this Friday and Saturday. With Michigan standing atop the Big Ten, Penn State will be looking for an upset over a team that it’s already beaten once this season.

The atmosphere at a Penn State hockey game is very unique, and is definitely worth experiencing if you haven’t gone to a game already this season. Come and support your Nittany Lions as they play their last home series of the season and prepare to play in the conference tournament in a couple of weeks.

Hit The Slopes At Tussey Mountain

With all of the snow on the ground, why not take advantage of it? Time to bust out the skis and head down the mountain. The closest ski area to State College is Tussey Mountain, and whether you ski, snowboard, or tube, it’s a great place to have a good time. Rates for Tussey Mountain range from $20 to $45 for adults, and rentals are reasonable as well.

Go Ice Skating

With the beautiful Pegula Ice Arena open to the public for skating, spring break might just be the time to check it out, especially since it won’t be as packed as normal. It only costs $5.5o for students with an ID to skate, so it won’t break your budget, and it’s a fun way to spend the evening if you have some friends staying in State College with you.

SpikesFest

The State College Spikes will hold their annual festival again this year on Saturday, March 7. SpikesFest will bring all of the excitement you’d get at Medlar Field and transitions it indoors to the Penn State Indoor Multi-Sport Facility. This is the ninth annual festival held by the Spikes, and visitors will get to enjoy inflatable games, video games, mascot appearances, local entertainment groups, door prizes, and much more.

Take A Tour of Penn’s Cave

Just a short 25 minutes from campus, you can tour a cave that was found by Seneca Indians centuries ago. A 50-minute boat ride will take you through the cave to experience its natural beauty, gliding through the limestone cavern. In fact, it’s the only cave in Pennsylvania that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With glittering stalactites and stalagmites, it’s a tour that is definitely worth a look.

Check Out “Lucid Dreams”

If you’re into art, the Fraser St. Gallery is displaying a new exhibit beginning this weekend called “Lucid Dreams.” The exhibit will begin tomorrow, March 6, and will feature art from many different artists, as well as live music with musical guest Eric Ian Farmer. The exhibit will be going on throughout spring break every night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Biscuit Jam

Biscuit Jam performs unique acoustic music interpretations of classic rock favorites as well as other genres. The band has played in bars like Zeno’s Pub, Darkhorse Tavern, Cafe 210, and many others. If you’re into classic rock, you may want to check out the jams at the Governor’s Pub on March 11. For an idea of its sound, check Biscuit Jam out here.

Hit the Local Bar Scene

For the 21+ crowd, there’s a bar for everyone in this town. Whether you go to the Phryst, Cafe 210, Kildare’s, or Local Whiskey, you’re bound to have a good time. There will be specials going on at basically every bar over spring break, so why not try them all? From Irish pubs to a place to just hang out and watch a game, there’s something for everyone. Plus, you won’t have to deal with packed bars with long lines.

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If you choose to stay in State College for the break, or if you live in State College, there will be plenty of things to keep you busy. Whatever you choose, you won’t feel bad trading a tropical vacation to stay in the snowy valley of State College.