Thanksgiving is here, and if you’re not headed out to the Black Friday sales, you might want to check out some of the arts and entertainment offerings coming up this week around Centre County.
ART
■ “Inspired and Inspiring: The Passions of Joan Chittister’s Life,” is an exhibition presented by the Special Collections Library in the Paterno Library on the University Park campus.
Chittister, a Penn State distinguished alumna, is an internationally renowned writer and lecturer and has been called one of the most articulate social analysts and influential religious leaders of this age. This show features photographs, publications, speeches and quotations from more than 40 years of her career.
“Inspired and Inspiring” continues through Tuesday, Dec. 15.
MUSIC
■ The Vienna Boys Choir will perform at 7:30 pm Tuesday, Dec. 1, in Eisenhower Auditorium.
“Time may march on, but the Vienna Boys Choir remains a rock-solid institution,” wrote a reviewer for the Green Bay Press Gazette. “No group of child musicians has won more renown.”
Tickets are available online at www.cpa.psu.edu, by phone at (814) 863-0255 or at ticket locations around State College.
■ Music By Antonia presents The Give Back Music Festival, Monday, Nov. 30, through Saturday, Dec. 12 at Exscape, 121 1/2 E. Beaver Ave. in State College.
This free event will feature live performances by Ave Amen, LV, Fattz, Sinz City, Zio, Pyro, Devito Boogz, Quiet Buckz, Louie Petrone, Cecil Blutcher, Josh Lewis, Th3 GunnA, Ferregamo Swave, Kyrsten Pourchelle, Honest Abe, Didah and 151. There also will be a guest appearance by New York City Power 105.1 radio station’s MC of SMF.
And, in the spirit of the season, there will be a Toys for Tots drive during the festival.
EVENTS
■ The Gallery Shop in Lemont is holding its annual Holiday Treats and Treasures show through Saturday, Dec. 26.
The show features work by all Gallery Shop members and offers an opportunity for shoppers to browse an array of beautiful and whimsical handcrafted artworks and ornaments for holiday decorating, entertaining and gift-giving.
■ Looking forward to snow?
Kids can create a snowy winter scene at Discovery Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30. at Schlow Library. No registration necessary.
For more information, visit www.schlowlibrary.org or call (814) 237-6236.
■ Mount Nittany United Methodist Church, 1500 E. Branch Road in State College, will hold its annual Christmas Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. There will be many vendors, as well as food and baked goods for sale.
For more information, call (814) 237-3549 or visit www.mtnittanyumc.org.
■ The 40th annual Winter Craft Market will be held at Mount Nittany Middle School at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6.
More than 70 artisans will be showcasing their locally handcrafted wares.
■ Also on Saturday, Dec. 5, Warriors Mark United Methodist Church will hold its second annual Christmas Extravaganza from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the church, 1840 Centre Line Road in Warriors Mark. A pancake breakfast with Santa will happen from 9 a.m. to noon and features free magic reindeer food for all kids and photos with Santa, for a donation. The breakfast is $7, and children younger than 10 are $3.
Crafters will be on hand and a lunch is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. There also will be funnel cakes, a pie sale, a hidden treasure yard sale and more.
MOVIES
■ The State Theatre presents “Mr. Holmes” at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7. “Mr. Holmes” is a new twist on the world’s most famous detective.
In 1947, Ian McKellen’s aging Sherlock Holmes returns from a journey to Japan, where, in search of a rare plant with powerful restorative qualities, he has witnessed the devastation of nuclear warfare. Grappling with the diminishing powers of his mind, Holmes comes to rely upon a boy as he revisits the circumstances of the unsolved case that forced him into retirement, and searches for answers to the mysteries of life and love, before it’s too late.
Tickets for the show are $5, with a $1 ticketing fee.
■ The next movie in the Monday Movie Series at the State Theatre is “Skeleton Twins,” showing at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14.
When estranged twins Maggie, played by Kristen Wiig, and Milo, played by Bill Hader, feel they’re at the end of their ropes, an unexpected reunion forces them to confront why their lives went so wrong. As the twins reconnect, they realize the key to fixing their lives may just lie in repairing their relationship. Tickets for this show also are $5, with a $1 ticketing fee.
