State College Weekend Plans: Friday, March 25, to Sunday, March 27

Friday, Mar. 25

Movies

The action fantasy “Sucker Punch” hits theaters this week, taking audience members into the vivid imagination of a young girl institutionalized by her stepfather. A dream world provides the ultimate escape from her dark reality.

The follow-up movie to “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” comes in the form of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules.” Greg Heffley braves his first days of seventh grade while his parents make a noble yet ill-advised attempt to help him forge a stronger bond with his mischievous older brother.

(For complete weekend movie listings, click here.)

Family

ReStore is holding its 2011 anniversary event featuring a silent auction of donated art and objects created with reused or repurposed materials from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event also features door prizes and original jewelry for sale. Proceeds support Habitat for Humanity of Greater Centre County.

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology in Bellefonte is hosting the Strawberry Fields Ninth Annual Longaberger Basket and Vera Bradley Bingo. Doors open at 5 p.m. with “Early Birds” at 6:30 p.m. and regular bingo at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at door.

Food

Warriors Mark United Methodist Church is hosting a fish-fry buffet dinner at 4:30 p.m. The dinner cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 5-10.

The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel and AccuWeather.com are hosting the Lucky Seventh Annual Wish Gala and Casino Night at 6 p.m. The evening includes games, cocktail hour, buffet dinner and live auction. All proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and will grant wishes to children in the Centre Region. Tickets are $100 each or $1,000 for a table of ten.

Entertainment

A rock concert dedicated to celebrating local student musicians from the University Park campus begins at 6 p.m. in the Forum Building. Tickets for School House Rock are $2 for students, staff/faculty and $4 for community members.

The State Theatre will be showcasing Penn State graduate students pursuing degrees in the performing arts at the 26th annual Graduate Exhibition. Performances begin at 7 p.m. and range from poetry to acting. Admission is free and open to all.

Sports

The PIAA 2010-2011 Basketball Championships will begin in the Bryce Jordan Center at 1 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and students at the door.

Penn State men’s baseball takes on Le Moyne at Medlar Field at 3:35 p.m.

Penn State women’s tennis plays Temple at 5 p.m. in the Sarni Tennis Center.

Saturday, Mar. 26

Family

The second day of ReStore’s 2011 anniversary event begins at 9 a.m. and continues through 4 p.m.

Tours of Beaver Stadium will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tour will take you behind the scenes and through the tunnel to where legends are made. Reservations can be made during museum hours and cost $10 for adults, $5 for children.

Shaver’s Creek is holding the Maple Harvest Festival and Pancake Breakfast beginning at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate the first harvest of the new year. The annual festival will also teach attendees the history of the maple sugaring process.

Food

Winery at Wilcox in the Nittany Mall will host its “Wine-tini Weekends” from 6 to 9 p.m. For $5, participants receive a specialty drink made from Winery at Wilcox wine and a complimentary wine glass.

Entertainment

The Penn State Irish Society will host the Irish Film and Cultural Festival in the Friedman Auditorium at The State Theatre. The theme is “Music & Myth,” and the day’s events begin at 12:30 p.m. Events include four Irish films, children’s activities, readings, Irish music and dancing. Festival passes are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors. Individual films tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors.

The Center for Well-Being in Lemont hosts Matt and Shannon Heaton as the next artists in its Acoustic Brew Concert Series. The duo will play contemporary and traditional Irish music on flute, guitar, bouzouki and accordion along with vocals. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

Sports

The 12th annual Coaches vs. Cancer 5K begins at 8 a.m. at the Business Building on the University Park campus. The race benefits the American Cancer Society and Bob Perks Fund. (Grace Lutheran Church is hosting a free spaghetti dinner for all race participants on Friday, Mar. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m.)

The PIAA 2010-2011 Basketball Championships continue in the Bryce Jordan Center at 12 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and students at the door.

Penn State men’s lacrosse battles Saint Joseph at 1 p.m.

Penn State men’s baseball takes on Le Moyne again at 1:05 p.m. at Medlar Field.

Penn State women’s softball plays Wisconsin at 2 p.m. at the Nittany Lion Softball Park.

Late Night

Local Motion’s DJ Kid AV takes over Indigo. Shooters, $2 shots, Long Island iced-teas, Red Bull/vodka and mixed drinks are available during the 10 p.m.-to-midnight happy hour.

Mad Mex has $7 “Big Azz” margaritas from 9 p.m. to midnight as well as a 50-percent-off-food special from 10 p.m. to midnight.

Sunday, Mar. 27

DVD Releases

Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp come to DVD in “The Tourist.” Depp stars as an American tourist whose playful fling with a stranger leads to a web of intrigue, romance and danger.

The beloved picnic-basket-stealing bear hits the shelves in the children’s flick “Yogi Bear.”

Family

The Shaver’s Creek Maple Harvest Festival and Pancake Breakfast continues from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Food

Otto’s Pub and Brewery and Mark Ross have teamed up for a children’s event of music and brunch at 11:30 a.m. The show will run for about 45 minutes and is geared toward children age five and under. Advance tickets and reservations are required and cost $15 for adults; kids ages six through 17 are $8.99. (This event has sold out.)

Entertainment

Elton John and band are at Bryce Jordan Center at 8 p.m. performing their “Greatest Hits Live” concert, featuring hits and classic album tracks from throughout the legendary singer’s career. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, Livenation.com and the Bryce Jordan Center box office.

Sports

Penn State women’s tennis takes on Iowa at 11 a.m.

Penn State men’s baseball finishes its weekend vs. Le Moyne at 12:05 p.m.

Penn State women’s softball plays Wisconsin at 1 p.m.