Happy Friday, Happy Valley!
It’s a busy first weekend in April, with the 15th annual Penn State Powwow, a three-day preview event for the Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest and Centre Stage’s production of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’
First Friday brings an evening of activities to downtown State College, the Happy Valley Indian Performing Arts Festival features two nights of performances and the Donut Dash for Dyslexia combines a 5k and sweet treats for a good cause at the Grange Fairgrounds.
You’ll also find an eclectic mix of great concerts — from the power trio Previte Saft Cline in Millheim to Hank Cramer in Lemont — Relay for Life, a spring craft show and the Easter Bunny making a return to the Nittany Mall with an Eggstravaganza.
All this and much more in the highlights below.
This isn’t all that’s happening, either. There is plenty more around the area for you to enjoy and you can find it all on our calendar page. Explore the weekend’s events and add your own if it isn’t listed. Or see our Bar Tour and Movies pages for more options this weekend or anytime.
MULTI-DAY
PreVue 2019
Three days of fun at the State Theatre will celebrate the arts in Central Pennsylvania as a preview to the second annual Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest. Performances, readings and workshops from 20 different groups will take place throughout the day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday will be a day of free events as part of Downtown State College’s First Friday, with a pre-launch party at 6 p.m. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday along with a full weekend schedule can found here.
Penn State Powwow
Marking its 15th year, the Penn State Powwow returns to Mount Nittany Middle School this weekend with American Indian drum groups and dancers from reservations and communities across North America, as well as American Indian foods and crafts. The powwow is set for 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The popular, family-friendly event is free and open to the public
To Kill a Mockingbird
Penn State Centre Stage performs ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ a stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Playhouse Theatre. Performances continue Tuesday through Friday. Buy tickets here.
Previte • Saft • Cline
The powerful new trio of master musicians Bobby Previte, Jamie Saft and Nels Cline head to Elk Creek Cafe & Aleworks, 100 W. Main St. in Millheim, for a two-night stand, with shows at 8 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday. Find tickets and more info here.
FRIDAY
First Friday
Downtown State College’s monthly celebration returns with free events all day at the State Theatre for the Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest PreVue, the opening of the ‘Climate’ art exhibition at the Art Alliance Downtown Gallery, Ladies Night Open Mic at The Makery, a hip-hop dance workshop at Central PA Dance Workshop, a community sculpture project at Woskob Family Gallery and more. See the lineup and schedule.
Indian Performing Arts Festival
The Society for Indian Music and Arts presents the opening night of the Happy Valley Indian Performing Arts Festival with a Carnatic Violin Recital by the illustrious Vidwan V. V. Subrahmanyam & Vidwan V. V. S. Murari, and a Sattriya Dance recital by Madhusmita Bora & Prerona Bhuyan, at 7:30 p.m. in the State Theatre. Tickets are $6.50 for adults and $5.50 for students.
SATURDAY
Spring Craft Show
The Pleasant Gap Area Lioness Club will hold their Spring Craft and Vendor Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, 540 N. Harrison Road, featuring a a bake sale, soup, crafts, 50/50 and raffle.
Easter Eggstravaganza
The Easter Bunny comes to the Nittany Mall and there will be plenty of activities to celebrate including a coloring station, egg decorating, bunny bowling, pin the tail on the bunny, photo station, music station, Easter fitness, egg balance and prizes. The Eggstravaganza takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Donut Dash
The Dyslexia Reading Center of Central PA will host the Donut Dash for Dyslexia — the nonprofit organization’s first 5k run and walk fundraiser — at 11 a.m. at the Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall. All ages and abilities from throughout the entire community are invited to attend the, fun, family-friendly event, featuring donut samplings from local businesses including Duck Donuts, Happy Buns, My My Chicken and Way Fruit Farm.
Chicken BBQ
Logan Fire Company No. 1, 120 E. Howard St. in Bellefonte, hosts its first chicken barbecue of the year from 10 a.m. until they’re sold out (and they go fast). Meal includes one half chicken, baked beans, macaroni salad and roll for $8, or get just the half chicken for $6.
Relay for Life
Benefiting the American Cancer Society, the annual Penn State Relay for Life features performances, food, raffles, competitions and more, from noon to midnight at Medlar Field.
The Taste of India
Hosted by the Association for India’s Development (AID)-Penn State, the annual Taste of India is one of the largest international food festivals in the region. Three serving time slots are scheduled between 4:45 and 9:45 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 850 Stratford Drive. The fundraising event features foods from different parts of India prepared by members of the Indian community in State College and served by student volunteers, as well as a sale of Indian garments and accessories, henna tattoos and palmistry. Book your tickets before they’re sold out.
Happy Valley’s Got Talent
State College’s only talent showcase for children K-12 grade, Happy Valley’s Got Talent will feature talented local kids taking the State Theatre stage at 7 p.m. to perform acts including signing, dancing, musical, theatrical, comedy and more. All proceeds benefit Tides, the only grief support program in the area dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing peer support program for children, teens and their families who have experienced the death of a loved one.
Acoustic Brew
Folk singer Hank Cramer — widely known for his booming bass voice, smooth picking on a vintage flat-top guitar and a wry sense of humor — plays an Acoustic Brew series concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Centre for Well-Being, 123 Mount Nittany Road, Lemont. $18 tickets are available in advance online.
Swing Into Spring Dance
Dance your way into spring with the Keystone Society of Swing at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Gregg School Community Center, 106 School Street in Spring Mills. Tickets are $25 online or $30 at the door.
SUNDAY
My Favorite Sings
Arietta Women’s Ensemble has chosen some of their favorite pieces to perform at 3 p.m. as part of the Music Series at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 780 Waupelani Drive. The varied program will include music from Handel to spirituals and the ensemble will be accompanied by pianist Victoria Petrosky and flautist Judy Moore. Suggested donation is $15, students $2.
Finding Your Roots
WPSU presents “Finding Your Roots: The Seedlings,” featuring clips from the new web series following 13 young people at a new genetics and genealogy camp as they use science to answer the question “Who am I?” at 6 p.m. in the State Theatre. Inspired by the popular PBS series “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” and shot on the campus of Penn State, campers explore their own family history and DNA ancestry with techniques never before used in an educational setting. Free admission, but advanced registration is required.
Climate Change Talk
Penn State professors Seth Blumsack and Joel Landry will discuss “Climate Change: The Benefits of Doing Something Versus the Cost of Doing Nothing,” at 3 p.m. in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 208 W. Foster Ave. The event, sponsored by the State College chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, is free and a reception with refreshments will follow.
Indian Performing Arts Festival, Day 2
Day 2 of the Happy Valley Indian Performing Arts Festival features a soulful Hindustani vocal recital by Sandipan Samajpati, followed by a magnificent festival finale: a Bharatanatyam dance recital by Joyce Paul and the Arpan Arts troupe. Performances start at 5:30 p.m. in the Flex Theater of Penn State’s HUB-Robeson Center.
Rachel Copeland Concert
Internationally acclaimed for her coloratura soprano, Rachel Copeland performs with pianist Svetlana Rodionova at 4 p.m. in the second floor sanctuary of Trinity United Methodist Church, 128 W. Howard St., Bellefonte. Admission is free.
University Choir Spring Concert
The Penn State University Choir will perform its annual spring concert at 7 p.m. in the new Recital Hall of Music Building I, University Park. Admission is free.
Penn State Lacrosse
Ranked No. 1 in the nation, Penn State men’s lacrosse hosts Ohio State at 7 p.m. in Panzer Stadium for a matchup to be nationally televised on BTN
You’ll find all this and much more in the highlights below.
This isn’t all that’s happening, either. There is plenty more around the area for you to enjoy and you can find it all on our calendar page. Explore the weekend’s events and add your own if it isn’t listed. Or see our Bar Tour and Movies pages for more options this weekend or anytime.
