Happy Friday, Happy Valley!
It’s a great weekend around the State College Area with plenty of events to celebrate Valentine’s Day. There are activities for kids, grown-ups and the whole family all weekend — charity events, concerts, story time, wine and chocolate pairings, roller derby and much more.
The Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward is at The State Theatre, and the Harlem Globetrotters return to the Bryce Jordan Center.
Throughout the weekend, enjoy live music, theater, sports, activities for kids and families, community events and more. We’ve compiled some of the highlights of the weekend below.
Of course this isn’t all that’s happening. 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.
FRIDAY
State High Basketball
The State College boys basketball team hosts its final home game of the year before the Mid-Penn Conference playoffs start next week. The Little Lions welcome Williamsport for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
Justin Hayward, Voice of the Moody Blues
Singer-songwriter Justin Hayward, who as the driving force behind the Moody Blues penned songs like ‘Nights in White Satin,’ ‘New Horizons,’ and ‘Your Wildest Dreams,’ brings ‘The Wind of Heaven Tour’ to The State Theatre for an 8 p.m. show. He will be performing new songs from the album All The Way as well as Moody Blues favorites.
Art & Chocolate Winter Gala
ClearWater Conservancy’s signature event, the 18th annual Art & Chocolate Winter Gala is expected to draw nearly 300 guests to the Ramada Conference and Golf Hotel in State College — an evening of chocolaty sweetness, combined with an incredible art auction. The gala begins at 6:30 p.m. [Tickets and more info]
Penn State Wrestling
The No. 1-ranked Nittany Lions start their final homestand of the dual meet season, taking on No. 11 Illinois at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. As usual, it’s standing room only.
SATURDAY
State of State 2017: Innovate the State
An annual conference for the Penn State community, State of State brings together innovative speakers and university leaders to create a dialogue on the present and the future of the university. The free conference, with lunch provided, takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Alumni Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center. Register here.
World Stories Alive
Experience stories, songs and art in different languages — this week in Arabic — at Schlow Library’s World Stories Alive, 11 a.m. in Downsbrough Community Room. Recommended for children ages 3-8 and their families and fun for speakers of all languages, including English.
Valentine’s Day Storytime
The Benner Pike Barnes & Noble hosts Storytime and activities at 11 a.m. in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Featured titles are The Secret Life of Squirrels: A Love Story and Valentine’s Day Is Cool.
Stories for Little Eyes and Ears
The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State invites families and friends with young children to gather at 11 a.m. on Saturdays for ‘Stories for Little Eyes and Ears,’ a story and discussion focusing on a work of art in the museum’s permanent collection. See the schedule here.
Frontiers of Science
Penn State’s Eberly College of Science hosts the fourth of six 2017 Lectures on the Frontiers of Science. Peter Hudson, Willaman Professor of Biology and director of the Huck Institutes of Life, discusses ‘One World… One Health,’ a look at emerging infectious diseases, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in 100 Thomas Building, University Park. All lectures in the series are free and open to the public.
Sweetheart 5k
Left Right Repeat and the Centre County Women’s Resource Center are teaming up again to host their third annual Sweetheart 5k. All proceeds will benefit the Women’s Resource Center. Registration begins at 9:45 a.m. in front of the State College Municipal Building, and the run/walk steps off at 11 a.m.
Valentine’s Wine & Chocolate Pairing
Mount Nittany Vineyard and Winery is having Wine & Chocolate Pairings, featuring Mount Nittany’s award-winning wines paired with delicious chocolates from Asher’s Chocolate Company. Special event hours are Saturday and Sunday from noon-5p.m. Cost is $8.95 per person and reservations are required. Call the winery at (814) 466-6373 to make a reservation.
Lady Lion Basketball
After back-to-back wins, Penn State women’s basketball hosts Purdue at 2 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center.
Family Valentine’s Dance
Join the Bellefonte YMCA, 125 W. High St., at 3 p.m. for a fun afternoon of dancing and tasty treats for the whole family. Admission is $7 for members/$1 per additional child and $11 for non-members/$1 per additional change.
Gymnastics Double Dual
The Penn State men’s and women’s gymnastics teams host Ohio State at 4 p.m. in Rec Hall. It’s Wear White Day and there will be a white shaker giveaway, airbrush tattoos from 2:30-4:30 p.m. and post-meet pizza party and autographs.
Roller Derby: St. Valentine’s Day Massacre
State College Area Roller Derby opens its 2017 scheduled with the Mount Nittany Mayhem taking on the Pennsyltucky Punishers at 5 p.m. at Penn Skates, 2210 High Tech Road, [Ticket info]
Laasya 2017
Penn State Natya and the Laasya Executive Board will host Laasya 2017, a traveling intercollegiate classical dance competition, at 5 p.m. at the State Theatre. Ten teams from across the nation will face off for the chance to host Laasya the following year all while putting on a breathtaking show highlighting the cultural dances of India. [Ticket info]
Shall We Dance?
The State College Choral Society will usher in its 2017 performances with Brahms’ most famous love songs, Liebeslieder Waltzes, in honor of Valentine’s Day, at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 205 S. Garner St. Tickets are $20 general admission and $10 for students. Free pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Theatre at Webster’s
Tempest Productions Inc. and Webster’s Bookstore Café present Vita and Virginia, a play by Eileen Atkins, and a BYOB dinner. Vita and Virginia is based on the wicked repartee, razor-keen wit, poetry, and unabashed ardor of the letters between Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and the performance begins at 7:30 p.m. [More info]
SUNDAY
Valentine’s Mommy & Me Jewelry Class
Choose from loads of Valentine’s themed beads and charms to create earrings and pendants for yourself or for gifts from 1:30-3 p.m. at The Makery, 209 W. Calder Way. All supplies, tools, instruction and parking validation is included for $25 child/adult combo. [Registration]
Daddy-Daughter Dance
The State College YMCA hosts an afternoon of dancing, arts & crafts, treats and more for the family starting at 2 p.m. at the State College Ramada. $12 per family for members, $15 per family for non-members.
Wrestling Senior Day
It’s the final home dual for Penn State wrestling and the top-ranked Nittany Lions celebrate Senior Day at 2 p.m. against Maryland. Standing room only.
Swan Lake
The State Theatre presents the Bolshoi Ballet in Cinema production of the classic Swan Lake at 3 p.m.
Valentine’s Concert
The State College Area Municipal Band Valentine Concert under the direction of Dr. Ned C. Deihl, Conductor will present Danzon No. 2 , Symphonic Mambo and Elizabeth Kennedy Webb Singin’ & Swingin’ Romantic Music from the Great American Song Book. The concert starts at 3 p.m. at Mount Nittany Middle School.
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters bring their action-packed 2017 world tour to the Bryce Jordan Center at 4 p.m. The Globetrotters’ ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry and one-of-a-kind family entertainment will bring the new addition of the 4-point line. [More info]
