Happy Friday, Happy Valley!
The weekend is filled with things to do around the State College area. Among the highlights: ‘Out Loud’ with poet Gabeba Baderoon; Gimme Shelter at The State Theatre benefiting Strawberry Fields; Penn State basketball’s Coaches vs. Cancer game; Nittany Valley Symphony; and Penn State Thespians annual MasquerAIDS benefit cabaret.
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
Learn how to make a Tree of Life pendant with wire and the natural stone of your choice at 5:30 p.m. at The Makery, 209 West Calder Way. Easy enough for a beginner, and experienced jewelry makers are welcome too. The class is $26 for copper or $35 for sterling and includes all supplies, tools, instruction and parking validation. Register here and contact staciegan@gmail.com for questions.
Team Trivia Challenge
The Community Cafe at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 208 W. Foster Ave., hosts a team trivia challenge fundraiser at 7 p.m.. Come as a team or be paired with one. All proceeds will go to the Cafe to support serving free meals every Thursday from 5-7 p.m.. $10 in advance or $15 at the door includes admission, the game and all you can eat finger food and beverages. There will be prizes for the top 3 teams.
Out Loud at the Bellefonte Art Museum
South African poet and Penn State professor Gabeba Baderoon reads her new work at 7:30 p.m. at the Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County. The reading is part of Out Loud, the museum’s monthly celebration of the art of words. Free and open to the public.
State High Girls Basketball
The State College Area girls basketball teams will host Cumberland Valley starting at 6 p.m. in the North Building gym.
Volleyball at Rec Hall
The No. 14 Penn State men’s volleyball team returns to Rec Hall for a 7 p.m. first serve against Mount Olive.
SATURDAY
Grace Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten Open House
Grace Lutheran Preschool and Kindergarten, 205 S. Garner St., will host an open house at 9 a.m. for parents to learn about programs for children ages 2 years and 7 months (by Sept. 5, 2017, the first day of school) through half-day kindergarten and enrichment programs. Meet staff, talk with teachers about your child’s needs, and tour the facilities. Call (814) 238-8110 for details or to schedule a classroom visit.
Young Scholars Open House
Young Scholars of Central PA Charter School, 1530 Westerly Parkway, hosts an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for prospective parents and their students who might be interested in enrolling for the 2017-2018 year at the K-8 school.
Kids’ Winter Play Date
Friends & Farmers Cooperative will have Fun with Food, activities for kids 5-10 including bugs, crafts and snacks, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Houserville Elementary School. Penn State entomology will have a bug activity, plus veggie stamping, a coloring station, photo booth with frame decorating and snack making.
Frontiers of Science
Penn State’s Eberly College of Science hosts the second of six 2017 Lectures on the Frontiers of Science. Matt Thomas, professor and Huck Scholar in Ecological Entomology and Director of the Penn State Ecology Institute, will discuss ‘The Rise and Fall of Diseases Caused by Insects,’ from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in 110 Thomas Building, University Park. All lectures in the series are free and open to the public.
World Stories Alive
Experience stories, songs and art in different languages — this week in Chinese — 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.
SCASD K-12 Exhibition Reception
A public reception will be held at 2 p.m. in Robeson Gallery of Penn State’s HUB-Robeson Center on the final day of this exhibition The State College Area School District presents some of the best work from their student artists, grades K-12. Many two- and three-dimensional media are represented as are many hours of skilled and creative work from children throughout our community. This annual exhibition provides the young artists an exciting opportunity to share their artwork with the community in a professional setting.
State High Wrestling
The State College Area High School wrestling team hosts Central Mountain at 2 p.m.
Little Lion Lap
The Penn State National Open starts at 10:30 a.m. at Ashenfelter Indoor Track, and at approximately 2 p.m., kids in grades K-5 can join the Nittany Lion for a lap around the track. Pre-register by emailing littlelionlap@gmail.com or register on site. All participants receive a participation ribbon.
Coaches vs. Cancer
Penn State basketball’s annual Coaches vs. Cancer game is set for 4:30 p.m. as the Nittany Lions take on Illinois in the Bryce Jordan Center. $4 from each single-game ticket benefits CVC.
Winter Westie Social
State College West Coast Swing hosts a low-key social dance at State College Friends School, 1900 University Drive, starting with an easy intro lesson at 6 p.m., a perfect opportunity for new dancers to see what west coast swing is all about. A social dance will follow with lots of great music and snacks. No previous experience or partner required. Tickets are free; register here.
Gimme Shelter
The sixth annual concert benefiting Strawberry Fields will feature an all-star local lineup of 11 acts performing the music of the Rolling Stones starting at 7 p.m. at The State Theatre. The show is sold out, but overflow seating is available. [Details]
Volleyball at Rec Hall
The No. 14 Penn State men’s volleyball team wraps up its weekend homestand at 7 p.m. against Coker in Rec Hall.
SUNDAY
OLV School Open House
Tour the Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, 800 Westerly Parkway, meet teachers and enjoy refreshments at this open house starting at 10:45 a.m. Representatives from the preschool, elementary and middle school programs will be available to answer questions. Representatives from Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy will also be on hand.
Lady Lions vs. Illinois
The Penn State women’s basketball team is back home to face Illinois at 2 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center.
Penn State Wrestling
The Nittany Lion wrestling team returns home with Intermat’s No. 1 team ranking to face Northwestern in Rec Hall at 2 p.m. As usual, it’s standing room only.
Bolshoi Ballet in Cinema- Sleeping Beauty
The State Theatre hosts this showing of the Bolshoi Ballet’s performance of ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ direct from Moscow, at 3 p.m. In this resplendent and magical classic, the Bolshoi dancers take us on a dreamâ€like journey through this classic fairytale complete with jewel fairies, a magical kingdom, a youthful princess and a handsome prince in this purest style of classical ballet. [Ticket info]
Before-‘Once’ Open Mic
The musical ‘Once,’ coming to Eisenhower Auditorium on Tuesday, encourages us to go for our dreams and shows us, on stage, how that can be done through the power of music. In advance of the show, Penn State’s Center for the Performing Arts presents an open mic at 4 p.m. at Café Lemont, 921 Pike Street. Bring an acoustic musical instrument, and plan to play for a minimum of fifteen minutes (or longer, depending on the number of musicians who sign up). Plan to arrive by 3:45 p.m. in order to obtain a performance slot for the two-hour event.
Dynamic Duo
Nittany Valley Symphony features dynamic soloists James Lyon, violin, and Timothy Deighton, viola at 4 p.m. at the Bellefonte Area High School Theater, performing selections from Beethoven, Mozart and Berlioz. [Ticket info]
This is Our Story – MasquerAIDS 2017
The Penn State Thespians presents This Is Our Story: MasquerAIDS 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in Heritage Hall of Penn State’s HUB-Robeson Center. MasquerAIDS is a yearly cabaret presented by the Penn State Thespians that raises money for the Centre County AIDS Resource. In honor of Thespians 120th Anniversary this year, they will celebrate Thespians past, present and future with a cabaret consisting of songs and dances from previously produced shows and potential future shows. Tickets available at the door for $4.99.
