Happy Friday, Happy Valley!
Penn State and State College schools may be heading toward spring break, but that doesn’t mean things will slow down entirely this weekend.
Events around the area kick off with First Friday in downtown State College. You’ll also find theater, comedy, music, figure skating, family activities, sports and more.
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.
FRIDAY
First Friday
Downtown State College’s monthly celebration is back with entertainment, specials and more from 5-8 p.m.. March’s First Friday includes:
– The work of local artist James Farrah at the Expect More Store, 114 S. Allen St., 5:30-7:30 p.m., with cheeses, wine and beer available.
– An opening reception for the new exhibition ‘Reckoning,’ at the Art Alliance Gallery Downtown, 123 S. Fraser St., 5-8 p.m.
– Irish dance basics at the Central PA Dance Workshop, 101 S. Fraser St., 6-7 p.m. Open to all ages and no experience necessary. $15/person, $10/Students, $8/Current CPDW Students. Dance shoes, socks or bare feet only.
– An art-making activity suitable for all ages at Woskob Family Gallery, 146 S. Allen St., 5-8 p.m.
– Part two of the Make America Green Again series, discussing the benefits and challenges of sustainable building for residential real estate, at New Leaf Initiative in the State College Municipal Building, 6-7 p.m.
– Refreshments and vendor presentations — featuring Mount NitaNee Kombucha , Skydive Happy Valley, ABC Chiropractic, BeWell Associates and Kid Tech — at Appalachian Outdoors, 123 S. Allen St., 5-8 p.m.
Wise Crackers Comedy Club
Wise Crackers’ comedy season continues at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Basement Night Spot, 112 W. College Ave. This week features Brian Cichocki, headliner Raymond the Amish Comic. Tickets are $20.
Cinderella
With the excitement and fanfare of a royal ball, the Bellefonte Area Middle School Drama Club presents their production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella,’ at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
The Addams Family Musical
Penns Valley High School presents its spring musical, ‘The Addams Family,’ a new musical comedy at 7:30 p.m Friday and Saturday in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $8/adults and $5 for students and are available online or at the door.
Contra Dance
The Central Pennsylvania Country Dance Association hosts its monthly contra dance at 7:30 p.m. in the State College Friend’s School Community Room, 1900 University Drive. Karl Senseman of Harrisburg will call the dances to music by Unbowed. All dances are taught and easy to learn. No partner needed. More details.
Ordinary Days
Penn State’s No Refund Theatre presents ‘Ordinary Days,’ a musical that tells — with honesty and humor — the story of four young New Yorkers whose lives intersect as they search for fulfillment, happiness, love and cabs. 8 p.m. in 318 HUB-Robeson. Free.
Penn State Sports
No. 36 men’s tennis hosts No. 1 Ohio State at 4 p.m. in the Indoor Tennis Center; men’s volleyball takes on Princeton at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.
SATURDAY
Figure Skating
Pegula Ice Arena hosts the Nittany Ice Classic collegiate figure skating competition, a free event featuring Penn State and more than 30 other teams, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Metropolitan Opera HD
The State Theatre offers the Metropolitan Opera HD broadcast of ‘La Fille du Régiment’ at 12:55 p.m.
Snow and Ice Science Saturday
Participate in science experiments and crafts related to snow and ice from 1 to 3 p.m. at Black Moshannon State Park. Geared towards ages 4 to 9, but any age is welcome. Wear old clothes and meet at the Environmental Learning Center.
Billy Price
A 2016 Blues Music Award winner and Pittsburgh Rock ’n Roll Legend inductee, Billy Price brings his band to Elk Creek Cafe & Aleworks, 100 W. Main St. in Millheim, for an 8 p.m. show.
Penn State Sports
Men’s lacrosse vs. Penn, 1 p.m.; women’s basketball vs. Nebraska, 3 p.m.; women’s gymnastics vs Arizona State, Cornell, Yale, 4 p.m.; men’s volleyball vs. NJIT, 7 p.m.
SUNDAY
Geisinger Fun Day at Discovery Space for Autism Families
Geisinger’s Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute (ADMI) will host a free day of fun from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Discovery Space, 1224 N. Atherton St. Families will be able to enjoy the interactive exhibits and will have the opportunity to sign up for SPARK, a large, online study to accelerate autism research and gain a better understanding of the condition by building a community of thousands of individuals with autism and their biological family members.
First Sunday at Bellefonte Art Museum
Bellefonte Art Museum, 133 N. Allegheny St., celebrates its March exhibitions from noon to 4:30 p.m. with the First Sunday opening reception. This months exhibitions include painting, photography, prints and pottery, featuring works by Marlee Erwin, Chad McKissick, Denise Wagner, Liza Johnson, R. Thomas Berner and Jet Schneider, and John Ziegler, Ross Adams and Randy Doughty.
SpikesFest
The State College Spikes annual winter carnival brings free, family fun to the Penn State Indoor Multi-Sport Facility from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mascots, ballpark inflatables, batting cages, kids games and live entertainment are all part of the day, along with fun activities from community organizations and a silent auction of sports memorabilia and entertainment experiences.
