The weekend is here, and the State College area calendar is packed with things to do.
Even if the weather isn’t showing it right now, it’s a sure sign of spring when the popular Maple Harvest Festival comes around at Shaver’s Creek, Penn State’s Environmental Center in Petersburg. There are plenty of fun events and pancakes to enjoy.
Rock out at The State Theatre with acclaimed Pink Floyd tribute The Machine on Friday and former Live songwriter and front man Ed Kowalczyk on Sunday. The theatre, as well as campus venues, also host the final two days of the College Town Film Festival on Friday and Saturday,
Cheer on the No. 6 Penn State men’s volleyball team on Friday and Saturday in Rec Hall. Penn State baseball has its first home games of the year starting Friday
And with Easter weekend next week, there are plenty of community egg hunts around the area on Saturday and Sunday.
We’ve compiled the highlights from the upcoming weekend’s community events in the State College area for you to enjoy.
FRIDAY
Welcome to The Machine New York-based Pink Floyd tribute band The Machine returns to The State Theatre at 8 p.m. with a special show, covering Floyd’s classic double-album “The Wall” in its entirety. Over the course of 25 years, The Machine has become renowned for creating an authentic Floydian experience with their musicianship and stage shows. Tickets information is available through The State Theatre website.
College Town Film Festival
Showcasing short films, documentaries and features, the festival featuring independent, up-and-coming artists started on Wednesday and continues through Saturday night. For schedules and more details check here.
Get Set for Penn State Volleyball
The Nittany Lion men’s volleyball team is back in action at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall, taking on St. Francis at 7 p.m. Friday and Ohio State at 7 p.m. Saturday. Penn State is ranked 6th in the nation and is undefeated in league play. Check here for more on the weekend matches.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Penn State baseball opens its first homestand of 2016 with a three-game weekend series vs. Niagara. First pitch at Medlar Field is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m. They were originally scheduled to play one Saturday and one Sunday, but threat of poor weather moved Sunday’s game to Saturday.
SATURDAY
Maple Harvest Festival
Celebrate the first harvest of the new year with Shaver’s Creek. Since 1984 Shaver’s Creek in Petersburg has hosted its Maple Harvest Festival and Pancake Breakfast to help people learn about the maple sugaring process — both in colonial times and the present day. There are plenty of events for the whole family, and the festival goes from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Check the Shaver’s Creek website for full details and ticket info.
Egg Hunts Abound
With Easter Weekend just a week away, there are plenty of egg hunts for kids around the area. A few options for Saturday:
10 a.m. – New Hope Lutheran Church, 119 Cobblestone Court, Spring Mills. Toddlers and pre-K through grade six welcome. Games and light refreshments will be provided.
10:30 a.m. – Warriors Mark United Methodist Church, 1840 Centre Line Road, Warriors Mark. (Rain date is March 26.)
Noon – Penn State Panhellenic Council and IFC host an egg hunt until 2 p.m. outside the Hintz Family Alumni Center Children. Children third grade and younger from noon-1:30 p.m. and children sixth grade and younger from 1:30-3 p.m. Bring your own basket if you wish. Pictures with the Easter Bunny and Nittany Lion will be available.
4 p.m. Trinity Bellefonte, 128 W. Howard St., Bellefonte. An Easter party and egg hunt goes until 5:30, including egg coloring, games and food
World Stories and Legos at the Library
Schlow Library hosts World Stories Alive at 11 a.m. in the Children’s Activity Room. Recommended for children ages 3-8 and their families, the program invites kids to experience stories, songs and art in different languages. This week’s theme is Arabic. No registration needed.
From 2-4 p.m., Schlow hosts Lego Club, recommended for grades 1-6 p.m.
Spanish Story Time
Bilingualism Matters at Penn State hosts a multilingual story time at 11:30 a.m. at the State College Barnes and Noble. Faculty and students from the Center for Language Science and other community members read children’s stories in a wide variety of languages — this week it’s Spanish. You don’t need to be a speaker of these languages to enjoy this story time.
Bricks 4 Kidz
Starting at noon, Bricks 4 Kidz hosts workshops for two different age groups at Ferguson Square, 2790 W. College Ave.. Ages 3-5 (pre-K) we will use bricks to build a musical note and a xylophone. Kids will sing a song, listen to a story and play a game. They will practice essential preschool skills and have fun building with friends. Children will receive a handout showing main concepts & song or poem.
For ages 5 (kindergarten-aged) to 13, it’s mining and crafting. They will explore the world of Minecraft, building a motorized power tool, a figure model of the Minecraft chicken, pig, or creeper, a mosaic of Steve or a pickaxe, or diamond. For those who want to craft, they can make their favorite characters with perler beads. Everyone will receive a Minecraft tatoo or a sticker.
Registration and workshop fee information is available at https://my.bricks4kidz.com/index.php?action=location&location=197
Parents Night Out
The YMCA is offering parents an opportunity for a night out while children are dropped off at the YMCA for a night of their own fun. They will enjoy dinner and a movie, along with coloring sheets and other activities. Children are required to be of school age to attend the event. Limited space so registration is required.
SUNDAY
Celebrate Spring with Schlow
Kids can create colorful caterpillars, sparkly flowers, clothespin dragonflies and more with the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association from 2-4 p.m. in the Children’s Department.
Eggs-cellent
More egg hunts: The State College YMCA hosts an Underwater Egg Hunt from 1-5 p.m. It’s free and open to the community. Children will be separated into age groups, and flotation devices will be available for non-swimmers. Prizes will be awarded.
State College Free Evangelical Church, 1243 Blue Course Dr., hosts an Easter egg hunt with games, snacks and activities at 4 p.m. Hunts will be divided into age groups, up to grade 5.
A community Easter egg hunt will be held at Calvary Harvest Fields, 201 Harvest Fields Drive, Boalsburg. The hunt — which will be indoors or outdoors depending on weather — starts at 4 p.m., but arrive early to register. Following the hunt, the Charlie Brown Easter movie will be shown, and the Easter Bunny will be on hand.
Live Live
Founding member, songwriter and former lead-singer of Live Ed Kowalczyk plays The State Theatre at 7:30 p.m. On this extended tour, Kowalczyk performs a stripped- down set that celebrates the 20th anniversary his former band’s seminal, multi-platinum album “Throwing Copper,” followed by more tracks from the band and his solo catalogue. Ticket details and more here.
LOOKING AHEAD
Nittany Valley Symphony‘s ‘From the New World’ performance explores the evolution of America’s musical identity from Dvorak to jazz at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Penn State’s Eisenhower Auditorium.
On Wednesday, Eisenhower welcomes Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky) and his multimedia portrayal of the polar regions, ‘Arctic Rhythms,’ at 7:30 p.m. The Bryce Jordan Center plays home court to the Harlem Globetrotters at 7 p.m.
Penn State’s Research Unplugged presents The Future of Self-Driving Cars with Sean Brennan, associate professor of nuclear and mechanical engineering, at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in Schlow Library’s Downsbrough Community Room. At 7:30 p.m., Penn State Opera presents Rossini’s comic masterpiece, “The Barber of Seville,” at The State Theatre.
Looking ahead to April, Penn State School of Theatre’s production of ‘Hair‘ opens April 1 at the Penn State Downtown Theatre and runs through April 9. And April 1-3 the Central PA Home and Garden Show takes over the Bryce Jordan Center with displays, experts, seminars and fun activities. U.S. Women’s Soccer legend Abby Wambach speaks at Eisenhower Auditorium on April 6.
If all that isn’t enough for you, there’s more happening in State College. Check out our calendar page to explore the weekend’s events, and feel free to add your own if it isn’t listed.
