Happy Friday, Happy Valley!
It’s a great weekend for music, with the Penn State Jazz Festival, Winter Jam, Riversongs Festival and Nittany Valley Symphony’s final concert of the season all on tap around the area. And you can check out musical theater performed by great young talents with the State High Thespians production of ‘Newsies.’
The Nittany Mall hosts a two-day, 12,000-square-foot wildlife festival, and there’s a new way to explore and enjoy downtown Bellefonte with ‘Friday in the ‘Fonte.’ Plus, comedy, opera, lectures, theater, benefits and outdoor events are all on the weekend schedule.
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.
MULTI-DAY
Jazz Festival
The 20th annual Penn State Jazz Festival is two days of concerts, lectures and master classes on Friday and Saturday in Music Building I and II on the University Park campus. The festival will be capped off by a headlining performance from National Endowment For The Arts Jazz Master Benny Golson, who joins Centre Dimensions, Sharp Radway, Steve Rudolph and Eddie Severn at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the new Recital Hall, Music Building I. Tickets for the Friday and Saturday evening concerts are $15 general admission, $10 for high school students and $4.99 for University Park students. See the full schedule.
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 Chris Monty, headliner Mike Burton and MC James Tierney. Tickets are $20.
12 Angry Men
Penns Valley High School’s advanced drama class will present the play ’12 Angry Men’ at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the high school auditorium. Admission is free.
Newsies
The State High Thespians present as their spring musical ‘Newsies,’ at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the high school auditorium. Based on the 1992 movie and inspired by a true story, ‘Newsies’ is the tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenagers at the turn of the 20th century who rally newsies across New York to strike against unfair conditions. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for youths age 18 and younger and can be purchased online here.
Wildlife Festival
The first Natural History Exhibit — featuring more than 30 live animal exhibits, interactive programs and more— will take place at the Nittany Mall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The festival, presented by the Foundation for Animal Rescue and Education, Little Ray’s Nature Centres and ZooAmerica, will feature a sloth, skunk, armadillo, owls, alligator, falcon, hawk, snakes, tarantulas, tortoises, bunnies, ferrets and many more animals. Check out pricing info, special offers and more details.
FRIDAY
Google Exec on the History of AI & Machine Learning
Penn State alumnus and head of data science and global patents at Google Jay Yonamine who is at the forefront of efforts to use ‘big data’ to make policy decisions and more while discuss ‘A History of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning” at 11:15 a.m. in Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library. Free and open to the public.
Sarah Koenig
Host of the Serial podcast and State College resident Sarah Koenig will join Penn State McCourtney Institute for Democracy Director Michael Berkman for a conversation about Serial’s third season, a year spent inside the courthouse and what she learned about criminal justice while making the podcast. 5 p.m. at 100 Thomas Building, University Park. Tickets not required, seating will begin at 4:30 p.m.
Empty Bowls
The Bellefonte Area High School Art Department hosts it Empty Bowls soup dinner event from 5-7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. For $15, patrons will receive dinner and take home a handmade bowl crafted by students. Dinner only also is available for $7. Along with soups, breads and dessert, also enjoy raffles and live entertainment. All of this year’s proceeds will go to the YMCA of Centre County’s Backpack Weekend Food program.
Friday in the ‘Fonte
Hosted by Downtown Bellefonte Inc., ‘Friday in the ‘Fonte’ is replacing ‘First Sunday’ as the monthly celebration of downtown Bellefonte’s shopping, dining, arts and craft beverages. From noon to 8 p.m., residents and visitors are encouraged to check out what downtown businesses have to offer, with many featuring special deals and extended hours. Brazilian Munchies food truck also will be on hand. Check here for more details.
SATURDAY
Voodoo Brewery Pub Opening
Popular Meadville-based Voodoo Brewery will hold a grand opening for its new State College area pub, located with Maine Bay & Berry Cafe at 201 Elmwood Street, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Family Discovery Day
See what’s already popping up this spring at the Bellefonte Community Children’s Garden, 200 N. Allegheny St., starting at 11 a.m. Learn about veggies that grow back even after they have been picked. Make your own flower planter and a pet-potato-pot for seedlings. Plant some peas in the garden and a few posies to take home.
Metropolitan Opera
The State Theatre presents the Metropolitan HD broadcast of Wagner’s ‘Die Walküre’ at noon.
Nittany Valley Benefit Dinner
The community dinner featuring a traditional Amish home-cooked wedding-style meal will be held from noon to 7 p.m. at Walker Township Fire Company, 125 Fire House Lane in Hublersburg. Seven time slots and take-out are available. Walk-ins are welcome, but diners are strongly encouraged to make reservations and purchase tickets in advance. See the menu, schedule and ticket information here.
Explore the Armor
Visit the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg for a private history tour of the outside tracked vehicles including a look inside the crew compartments. The tour begins in the museum theatre. Seating is limited and reservations are required. The tour typically lasts two hours. Admission is $15 ($5 with museum membership).
Winter Jam
Christian music’s largest annual tour, the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular returns to the Bryce Jordan Center at 6 p.m. This year’s tour includes a 360-degree, ‘in-the-round’ center stage and will showcase a diverse lineup led by supergroup Newsboys United, along with Danny Gokey, Mandisa, Rend Collective, Ledger, NewSong and Hollyn. Doors open at 5 p.m. No tickets required.
Dueling Pianos Benefit
The Flying Ivories, dueling pianists from Philadelphia, present an all-request, rock and roll singalong of dance, music, comedy and fun, benefiting Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy at 7 p.m. in the Wyndham Garden ballroom, 310 Elks Club Road, Boalsburg. Individual tickets are $50.
SUNDAY
Author Lecture Series
The Centre County Historical Society’s Henszey-Pyle Author Series will feature Peter Gilmore at 2 p.m. in Centre Furnace Mansion, 1001 E. College Ave. Gilmore will speak about themes developed in his newly published book, ‘Irish Presbyterians and the Shaping of Western Pennsylvania, 1770-1830.’ Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
Riversongs Festival
The Penns Valley Conservation Association’s ninth annual Riversongs Festival, benefiting PVCA’s environmental education programs, will be held at 3 p.m. at Elk Creek Cafe & Aleworks, 100 W. Main St. Millheim. Enjoy craft beers and fine foods from the cafe menu while listening to live music from The Dilly Beans and Chris Rattie. Bring plenty of $1 bills for the 50/50 raffle and a chance to win lots of great prizes. Suggested donation is $10 at the door.
State of State
The State of State Conference brings together innovative speakers and university and community leaders for a dialogue on the present and the future of Penn State. The free event begins at 3 p.m. in the State Theatre with a lineup of more than a dozen speakers discussing a wide range of issues, such as international students, the role of the arts in social change, Greek life, tradition, the Penn State brand and many more. The program will be followed by hors d’oeuvres and facilitated discussion at Hintz Family Alumni Center. Free and open to the public.
Romantic Favorites Concert
Join Nittany Valley Symphony for its final concert of the season, ‘Romantic Favorites,’ at 4 p.m. at Mount Nittany Middle School. Featuring violin soloist Clara Lyon and violoncello soloist Elizabeth Lyon, this performance includes favorites by three great Romantic masters: Liszt, Brahms and Dvorak. Tickets are $22 for adults, $10 for military and $5 for students.
