Happy Friday, Happy Valley!
It’s a great weekend around the area with big annual events including the Central Pennsylvania Home and Garden Show and the New Faces of an Ancient People Traditional American Indian Powwow. You’ll also found theater, comedy, live music, art, great sports action and much more around around the county.
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
Medea
Tempest Productions presents a new translation of ‘Medea,’ Euripides’ enduring Greek tragedy, which tells a story of betrayal, revenge and grief. Show times are 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday in The Attic at The State Theatre.
Central PA Home and Garden Show
Central Pennsylvania’s largest home and garden show gets under way from 3-8 p.m. on Friday and continues 10 a.m to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Bryce Jordan Center. The show, sponsored by the Builders Association of Central Pennsylvania, will feature more than 140 exhibitors and special events.
RAWR Improv Festival
Penn State’s Full Ammo Improv hosts its annual improv festival from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday in 102 Forum Building on the University Park campus. Free and open to the community, the RAWR Festival features college, indie and professional teams from around the country as well as Full Ammo’s current troupe and alumni. [Full schedule]
Penn State Volleyball
Fresh off an upset victory over No. 1 Ohio State, the Penn State men’s volleyball takes on Princeton at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.
National Theatre Live HD — Hedda Gabbler
The State Theatre presents the National Theatre Live HD broadcast of Ibsen’s masterpiece, ‘Hedda Gabbler,’ starring Ruth Wilson and Patrick Marber at 7 p.m.
How to Succeed in Business…
State College Area High School Thespians present the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical comedy ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,’ at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday in the State High North Building Auditorium. Tickets can be reserved online and the box office will be open one hour before each performance.
Penn State Jazz Festival
The 18th Annual Penn State Jazz Festival kicks off on Friday and features an evening all-star combo concert with special guests at 7:30p.m. in Esber Recital Hall, Music Building I.[Festival schedule and ticket info]
SATURDAY
Mini-THON Fundraiser
State College Mini-Thon and State College Area High School Student Council co-sponsor the Driving 4 Diamonds Buick Blitz and Fun Fair in honor ofMaryann Newcomb, a State High senior battling leukemia. The event, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Park Forest Middle School, will benefit the Four Diamonds Fund. Activities will include Buick test drives for raising money, a ‘backyard pentathlon Olympic competition,’ a bake sale, face painting, a student arts and crafts festival,and puppies for petting.
5K Saturday
Several 5K runs/walks are set for Saturday in State College
– Coaches vs. Cancer 5K – Starts at 9 a.m. at Medlar Field
– Autism Speaks U 5K Run/3K Walk – Starts at 11:30 a.m. at the State College Municipal Building
– Run with the Law 5K – Starts at 3 p.m. at the State College Municipal Building
Lions, Tigers and Golf
Join Penn State RPTM 356 students from 9 a.m. to noon at the Penn State Golf Courses for the free Safari Golf Event. Kids will enjoy a variety of games, golf activities and refreshments. Recommended age is children 6-10. To register email the participating child’s name to Pennstatesafarigolf@gmail.com. Rain date is April 2.
American Indian Powwow
American Indian dancers and drum groups from across North America will gather at Mount Nittany Middle School for the 13th Annual New Faces of an Ancient People Traditional American Indian Powwow. The Penn State-sponsored event features American Indian drums, songs, dance, foods and storytelling. The powwow is 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
Penn State Softball Plays Two
After starting the season with 30 games away from home, the Nittany Lion softball team finally opens its home schedule with a doubleheader against Big Ten foe Indiana. Game one starts at 1:30 p.m. with game two expected to begin at 3:30 p.m. at Nittany Lion Softball Park.
Orchid Show
The Central Pennsylvania Orchid Society hosts its 52nd annual Orchid Show from 1-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday in Penn State’s Snider Ag Arena. [More details]
Taste of India
An Indian food festival featuring authentic, home-cooked foods from local community members, the festival also will feature clothes, jewelry and crafts for sale, henna tattoos, palmistry and live music. Proceeds will benefit humanitarian projects in India. Two time slots will be open: 5:30-7 p.m. and 7:20-8:50 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 850 Stratford Drive. [Tickets and info]
Nittany Valley Handbell Festival
The 24th Annual Nittany Valley Handbell Festival Concert, with guest conductor Michael Joy, will be held at 7 p.m. at the Bellefonte Area High School gym. Admission is $5 at the door.
Rock the ’80s Benefit Concert
Back by popular demand, The State Theatre presents ‘Rock the 80s’ an evening of great 80s music performed by 10 local bands starting at 7 p.m.. The show is a benefit concert for the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund, which provides financial support to local individuals and families battling cancer.
An Italian Affair
State College Choral Society hosts an evening of wine, dinner, and dessert with a private concert featuring Italian opera arias and art songs by two world-renowned soloists. Cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner and concert are at 7 p.m. at the Nittany Lion Inn. [Tickets and info]
Penn State Jazz Festival
The 18th annual Penn State Jazz Festival concludes with a gala concert featuring Centre Dimensions Jazz Ensemble and guest artists at 7:30 p.m. in Esber Recital Hall, Music Building I.
Penn State Volleyball
The No. 13 Nittany Lion men’s volleyball team takes on NJIT, winners of six straight, at 7:30 p.m. in Rec Hall.
Record Release at Chronic Town
In support of local musicians, Chronic Town is hosting at 9 p.m. a record release show for Sea Offs, a dream folk band featuring current Penn State students and recent graduates. Sea Offs will share the stage with up-and-coming Philadelphia band Shelf Life with support from Brooklyn based indie-electronic duo Letters to Nepa.
SUNDAY
Word and Image: The Poetry of Robert Lima
The Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, 133 N. Allegheny St., will host an opening reception from noon to 4 p.m. for ‘Word and Image: The Poetry of Robert Lima,” which will be featured during April at the Windows Gallery.
Penn State Softball
The Penn State softball team wraps up its first home series of the year with a 1 p.m. first pitch against Indiana at Nittany Lion Softball Park.
Violist Timothy Deighton and Friends
Penn State faculty violist Timothy Deighton will perform on the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County Music Series with several friends, including violinists Max Zorin and Alma Bulibekova, saxophonist Carrie Koffman, violist Nardo Poy, and harpsichordist Mark Ferraguto. Concert is at 3 p.m. at UUFCC, 780 Waupelani Drive Extension
Penn State Lacrosse
Off to the best start in program history at 9-0 and ranked No. 2 in the nation, the Penn State men’s lacrosse team hosts Ohio State (9-1) at 7 p.m.
August Winters and Guests
Combining the styles of todays indie radio with early 2000′s punk, State College singer-songwriter August Winters and his backing band leads a high-energy show at 8 p.m. at The State Theatre, also featuring Lenina Crowne, Making State, The Bikes and Matt Christopher.
