Thank God It’s Friday: First Weekend of Fall Events

Thank God it’s Friday!

Another week is in the history books and another couple days of relaxation are here.

Penn State football has yet another home game — the third of five straight weekends at Beaver Stadium.

It’s also the first weekend of fall, as the summer officially came to an end on Wednesday.

With all that in mind, here are some of the highlights from the coming weekend.

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TODAY:

Enjoy a Steinbeck classic on stage.

You likely read Of Mice and Men at one point or another, whether it was in a high school English class or a book group. The John Steinbeck classic tells the tale of George and Lennie, a pair of drifters who arrive to work at a ranch. George is the intelligent of the pair, while Lennie is an overgrown child, and the story delves into some serious moral questions.

No Refund Theatre will present their own rendition of the novel on stage tonight. The show, directed by Amanda Pasquini and starring Colin Lester as George and Steve Travis as Lennie, will start at 8 p.m. at 111 Forum Building.

Listen to some Bach and Minsky from a talented violist.

Andrea Priester Houde, a West Virginia University viola professor, will present a recital on campus this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. The performance will be immediately followed by a masterclass for viola students.

The event is sponsored by the Penn State Viola Society, and Priester Houde is hosted by Penn State viola professor Timothy Deighton. The performance will include Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Movements from Suite No. 5 in C Minor” and Aaron Minsky’s “Truckin’ Through the South.”

Perhaps you prefer bluegrass and country music.

Cabinet, described as a “band with roots firmly planted in the Appalachian tradition,” will play a show at the State Theatre this evening at 8 p.m. From newgrass to rock to jam music, this band puts on an inclusive, community-building concert. 

Tickets are priced at $15, with the option of general admission on the floor (standing) or seats on the balcony.

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SATURDAY:

Of course, you already know about the football game.

Penn State football enters its third game of the season with a 2-1 record, coming off two straight wins against Buffalo and Rutgers. The Nittany Lions will face the San Diego State Aztecs at Beaver Stadium with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. 

You can review all of our content from the week leading up to Saturday’s game here.

Football not your thing?

The Pregnancy Resource Clinic will hold its annual Celebrate Life 5K run/walk and 10-mile bike ride on Saturday morning. Beginning at 9 a.m., the event will start at the Steeping Stones Church at 848 Science Park Road. 

Registration begins an hour before the start, and there will be refreshments and awards presented after the finish. The registration fee is $25 and it will all benefit the Pregnancy Resource Clinic. If you want to register beforehand, you can do so on the race’s website here.

What goes together better than apples and cars?

Take a drive to Milesburg for the annual Apple Harvest Festival and Car Show, held on the last Saturday of September. There are craft stands that line the street to complement the car show.

The museum in town has a food sale with breakfast, lunch, and specialty apple items. The day includes a raffle and trophy ceremony at the end of the car show. The festival runs from 8 a.m to 10 p.m. at the Milesburg Museum, located at 205 Market Street.

Football isn’t the only Penn State sport being played.

Penn State women’s volleyball is perfect through 11 matches. The team opened its conference slate on Wednesday with a win over Wisconsin, marking the top-ranked Nittany Lions’ 11th straight sweep — that’s 33 perfect sets for those who aren’t good at math.

On Saturday night, the women’s volleyball team faces Minnesota at Rec Hall, with the first serve taking place at 8 p.m. The Golden Gophers lost their first two matches of the season, but have won nine straight since then, including their first conference match against Ohio State with a 3-2 victory.

You can buy tickets for the volleyball match here.

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SUNDAY:

Punt, pass, and kick.

The NFL, Pepsi, and Centre Region Parks and Recreation are working together for the Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition.

It’s free for all and it’s the self-proclaimed “most well-known youth sports competition in the world.” The competition will take place at Oak Hall Regional Park, which was recently renovated and reopened this summer.

For more information on the program, contact Jeff Hall at 814-231-3071. The event is open to all Centre Region youth from six to 15 years old.

Are you a fan of sculptures?

The Bellefonte Art Museum has a brand new sculpture on display and will celebrate its installation on Sunday from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

The sculpture, titled “Warrior Knight Seeking Balance”, was made by Jeanne Stevens-Sollman and acquired for the museum by John McCarthy. It’s now installed in the Sharon McCarthy Garden at the museum.

Whose Line is it Anyway?

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, known for their roles in the popular television show Whose Line is it Anyway, will take the Bryce Jordan Center stage on Sunday night. 

Just like the television show, their live performance is heavily improvised and involved plenty of crowd interaction. The kid-friendly performance is described as a “comedic high-wire act just like a live version of Whose Line!”

The performance starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available on the Bryce Jordan Center website.

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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.